Mike Kraft/MDN Tate Haugenoe and the rest of the Minot United boys hockey team captured the WDA regular season title over the weekend following an 8-1 victory at Mandan. Minot United will be the No. 1 seed at the WDA Tournament in Bismarck.

Despite losing 15 players from last year’s roster that was responsible for 128 goals and 209 assists, the Minot United boys hockey team was still slight favorites to win the WDA regular season title, according to the preseason coaches’ poll.

The coaches across the conference clearly knew that Minot United was reloading rather than rebuilding, as Minot United won its second consecutive WDA regular season title following an 8-1 victory over Mandan on Friday, Feb. 6, at Starion Sports Complex.

Oliver Thompson, Brady Grosz and Keller Schmeichel each netted a pair of goals and Jaxon Dahl recorded three assists as Minot United completed a season sweep of the Braves. Schmeichel scored both of his goals in the first period, with Landin Slind collecting the primary assist on each. Schmeichel scored his first at 8:17 and got his second with just two seconds left as Minot United took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Minot United (17-4-0-0 overall, 14-2-0-0 WDA) broke the game open with a four-goal second period, outshooting the Braves 16-5 in the frame. Grosz, Cole Richeson, Thompson and Easton Bradley all tallied goals in the period.

Thompson and Grosz each potted their second goals of the game in the third period. Minot United’s eight goals was their second-highest scoring output of the season. Minot United netted nine goals in a 9-1 win against Bismarck High on Dec. 22.

Minot United finished with a 36-19 edge in shots on goal.

Luke Richeson made 18 saves to earn the win in net for Minot United.

Brogan Lobeck had Mandan’s lone goal of the contest, scoring on the power play at 12:37 of the second period.

Friday’s matchup with Mandan was polar opposite of their previous meeting at Maysa Arena on Dec. 11, with Minot United coming away with a 1-0 victory.

Minot United closes out the regular season against Bismarck High on Thursday, Feb. 12, at Maysa Arena at 7:30 p.m.