Brock Saatzer and Randy Volkmuth each flicked in four goals and collected assists to spark the unbeaten Brainerd Warriors to a 12-5 victory over Wayzata/Minnetonka on Tuesday at Riverside Elementary School in Brainerd.
Brainerd, which beat Wayzata/Minnetonka 7-1 Jan. 29, improved to 8-0 in the conference and overall. Wayzata/Minnetonka slipped to 4-3 and had its two-game win streak halted.
Devin Annable contributed two goals and four assists, Cody Vleck added four assists and Jake Heikkenen delivered a goal and three assists.
Zachary Denny stopped 17 shots in the Warriors' final home game of the regular season.
"Our regular two lines saw limited action tonight, but when they were on the floor, they moved the puck very well and made good decisions with it," Warriors coach Todd Person said. "Brock Saatzer and Cody Vleck along with Jacob Heinlen continue to improve as a group and it was great to see Randy Volkmuth come alive tonight as he gave a spark to the second line with three goals of his own.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We saw a few mistakes by some of the newer players, especially in our defensive zone that gave Wayzata some good opportunities, which to their credit they were able to capitalize on.
"Zachary Denny did a solid job in goal tonight. With an improved Wayzata team, he was able to get a look at more shots than he has in the last few games."
The Warriors play at four-time defending state champion Robbinsdale on Thursday.
"Everyone on the team knows that we will be facing a different Robbinsdale team when we travel to their home floor for our final meeting in the regular season," Person said.
Wayzata/M 2 2 1 - 5
Brainerd 3 4 5 - 12
First period: B-Brock Saatzer (Devin Annable) 2:07; W-Casey Steffen (Ashley Gabrielsen, Tommy Ernst) 8:49; B-Saatzer (Cody Vleck) 10:41; W-Ben Carlson 14:10; B-Saatzer (Vleck) 14:50
Second period: B-Jacob Heinlen (Vleck, Saatzer) 3:05; B-Jake Heikkenen (Randy Volkmuth) 6:13; B-Volkmuth (Annable) 7:13; B-Volkmuth (Jake Heikkenen) 7:46; W-Connor Nordvall 8:59; W-Ashley Gabrielsen (Ben Carlson) 9:30
ADVERTISEMENT
Third period: B-Randy Volkmuth (Annable) 0:08; B-Annable (Heikkenen) 0:47; B-Volkmuth (Annable, Heikkenen) 1:01; B-Saatzer (Ray Borg, Vleck) 1:36; W-Ben Carlson 2:58; B-Annable (Lucas Clover) 11:30
Shots on goal: B 9-13-6-28; W 10-6-6-22
Goalies: Brd-Zachary Denny (17 saves); W-Erin Jahn (16 saves)
Overall: Brd 8-0-0. Next: Brainerd at Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Westonka 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
