MOORHEAD — It appeared that the Moorhead Spuds boys hockey team would end its regular-season campaign on a sour note, but then defenseman Brandon Mickelson and forward Tyden Bergeson got involved.
Mickelson netted the game-tying goal with 23 seconds to play and Bergeson buried the OT-winner to power the Spuds’ 5-4 win over eighth-ranked Hill-Murray in their regular season finale Saturday.
The win proved to be a nice confidence lift heading into the Minnesota Section 8-2A boys hockey tournament.
“That was a playoff-type game,” Bergeson said. “I think our team was ready for that. (We) just got to keep carrying that the next couple of weeks.”
Moorhead (21-3-1) is ranked No. 3 in the coaches poll and enter the section tournament as the top seed. The Spuds host No. 8 Alexandria in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Moorhead Sports Center.
Spuds head coach Jon Ammerman noted the team has made some adjustments following a few subpar performances in January. Moorhead tied with St. Thomas on Jan. 10, lost to Grand Forks Central (N.D.) and fell to Rogers on Feb. 7.
“I really liked our last week and (am) hoping we can bring that same intensity,” Ammerman said.
Moorhead’s Tyden Bergeson celebrates his third period goal against East Grand Forks on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at the Moorhead Sports Center.
David Samson / The Forum
Bergeson, a senior, leads the Spuds with 64 points with 22 goals and 42 assists. Junior forwards Zac Zimmerman (21G, 34A) and Max Cullen (22G, 33A) both have 55 points.
Moorhead received another integral offensive threat when sophomore forward Joey Cullen returned to the lineup last Tuesday against Brainerd.
“He’s a big boost to our lineup,” said Mickelson, who has 53 points (19G, 34A).
Joey Cullen, who has 13 goals and 16 assists in 12 games, suffered an upper-body injury against Minnetonka on Dec. 20 and had been out of the lineup since.
“The timing was great,” Ammerman said of his Joey Cullen’s return. “He was able to get three games going into playoffs (and) work off some rust. Obviously, a game-changer every time he touches the puck.”
Moorhead’s Joey Cullen moves with the puck during their Minnesota Section 8-2A boys hockey game against St. Michael-Albertville on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, at Moorhead Sports Center.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
In net, sophomore goaltender Will Arnold holds a 2.53 goals-against average in 21 games this season.
Moorhead defeated Alexandria 8-1 in the pair’s lone meeting on Dec. 11 in Alexandria.
The Cardinals are led by senior forwards Evan Klimek and Brody Berg. Klimek leads the team with 24 points, including 17 assists, and Berg holds a team-high 13 goals. Cardinals netminder Brady Schluter has a 3.16 GAA in 19 games.
St. Michael-Albertville was awarded the No. 2 seed in the tournament. Elk River-Zimmerman is the No. 3 seed and the St. Cloud Crush sit as the No. 4.
The Spuds advanced to the section championship last season and defeated Bemidji 8-1. Moorhead then won its first Class 2A state championship.
The team looks to hit the ground running following the opening draw Tuesday.
“We haven’t scored too many goals in the first and second periods,” Mickelson said. “If we can start better, that’ll be a huge help for the playoffs.”
Bergeson added the Spuds can’t overlook anyone.
“Just take it one game at a time,” Bergeson said.
After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com