Minotauros ranks as the runner-up in the North American Hockey League.

The St. Cloud Norsemen traveled to Minot to face off against the Minotauros, aiming to halt the home team’s nine-game winning streak. However, the Minot Minotauros had broader objectives beyond just maintaining their streak when they began the game on Saturday. Sitting atop the Central Division, the Minotauros were focused on maintaining their lead, while the Norsemen were determined to earn vital points towards clinching a playoff spot.

“They’re fighting for their season,” remarked Minotauros head coach Cody Campbell. “Whenever you’re leading the league, you have to anticipate the toughest challenge from any opponent.”

Minot indeed faced a formidable effort from the Norsemen.

St. Cloud took the lead in the first period at the 13:57 mark when Michael Coleman scored, assisted by Louis Wehmann and Tyler Geyer. Despite Minot’s higher shot count (14) compared to St. Cloud’s (9), they narrowly missed scoring, hitting the crossbar instead. Minotauros’ Chad Muller accrued penalty minutes for checking from behind, sitting out the remainder of the first period.

“Margins are slim,” Coach Campbell reflected. “And St. Cloud earned theirs tonight.”

Entering the second period behind 1-0, Minot saw fewer shots on goal (five) compared to St. Cloud’s 12. Despite efforts from both sides, the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Norsemen.

“We didn’t maintain our level of play for the full forty minutes,” Campbell admitted. “We stepped up our game and performed better in the final period.”

The third period witnessed history as Minot’s Colby Woogk scored, assisted by Jack O’Hanisain and Adam Mahler, tying the game at 1-1. This marked Woogk’s seventeenth goal of the season, making his career total 20 goals, the highest for a defenseman in Minotauros history.

Six penalties were issued in the final period, with two to Minot and four to St. Cloud. At the 13:18 mark, Minotauro Jordan Gibbs was penalized for holding, and just three seconds later, the Norsemen seized the opportunity to score the winning goal.

St. Cloud’s 2-1 victory served as payback for Minot’s 4-3 win over them the previous evening. Both teams had 30 shots on goal in the first game, with no penalties in the first or third periods but each having two power plays in the second period. Key players contributed to Minot’s win, with Cayden Casey, Joel Lehtinen, Jordan Gibbs, and Adam Mahler scoring, supported by assists from Murray Marvin-Cordes, Jacob Ingstrup, Jack O’Hanisain, John Emmons, and John Small.

Currently leading the Central Division of the NAHL with a 42-13 record, Minot has secured a playoff berth and holds second place overall in the league, trailing the Lone Star Brahmas from Richland Hills, Texas.

Minot will face the Bismarck Bobcats at the VFW Sports Center on April 5-6 and conclude the regular season with a home game on April 13 at the Maysa Arena, with game times set for 7:15 p.m. on the road and 7:35 p.m. at home.