The Danbury Hat Tricks closed off their 2026 NAHL Showcase set of games on Friday afternoon, losing to the Minot Minotauros 4-1 in Blaine.
Ty Ferguson got the start for Danbury; Ryan Bodnar for the ‘Tauros.
It was a back-and-forth affair, especially early on, but it was Minot getting on the board first late in the period after both teams traded Power Plays. Ivan Sidorov beat Ferguson in front to give Minot a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
A little bit of the same in the Second, Danbury went on three Power Plays in the period, and at the end of their second one, Aiden Stamm was able to spin around, send a backhanded, no-look pass to Eric He, who would put the puck in the back of the net for his first NAHL goal, and tied the game at one.
To the third, where the Hat Tricks themselves got into penalty trouble. Lucca Ori scored on the first one, making it 2-1 Minot.
Five minutes later, it was Luca Kataja making it 3-1. Minot continued to hold strong in their defensive end, not giving Danbury much space.
Adam Dauda pulled Ferguson with under four minutes to go, and Ori deposited the empty-netter with 2:58 to go, closing out the win for Minot.
Ferguson stopped 23 of 26 shots in the game. The Hat Tricks put 20 shots on Bodnar, and he made 19 saves.
Danbury went 1/4 on the Power Play. Minot went 1/4 as well on their Power Plays.
Next up for the Hat Tricks, their first true road games of the season next weekend against the Elmira Aviators from the LECOM Events Center.
About the Hat Tricks
The Danbury Hat Tricks are the Premier Junior Hockey program in the state of Connecticut, playing in the Tier 2 North American Hockey League. The Hat Tricks organization has sent countless players to Pro, NCAA D1, D3, and major junior hockey. Notable alumni include 2024-25 Hat Trick and Redding Native Niko Tournas (Moncton, QMJHL), 2021-22 Hat Trick Patriks Berzins (St. Cloud State, NCHC, D1), 2025-26 Hat Trick Patrik Ula (Sudbury, OHL), and many more.