Brainerd 5, Sauk Rapids-Rice 4 (OT) – Peterson’s OT Winner Caps Wild Finish

In the night’s most exciting contest, Brainerd escaped with a 5-4 overtime victory over Sauk Rapids-Rice at Essentia Health Sports Center. The Warriors needed just 2:37 of extra time to seal the deal when Zander Peterson found the back of the net for the game-winner.

The game was a tale of two offenses, with Brainerd controlling the shot count 34-22 but needing overtime to put away a resilient Storm squad. Richard Pyle was the star of the night for Brainerd, lighting the lamp three times and adding an assist for a four-point performance. Peterson, the overtime hero, finished with a goal and an assist, while Axton Peterson dished out two helpers.

Sauk Rapids-Rice didn’t go quietly. Dominic Stucke (#22) led the Storm’s offensive charge with two goals and an assist for three points. Bryden Prelvitz (#19) set up two goals, and Chase Hiltner (#6) contributed a goal and an assist in the losing effort.

Special teams played a crucial role, with Sauk Rapids-Rice converting on one of four power play opportunities (25.0%), while Brainerd went 0-for-3 with the man advantage. The Storm’s discipline issues showed with six minutes in penalties on three infractions, compared to Brainerd’s eight minutes on four infractions.

In net, Brainerd’s Griffen Bartholomew (#38) made 18 saves on 22 shots (.818 save percentage) to earn the win, while Sauk Rapids-Rice’s Landon Jennings (#29) was busier, stopping 30 of 35 shots (.857 save percentage) in the overtime loss.

Red Lake Falls 7, Park Rapids 2 – Eagles Soar on the Road

Red Lake Falls put on an offensive clinic at Ted O. Johnson Ice Arena, overwhelming Park Rapids 7-2 in a game that was never really in doubt. The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period and extended it to 5-0 through two before Park Rapids finally found the scoresheet in the third.

The shot differential tells the story of complete domination: Red Lake Falls peppered the Park Rapids net with 51 shots compared to just 24 for the home team. Despite the lopsided shot count, Park Rapids goalie Rylie Wesa kept his team in it as long as possible, making an impressive 44 saves on 51 shots (.863 save percentage).

Coby Knott led the Eagles’ attack with a monster four-point night (2 goals, 2 assists), while Riley Broden wasn’t far behind with three points (2 goals, 1 assist). The balanced scoring attack proved too much for Park Rapids to handle.

For Park Rapids, Carter Bennett and Gustav Pedersen each found the net once in the third period, providing the only offense on a tough night. Nathan Altepeter was solid in goal for Red Lake Falls, turning aside 22 of 24 shots for a .917 save percentage.

Neither team could capitalize on the power play, with Red Lake Falls going 0-for-4 and Park Rapids 0-for-6. The Eagles’ discipline was questionable with six penalties, but their five-on-five dominance made it a moot point.

Hastings 6, Dodge County 2 – Raiders Roll at Home

Hastings took care of business at Hastings Civic Arena, cruising to a 6-2 victory over Dodge County. The Raiders built a 2-0 lead after one period, extended it to 5-1 through two, and coasted home in the third.

Jonas Schauer (#18) was the catalyst for Hastings, recording a goal and three assists for a four-point night. Carter Hanson (#16) added a goal and two assists, while Blake Weber (#8) chipped in with a goal and an assist. The Raiders’ balanced attack and puck movement proved too much for the Wildcats to handle.

Dodge County got goals from Gabe Coshenet (#3) and Camryn Koch (#10), each finishing with a goal and an assist, but it wasn’t nearly enough. The Wildcats’ discipline issues hurt them, taking eight minutes in penalties on four infractions compared to just two minutes on one infraction for Hastings.

Special teams made a difference, with Hastings converting on one of four power play chances (25.0%) while Dodge County went 0-for-1. The Raiders also held a slight edge in shots, 29-24.

In goal, Hastings’ Charlie Stoffel (#29) was sharp, making 22 saves on 24 shots for a .917 save percentage. Dodge County’s Wes Wegner (#31) faced more rubber, stopping 23 of 29 shots (.793 save percentage).

South St. Paul 5, La Crescent-Hokah 3 – Packers Dominate Shots in Home Win

South St. Paul controlled play from start to finish at Doug Woog Arena, outshooting La Crescent-Hokah 49-17 en route to a 5-3 victory. The Packers jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead in the first period and held off a late third-period rally by the Raptors.

Jace Erb (#5) led the Packers with two goals, while Ryan Cudo (#9) added a goal and an assist. The shot differential was staggering – South St. Paul peppered La Crescent-Hokah goalie Charlie Wieser (#30) with 49 shots, and the junior netminder kept his team in the game with 44 saves (.898 save percentage).

La Crescent-Hokah’s Ben Schoepel (#10) did his best to keep the Raptors competitive, scoring twice and adding an assist for three points. Cooper Hill (#17) added a goal, but the Raptors couldn’t generate enough offensive pressure to seriously threaten the Packers’ lead.

Special teams favored the visitors, with La Crescent-Hokah converting on one of six power play opportunities (16.67%) while South St. Paul went 0-for-2. The Packers’ discipline was an issue with 12 minutes in penalties on six infractions, but their five-on-five dominance more than made up for it.

South St. Paul’s Michal Francis (#1) had a relatively quiet night in goal, making 14 saves on 17 shots (.824 save percentage) for the win.

Looking Ahead

Monday’s action showcased the depth and competitiveness of Minnesota high school hockey. From Brainerd’s overtime heroics to Red Lake Falls’ dominant road performance, these four games provided plenty of excitement for fans across the state. As the season continues to heat up, expect more thrilling finishes and standout performances in the weeks ahead.