Bantam AA programs from Anoka, Bloomington Jefferson, Grand Forks, STMA, OMGHA, Fargo, Hastings Andover and Woodbury met in Brainerd this past weekend to join host Brainerd in the Battle for the Axe.To claim the Axe a team would have to survive four pool play games and then win a fifth.  Brainerd defeated Anoka, Bloomington Jefferson, STMA, and Grand Forks to earn its shot at the Axe.  Meanwhile Andover took care of Hastings, Woodbury, OMGHA and Fargo on its way to the championship game.  The sixth ranked Warriors would be the favorite entering this contest playing on home ice and having momentum coming off winning  the Roseau tournament last weekend.  Andover on the other hand arrived in Brainerd with eleven healthy skaters, lost another to injury during pool play leaving them ten healthy skaters (seven first year Bantams) for the match-up with the Warriors.  Andover was able to build a three goal lead and skate away with the Axe winning 4-1 despite being out shot 38-22. 

Brainerd controlled early play in this one using its speed and size to create early scoring chances.  Andover responded by playing solid team defense anchored by goaltender Ben Fritsinger.  Fritsinger stood tall turning away all of Brainerd's scoring chances.  This solid net minding allowed  Andover  to eventually settle in and create some scoring chances of its own while continuing to play exceptionally well in its defensive end.  At the end of the first period  Brainerd would hold a shot advantage of 15-6 however the score would remain tied 0-0.

The second period started similar to the first with Brainerd getting many of the early scoring opportunities but Fritsinger would not let anything past.  Andover seemed to be wearing down under the pressure of the relentless Brainerd attack.  However, a couple of Brainerd penalties gave Andover a break from the Brainerd pressure and created some scoring chances of their own.  Late in the period Hunter Zinda was able to break the scoreless tie beating Brainerd's Jacob Mitchell giving Andover a 1-0 lead.  Brainerd would once again outshoot Andover 14-7 in the second, however Andover would head to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

Andover was able to create a little breathing room early in the third when Michael Clough was able to gain control behind the Warrior goal and put the puck past the Brainerd goalie.  Trailing 2-0, Brainerd went on the power play looking to cut in to the Andover lead.  Andover however was able to push its lead to three when Harrison Vandermey converted on a shorthanded breakaway opportunity. 

Brainerd did not give up and got back in the game when Nicholas Hastings scored off of a Brady Anderson pass cutting the Andover lead to two with plenty of time remaining.  Brainerd kept plugging away and the Andover bench got even shorter as a result of ten minute misconduct penalty.  Brainerd could not convert on two more power play opportunities midway through the period.  With two minutes and thirty seconds remaining Brainerd would go back on the power play.  After a timeout the Warriors pulled its goalie to create a six on four opportunity.  This stategy would not produce any last minute heroics as Hunter Zinda would score an empty netter giving Andover a 4-1 win over the favored Warriors.