Minot United gets top spot in preseason boys' hockey poll

MINOT – It’s a new name, but the same high expectations for Minot United. The team, which is comprised of players from Minot High and Minot North, earned the top spot again in the preseason WDA/West Region boys’ hockey coaches’ poll. The squad picked up six first place votes and 75 total points. Bismarck Century was a close second in voting with 72 points and garnered two first place votes. Bismarck Legacy was third in voting with 67 points and earned the other two first place votes. The annual poll was conducted by Bob Gillen, ND hockey statistician. Mandan was fourth in voting following by Jamestown, fifth; Bottineau-Rugby, sixth; Bismarck High, seventh; Dickinson, eighth; Williston, ninth; and Hazen-Beulah, 10^th.

This marks the 46^TH season of West Region hockey…The West Region Tournament will be hosted by Bismarck Public Schools…The ND state tournament returns to Fargo…There are two new coaches in the conference as Chad Miller takes over as Dickinson’s coach and Brad Frederenko is the new bench boss at Williston.

2025-26 Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1 Minot United (6), 75 points

2 Bismarck Century (2), 72 points

3 Bismarck Legacy, (2) 67 points

4 Mandan, 55 points

5 Jamestown, 50 points

6 Bottineau-Rugby, 39 points

7 Bismarck High, 32 points

8 Dickinson, 28 points

9 Williston, 24 points

10 Hazen-Beulah, 9 points

First place votes in parenthesis

Photo by Eric Pearson