Jack Kimlinger wins it for Wayzata Friday
Sam Emmerich goes backhand for the Lakers.
Minneapolis kicked off the first day of the Battle of the Blue Ox with a shutout victory over Buffalo, thumping the Bison 4-0 at the Maple Grove Community Center.
Cooper Gay paced the Storm on the scoresheet, tallying two goals and an assist in the win. Joe Miller added a goal and assist for the Storm, and Seamus Foley notched a goal.
Grand Forks cruised past St. Louis Park 7-0, led by Jackson Kunz's two goals and two assists. Tyler Zahradka also scored twice in the win for the Aviators.
Elk River held off a late surge by Eastview to escape its play-in game with a 4-3 victory, with Austen Humphrey leading the scoring with two goals for the Elks.
Wayzata edged Lakeville South in a shootout 2-1 and Fargo downed Apple Valley by an identical 2-1 score.
Moorhead thumped an injury-plagued Mankato team 8-1 behind a Hatty by Michael Overbo, and a one-goal, three-assist game from Wyatt Gunkel. Prior Lake rode the two-goal performances of Matt Beaty and Owen Neuharth to a 7-1 win over Bemidji.
Andover pulled away from Minneapolis to start the evening session with a 5-2 win, taking a 3-2 lead over the Storm in the first period and scoring once more in the second and third frames to claim victory. Gunnar Thoreson netted a Hatty for the Huskies, while Joe Miller was the bright spot for the Storm with two goals.
After a scoreless first period, Tyler Zahradka continued his strong play for Grand Forks, scoring in the second period to put the Aviators ahead 1-0 over Eden Prairie. Hayden Helgeson added an insurance goal in the third period as the Aviators earned their second win of the day 2-0 over the Eagles.
The other North Dakota team did not fare as well as their northern neighbor, as Fargo fell to Stillwater 4-0. Four players scored for Stillwater, and Charlie Strobel handed out a pair of assists in the win.
Wayzata eked out a win over Minnetonka in extra sessions on Friday, slipping past the high-powered Skippers 2-1.
Osseo-Maple Grove scored three times in the second period en route to a 4-1 win over Moorhead, ending the game with four unanswered goals. Luke Gamer scored first for the Spuds, a goal that was answered by Connor Kelley of OMG. Justin Janicke followed with two goals and Jackson Dwyer added the fourth for the Leafbirds.
Zach Michaelis scored two goals and added an assist as Elk River shut out Cloquest 3-0, with the other Elks' goal going to Austen Humphrey.
Centennial won its second close contest of the day, edging Edina in a shootout 2-1.
St. Cloud rode the wave of a hot start to a 5-4 win over Prior Lake/Savage, with the Lakers staging a dramatic comeback after St. Cloud took a 3-0 lead after the first period, and scored again early in the second to make it 4-0.
The Lakers stormed back with two goals in the second and two more in the third but came up short. Impressively, the nine goals the teams combined for were all scored by different players.
Orono opened the first round of the BA division with a 6-0 shutout of Pine City, scoring four times in the first period en route to the victory.
Nick Messerli scored twice for the Spartans, with Jamie Bazil, Bauer Barry, Lucas Jorgenson and Charlie Rusciano each chipping in a single goal.
Park Cottage Grove had no trouble with St. Paul, putting away the Capitals 4-1 behind the play of Joe Palodichuk and Marco Troje. Palodichuk and Troje each scored two goals for the Wolfpack.
Three different players scored as Edina shutout Armstrong/Cooper in the final BA game of the day, as Brady Giertsen, William Soderling and Benjamin Lynch tallied goals for the Hornets.
Jakob Stender and Dylan Mesita scored for Alexandria to lead the Cardinals to a first-round win over Osseo-Maple Grove.
Park of Cottage Grove's Joe Palodichuk kicks off the scoring in Friday's 4-1 win over St. Paul.
Jack Kimlinger celebrates his big day
Owen Quast, Park Cottage Grove BA
Quast has a long reach, a powerful stride, and a quick release. All traits you could want in a defenseman.
Justin Janicke, Osseo Maple Grove BAA
At times one of the smallest guys on the ice, but made the biggest plays...had two goals and had several other chances.
Zach Michaelis, Elk River BAA
Michaelis has provided an instant impact since returning to Elk River from a brief hiatus at Shattuck-St. Mary's. Finished the first day of competition with two goals and four assists.
Owen Neuarth, Prior Lake BAA
An assist-master, Neuarth's distribution skills play a key role in the Lakers generating scoring chances.
Jackson Kunz, Grand Forks
Jackson Kunz, Grand Forks BAA
Already an imposing player due to his size, Kunz combines a lethally accurate shot with a high motor to frustrate opposing defenses.
Jack Kimlinger, Wayzata BAA
Had two game winning goals in shootouts in one day...not much else needs to be said!
Gunnar Thoreson, Andover BAA
Thoreson's quick skating allows him to win most races to the puck, and his feel for spacing on the ice is a weapon few can match up with.
Tate Hammitt, Bemidji BAA
Hammitt's Lumberjacks may have taken their lumps of Friday, but his balance and stickhandling provided a bright spot.
Tate Hammitt, Bemidji.
Justin Janicke, OMG