The Rogers Royals clinched at least a tie for the conference crown with a 3-1 win over Monticello-Annandale-Maple Lake on Tuesday evening in Monticello.
Branden Cecil (power play) and Dustin Scheopke gave Rogers a 2-0 lead in the first period. Sam Johnson’s goal in the second pulled MAML within 2-1. It stayed that way until Jason Roberge hit an empty-netter with 50 seconds left.
Brock Maxwell stopped 16 shots, and Travis Brown, Alexander Lorman and Trent Fredrickson made assists, for Rogers, which outshot the Moose 37-17. Darien Jones of MAML stopped 34 of 37 shots.
Rogers (17-6-1 overall) is 10-1 in the Mississippi 8 with one game left, at Princeton on Saturday. Buffalo is second at 9-2.