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BHS: Blaine Claws Past Maple Grove

By Peter Odney , 02/28/19, 10:00PM CST

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Carsen Richels scored early in the third period after changing sticks to lift the Bengals to a 2-1 victory.


Blaine hoists the Class 2A, Section 5 trophy aloft after holding off Maple Grove in a 2-1 win.

Richels, Brodzinski Key Bengal Win

Carsen Richels uses CCM Ribcor Trigger 3D sticks, all taped the same way, always lined up along the glass behind the Blaine bench. 

It’s evident that Richels loves his sticks, and it’s even more apparent that his $279.99 beauties adore him right back by the way his rocket-like shots launch off his blade. 

Bit midway through the second period of Thursday’s Class 2A, Section 5 finals, Richels became dissatisfied with his weapon of choice and swapped it for a second Trigger. 

“Just got in my head a little bit, (I) thought that might turn something around,” Richels said of his decision after the game. “When things aren’t going my way, I just do it,” Richels continued. “I switched after a power play where I had, like, five shots and couldn’t get anything on (the) net. I thought maybe if I switched it up it might flip something.”

At the 6:41 mark of the third period, Richels rifled a shot past Maple Grove’s Jack Wieneke, putting the No. 1 seed Bengals (22-2-2) ahead for good in their 2-1 win over the Crimson. Richels’ linemate, a point-amassing partner in crime, and Mr. Hockey candidate Bryce Brodzinski assisted on the eventual game-winner. 

“He just knows where I’m at all the time,” Brodzinski said of Richels, a junior whose current point total is 77 in just 28 games. “He’s an all-around good player, and he’s a lot of fun to play with,” Brodzinski added. 


Carsen Richels scored the eventual game-winning goal for the Bengals on Thursday night.

Blaine coach Chris Carroll said that Brodzinski, a Minnesota commit, told the coaching staff during the summer that he wanted Richels on his line.

“Those two are special kids for sure,” Carroll said, adding that Richels’ growth allowed him to vault from a 32-point scorer as a sophomore to his current campaign. 

“He matured as a kid physically and emotionally,” Carroll explained. “He put a lot of work in the summer, in the weight room, shooting pucks. That, combined with the physical tools and the confidence of that comes with all that stuff, he’s lights-out.”

Blaine goaltender Joe Daninger was also lights-out on Thursday, turning away 32 shots after giving up a goal to Sam Jacobs of the second-seeded Crimson (21-5-1) just 17 seconds into the first period. 

Daninger said that he wasn’t bothered by the early deficit and that this crop of Bengals doesn’t get rattled when faced with adversity. 

“We’re relaxed, man,” Daninger said. “We enjoy it. We dance, we have fun. That’s what it’s for.”

The Bengals also like to dance around the goaltender on the ice, routinely tango-ing with any opponent silly enough to invade Daninger’s personal space. 

“They will not let anybody touch me,” Daninger said with a grin. “We’re a family. We stick up for each other (and) we love each other.”


Sam Jacobs scored the lone goal of the loss for Maple Grove.

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