Kari Gibb/MDN Minot High senior Hudson Cope (5) in previous action, scored the final goal in the third place match between the Magicians and the Packers on Saturday, March 1, at the 2024-2025 NDHSAA Boys State Hockey Tournament.

GRAND FORKS – The Minot High boys hockey team bounced back from the semifinal loss to Grand Forks Red River late Friday, February 28, to beat the West Fargo Packers 5-3 for a third place finish at the 2024-2025 NDHSAA Boys Hockey State Tournament on Saturday, March 1, in Grand Forks.

The Packers scored the first two goals of the match at the 7:11 and 10:38 marks of the first period before the Magicians responded.

Easton Bradley scored on a power play goal with Cole Richeson on the assist at the 12:41 mark. Mackley Morelli found the net on the power play score less than a minute later with Aidan Diehl on the assist to tie the game at 2-2 in the first period still.

Finlee Bentz fed Morelli the puck again for the third goal of the first for Minot High on another power play goal at the 15:03 mark for the 3-1 Magicians lead. Each team had three penalties in the first while Minot High had 15 shots on goal compared to seven for West Fargo.

In the second period, West Fargo evened the match at 3-3 and outshot the Magicians 11-4 in the second period.

Minot High used the third period to take the lead for good. Bentz found the net on an even strength goal at the 2:56 mark of the third with Morelli and Easton Panasuk on the assists for the 4-3 lead. Hudson Cope scored an even strength, unassisted goal at the 4:57 mark of the third for the 5-3 win and the rest was up to defense and Devon Keller in the goal for Minot High.

Keller had 24 saves on 27 shots faced for the Magicians as they finished the state tournament in third place.

The semifinal match was a 4-0 loss to Red River with no goal scored in the game. Red River played cross town rivals, Grand Forks Central for the state crown where Central beat Red River 2-1 for the state title. Bismarck Century faced Mandan for the fifth place slot with the Patriots beating the Braves 6-3 to finish the tournament with the win.

The Bottineau-Rugby Braves lost in the quarterfinal round to the eventual state champions from Grand Forks Central 12-3 then lost to the Bismarck Century Patriots 4-2 in the consolation round of the state tournament.