Athlete Spotlight: Mackley Morelli

MINOT – When  Mackley Morelli steps foot on the ice, the Minot High standout knows he’s carrying on a special family tradition.
Many followers of hockey around the state are quite familiar with the Morelli name. It’s spanned three generations and produced many impressive accomplishments. Mackley’s grandfather, Reg, played at the University of North Dakota, scoring the game-winning goal to give the school its first national championship in 1959. His father, Matt, also wore green and white, playing for UND in the late 1980s. His older brother Mason took a different collegiate path, playing Division One at the University of Omaha and then jumping into professional hockey. He made his NHL debut last year, scoring a goal and an assist in his first game.

“I’ve always believed family is one of the most important aspects of my life,’’ Mackley said. “It’s hard to put into words how much pride I have within my family. Staring with my grandpa and dad who played at the University of North Dakota. And my brother playing in his first few NHL games this past year. I’m grateful for the memories and that will last a lifetime.”
The senior is also adding to the Morelli family memories with his own play. Through just one-third of the season the forward is on pace to eclipse his best scoring output for a season (48, last year). Mackley has 26 points through 10 games and already has over 100 career points for the program.
He has the skill set to be a point producer. He skates and handles the puck well. Possesses a strong, accurate shot. And perhaps most important, a high hockey IQ.
“Number one is his shot,’’ says Minot High co-head coach Jordan Willert. “It’s heavy and (the release is) quick. It gets on the goaltender in a hurry. And he thinks the game at a high level. He understands (scoring) situations and what is needed to finish a play. Him and I talk a lot about setting up the next shot.”
Part of Mackley’s game that may be the most underrated is his competitiveness. “He is so darn competitive and sometimes that gets in his way,’’ he said. “Some people see it and think it’s him acting out, or whatever, but that’s not the case. He just wants to win and help the team win.”
But Morelli knows success doesn’t come by accident. It takes dedication, hard work and attention to detail.
“I like to put as much time in as I can when the offseason comes around,’’ he said. “The main things I focus on his lifting weights and being on the ice several days as week shooting pucks and doing the little things that can benefit my game in some way.”
The transition from youth hockey to high school is a big one, especially for a freshman cracking a varsity lineup. The action is fast and furious and opponents are older and often bigger and stronger. Mackley’s acclimation to high school had its shares of ups and downs. It was a year of adjusting to new coaches, team systems and understanding what it means to play hard in all three zones.

“He started as a wide-eye kid, taking in all things around him and learning from us coaches and how we wanted him to play within the system,’’ Willert said. 
Early on he would often play on top of the puck, getting scoring chances on the rush or in near the tops of the circles in the O-zone. However, he has expanded his game to work the puck lower into the zone and winning puck battles and creating scoring chances around the goal line. 
On special teams he is especially lethal when given extra time to release his shot on the power play. When his team is shorthanded, Mackley’s quickness and anticipation skills often disrupt the opponent’s set up and can lead to scoring chances the other way. His freshman season he tallied 18 goals and 31 points. His points increased to 39 as a sophomore and 48 a senior ago. 
Indeed, his offensive skills have always been there, but over the past few years his game has matured in other areas.“I would say I’ve improved on getting the bad habits out of my game and being better within the defensive zone,’’ Morelli said.

Another important development has been his leadership. Understanding what that means as a player. Putting forth a consistent effort each day and setting good examples for his teammates by playing hard in all three zones.
Willert said Mackley has always been a lead-by-example-type player but has become more vocal. “So many of the kids look up to him,’’ he said. “They know if we are in a tight spot, Mack is the guy we are going to lean on. They know they can lean on him, too.”

For Morelli and his fellow seniors this is the last opportunity at a state title. The team finished third in 2024-25 and came into this season poised to make another postseason charge. So far, so good. “We came into the season with a good level of confidence, but also knowing what it takes to get to the state and also what it takes to perform (well) at the state tournament,’’ Mackley said.

Plans after high school will include hockey for Mackley. “My goal is to keep playing hockey and to keep getting to the next level and hopefully play for a college team and get a degree.”
But for now he has a team. And hopefully more memories to create.