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.