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BAA: Brainerd headed to state in VFW

By JT Madisen, 03/09/15, 11:30AM CDT

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Warriors salvage season with big wins on home ice to earn berth to State


Jack Evans scores for Brainerd Sunday

Bantam Hockey teams representing VFW posts from Brainerd, Little Falls, St Cloud, Monticello, Cold Spring, and St Michael gathered in Brainerd this past weekend to battle for a spot in the VFW State Tournament to be held in Moorhead later this month.  Brainerd, St Cloud, MAML, and STMA advanced from Saturday's pool play to Sunday's elimination round.  All four teams showed up Sunday hoping to survive the elimination round in a quest to advance and represent their local VFW in Moorhead.  Brainerd and St Cloud would earn the right to play for the championship with win's over MAML and STMA in the sem final round.  In the end St Cloud could not slow down Brainerd as they skated their way to Moorhead with a 7-3 win in the final.

Jack Evans three goal performance led the way for the host Warriors in their 6-1 semifinal victory over MAML.  Matthew Fischer got the scoring started for the Warriors and Evans first goal of the game gave Brainerd a 2-0 lead after one.  MAML didn't quit playing and when Jacob Johnson lit the lamp with the assist going to Devon Lyons to start the second MAML was back in the game.  Brainerd made sure MAML would not mount a comeback with Evans scoring his second and third goal of the game to start and finish a four goal run by the Warriors with Nicholas Karsnia scoring twice in between.  Brainerd's Wyatt, Gavin, and Riley Andres along with Josiah King, Matthew Fischer, and Riley Johnson would all record assists for the Warriors in a solid 6-1 win.


James Anderson scores for St. Cloud Sunday


STMA's Jake Benson scores for the Knights

St. Cloud scored two goals 14 seconds apart in the second period and then held on to beat STMA in the second semi-final.  Both teams traded scoring chances in a fast paced first period but neither could find the back of the net as the period would end with the score right where it started tied at 0.  The second period would start fast paced just as the first with both teams still searching to light the lamp.  St. Cloud would draw first blood when Logan Johnson burried a rebound in the slot with the assists going to James Anderson and Drew Bulson.  St. Cloud didn't waste any time tallying again on a great effort by Brad Amundson giving St. Cloud a 2-0 lead just 14 seconds later.  St Cloud would retain its two goal lead for the remainder of the second and into the third until STMA's Jake Benson was able to get past St. Cloud's defense and beat St. Coud goalie Keagan Karki to get within one.  STMA went on the attack for much of the period, however, St Cloud's inspired defense and solid goaltending by Karki would give them a 2-1 win to set up a rematch with Brainerd.


Brad Amundson scores for St. Cloud Sunday

In the Championship game, Jack Evans and Matthew Fischer each recorded hat tricks to pace the Warriors as they were able to post a 7-3 win and keep their season going.  This was not an easy win for Brainerd as both teams challenged each other often during a well played first period that couldn't produce any scoring and it appeared we would be in store for a low scoring battle.  Once the  second period started so did the the scoring.  Goals by Jack Evans and Matthew Fischer gave the Warriors a two goal lead and many in the crowd thought this game could be over.  St Cloud had other thoughts and tallies by Brad Amundson and Nick Portz evened the game at 2-2.  Jack Evans and Matthew Fisher's second goals of the game gave Brainerd a 4-2 advantage and once again put Brainerd in control.  A late goal by James Anderson assisted by Brad Amundson for St Cloud finished the scoring of the wild second period and Brainerd held a 4-3 lead.  Brainerd seemed to have a little more energy as the third period began and early goals by Lucas Johnson and Matthew Fisher gave Brainerd the cushion they would need and a late empty netter by Evans would complete the scoring in a 7-3 win for Brainerd.  


Brainerd's Mason Kruse cuts to the middle for the Warriors

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