Blaine (23-2-2) took advantage of a self-admittedly nervous White Bear Lake team on Thursday morning, as the Bengals scored the game’s first four goals en route to a 4-2 win and a semifinal berth. 

“We were scared,” White Bear Lake forward Sam Newpower said after the game. “(Our) heads were scrambling. We just couldn’t put (our) mind to the rink.”

Senior forward and Mr. Hockey candidate Bryce Brodzinski kicked off the scoring for the No. 2 seed Bengals in the first period, rifling a wrist shot from the Bears’ right face-off dot that beat goaltender Evan Foss cleanly. 

Brodzinski, who’s brothers Jonny, Michael, and Easton are playing in the NHL, AHL, and St. Cloud State respectively, honed his shooting craft by spending summers working for his father. 

“My dad runs a shooting school, so every day during the summer I have to help him out with it,” Brodzinski said. “He puts me through all of his drills. Shooting 200 pucks every day during the summer helps out.”

Brodzinski’s goal was his 36th of the season, second on the team behind junior wing Carsen Richels, who potted his 40th tally of the season in the early in the second period. 

Joining Brodzinski and Richels on the arguably the state’s top forward line is Cole Hansen, whose season totals of 14 goals and 52 points are seemingly modest totals compared to his line-mates. 

Richels, for one, wasn’t the least bit surprised that Hansen scored twice in the win over the unseeded Bears (21-5-1).

“Obviously it’s not a surprise to us,” Richels said. “He does it all the time in practice. He’s a goal-scorer. He got his two (today), and he’s earned them.”

Newpower and fellow junior Grant Hofeld were the goal-scorers for the Bears, who couldn’t capitalize on either power play chance they had, including one late in the third period. 

“At this point, if you’re on the power play and someone’s going to open the door for you, you gotta cash in,” Bears’ coach Tim Sager said. “It can’t just be a good chance.