BISMARCK — The Minot High boys hockey team needed the third period to catch the Bismarck Legacy Sabers. The Magicians trailed 3-2 to their hosts after two periods and needed to score twice- once to tie and once again to win the match.

The Sabers hit the net in the first period to take the early 1-0 lead. Minot High’s Mackley Morelli hit on a power play, unassisted goal nearly ten minutes later in the first to tie the game. The Magicians had 11 shots on goal in the first while Devon Keller faced six shots and stopped five for Minot High.

Teagan Strand found the net less than 15 seconds into the second period to give Minot High the 2-1 lead with Morelli and Aidan Diehl with the assists. The next two goals were by the Sabers at the 14:00 and 16:25 marks. Minot High had ten shots on goal while Keller faced six again and stopped four.

Trailing at the start of the third period, Magicians Rylan Roteliuk found the net just under a minute from the start of the final period to tie the match 3-3 with Strand getting the assist. At the 16:33 mark, Easton Panasuk scored the go-ahead goal with Morelli on the assist for Minot High to win 4-3 on the road.

The Sabers had three penalties on the ice while the Magicians also had three. Neither team had penalties in the third period of play.

Minot High had 28 shots on goal in the game while Keller faced 16 shots, stopping 13 of those for the win in net for the Magicians.

Minot High sits atop the Western Dakota Association (WDA) standings at 5-0 in conference and 6-0 overall. The Magicians are 21-6 in goals for vs goals against in WDA play.

Minot High will host Jamestown at the Maysa today at 3 p.m. for their next WDA match. The Blue Jays are second in the WDA standings at 4-0-0-1 in WDA and overall.

The Magicians will be in Roseau, Minnesota, after Christmas and before New Year’s Eve for three games on Dec. 26, 27 and 28 before heading home for a break. Bismarck Century will kick off 2025 with a trip to face Minot High on Jan. 7 as WDA action kicks off again.