File photo of Minot United junior Dane Voeller (center) as he takes the puck down the ice in their home game against the Bottineau-Rugby Braves on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Nathan Beitler/MDN

The Minot United boys hockey team opened its West Region Tournament title defense on the right foot, defeating Williston, 5-1, in the quarterfinal round at the VFW Sports Center in Bismarck on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Minot United received goal contributions from five different skaters. Senior forward Oliver Thompson recorded a goal and two assists to extend his point streak to 22 games. Minot United won all three meetings with Williston this season.

Brady Grosz opened the scoring at 6:38 of the first period on an assist from Tait Thorson to give Minot United a 1-0 lead after the opening stanza. Landin Slind and Easton Bradley scored just over a minute apart to stretch the lead to 3-0 less than five minutes into the second period. Bradley’s goal came on the power play following a penalty to Williston’s Jacen Rustand.

Rustand made up for his penalty, scoring the Coyotes lone goal of the contest at 6:52 of the second period. Carter Suchy and Gavin Douglas assisted on the play to get Williston to within 3-1 at the end of two periods.

Minot United put the game away with a pair of goals in the third. Dane Voeller and Thompson tacked on goals late in the third period to punch their ticket to the semifinal round, where they will play Mandan on Friday, Feb. 20, at 5 p.m.

Minot United outshot the Coyotes 41-16, not allowing their opponent to register more than six shots on goal in a single period. Luke Richeson finished with 15 saves to earn the win in net for Minot United. Williston goaltender Knox Dahlberg stopped 36 shots.

Williston plays an elimination game against Bismarck Century.