Spuds’ Stars Come Home: Three Junior-Bound Players Return to Moorhead to Chase Back-to-Back Titles

MOORHEAD (KVRR) — A year ago, the Moorhead Spuds skated into history with the program’s first-ever boys hockey state championship. And as the nets were taken down and the celebrations faded, it looked like the roster that delivered that long-awaited title would scatter.

Senior leaders Mason Kraft and Gopher commit Brooks Cullen had graduated. Rising stars Tyden Bergeson, Brandon Mickelson, and Zac Zimmerman were all set to leave for junior hockey—following the traditional path for elite Minnesota talent.

But then, a group chat buzzed.

“It was kind of all three of us— all in a group chat, like just talking, figuring out all the things that we needed to figure out and ultimately just kind of made it up together,” senior forward Tyden Bergeson said.

“*It*” turned into one of the biggest preseason shockers in Minnesota high school hockey: all three returning to suit up for the Spuds.

**A DECISION ROOTED IN FRIENDSHIP**

For Brandon Mickelson, the choice came down to something simple.

“It kind of came down to my friends and just family, just being home, and another chance to go back-to-back was the main factor, to be honest,” Mickelson said. “I wouldn’t say it was the plan the whole time, but Bergeson obviously kind of started to come back, and then I started to think about it, and I talked to Zac, and yeah, we all just made the decision to come back.”

The trio realized this was a final chance to wear the same jersey—together.

“You never really get this time back with your friends,” Bergeson said. “So just one more year playing with your buddies and just having fun.”

Zimmerman echoed that:

“When Mickelson came back then I pretty much said, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna come back.’ Just one more year with him, since I’ll probably never play with him again. So I was like, ‘Yeah, why not?’”

Why not, indeed—especially when you’re returning to a team trying to replicate the most successful season in school history.

**A ROSTER THAT GOT EVEN BETTER**

And as if the Spuds needed more star power, they added one more headline name: 2025 Youth Hockey Hub Bantam Player of the Year Joey Cullen, youngest son of three-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Cullen.

“You know, that wasn’t even on the radar, and for that to be something to come to be is obviously a huge boost,” head coach Jon Ammerman said. “Just how not only he, but the others complement one another.”

For Ammerman, having his three seasoned returners plus a Cullen prodigy is nothing short of a coaching dream.

“It’s been fun to have them back— not only their skill and all that, but their leadership for sure,” he said. “And showing the young kids how we do things.”

**HOW THEY DO THINGS: WINNING**

So far, the Spuds look every bit the powerhouse they were last March.

They opened their season with a statement: 6–3 over Edina.

Then they followed it with a 7–0 shutout of Wayzata.

The Spuds aren’t just good—they’re confident.

“We think we could win every game this year, and that’s our goal,” Zimmerman said. “So that’s what we’re going to do.”

Bergeson didn’t mince words either:

“We came here to do one job, and that’s to win our last game of the year.”

And the expectation?

Mickelson says it outright.

“I think that’s kind of just the expectation— to go back-to-back. I mean, I think we have the group to do it. We have a lot of good games left, but yeah, we don’t want to take anybody for granted. But yeah, that’s the goal: be the best team in the state for the whole year.”

**ONE MORE YEAR, ONE MORE RUN**

Three players turned down the junior route for one more winter in orange and black. One phenom added his name to the mix. And together, they’ve created a roster that looks as dangerous—if not more so—than last year’s championship squad.

The Spuds aren’t just defending a title.
They’re chasing something rarer.
A legacy.

And thanks to a group chat, a little nostalgia, and a whole lot of friendship, Moorhead might just have the team to do it.

Moorhead (2-0) returns to the ice this weekend for a road trip up North. Friday At Warroad and Saturday At Roseau.

The team then returns home Thursday, December 4, for the home opener. That is when the 2024-25 championship banner will be unveiled.