Kari GIbb/MDN Minot High senior Mackley Morelli (21) just misses on a score while Easton Panesuk (11) watches. Bottineau-Rugby goalie Mason Lynnes (29) and defender Lewis Gorder (91) thwart the attempt at the Maysa Arena on Tuesday, February 4, in the second period of WDA boys hockey action.

The Minot High boys hockey team traveled home and regrouped after their first loss of the season last week. The Magicians hosted the Braves from the Bottineau-Rugby combined team. Minot High built and early 5-0 lead in the first period of play, outshooting the Braves 18-6 in the process.

Teegan Strand got the scoring started at the 1:00 mark with Canton Christians and Finlee Bentz on the assists. Just 27-second later, Strand would score again with the same two on the assists as well for the 2-0 lead.

Mackley Morelli found the back of the net at the 2:42 mark with Christians and Tate Haugenoe on the assists. Morelli scored his second goal at the 12:50 mark and third at the 16:41 mark for the hat trick and 5-0 lead. The last goal had Rylan Roteliuk and Easton Panesuk on the assists.

Neither team had penalties in the first period of play.

At the 1:07 mark of the second period of play, Panesuk scored his own goal with Roteliuk and Morelli on the assists for the 6-0 lead. Oliver Thompson found the net for the seventh goal of the game at the 11:59 mark of the third period of play for the Magicians. The assist went to Strand. All seven goals were at even strength despite each team serving three penalties.

Minot High posted 13 shots on goal in the second and six in the third periods. Bottineau-Rugby had two shots on goal in both the second and third periods of play.

Mason Lynnes tended net for the Braves and saved 30 of the 37 shots he faced in the game. Devon Keller worked the goal for the Magicians and saved the ten out of the ten shots he faced on the night.

Minot High still sits atop the Western Dakota Association (WDA) standings with the 13-1 record, 19-1 overall. Bottineau-Rugby is at fifth with an 8-6-1-0 WDA mark and 8-8-2-0 overall.

The Magicians will be at Dickinson on Saturday, February 8, and host Williston for their final regular season game next Friday, February 11.

Bottineau-Rugby will be at Mandan on Friday, February 7, for their next WDA match and travel to Mayville-Portland for a non-conference game on Saturday.