Devin Annable scored four third-period goals to break open Tuesday's tight battle between North Conference leaders Brainerd and Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka to help the Warriors coast to a 9-2 victory before a packed Riverside Elementary gymnasium.
It's the first loss since 2010 for the four-time defending state champion Robins.
With the Warriors holding a 3-2 lead after two periods, Jake Heikkenen scored on an assist from Annable. Annable netted the next two goals before Brock Saatzer scored to give the Warriors a 7-2 lead. Annable then finished off the scoring with two more goals.
Saatzer also scored a hat trick with two first period goals to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. Cody Vleck picked up the lone second period goal for Brainerd as they outshot R/HM-W by a 16-8 margin.
Zachary Denny kicked away six shots for the Warriors.
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"With the way this team has progressed over the last year, especially this past month, I had a feeling that we could beat the Robins this season," said Brainerd head coach Todd Person.
"We had a good practice yesterday and all the players seemed to understand what they needed to do to make this happen. Zachary Denny took the net for his first ever start as a goalie and did a fantastic job in only allowing two goals. With Karlee Schuler in front of him, they stopped pretty much everything Robbinsdale threw at them, which really seemed to energize the kids on the floor.
"It was a tough, physical game and I saw so many positive things from our kids tonight. They really kept moving the whole game and never let up on Robbinsdale, which showed when it came to the third period.
The Warriors moved their record to 4-0 in conference play and dropped the Robins to 3-1.
"We had a huge crowd at the game tonight and everyone associated with the team appreciates the support that has been give to these players."
Robbinsdale/H/MW 1 1 0 - 2
Brainerd 2 1 6 - 9
First period: B-Brock Saatzer (Cody Vleck,Devin Annable) 1:30; R-Chaun Johnson (Jeremy Jost) 12:45; B-Saatzer 13:29
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Second period: B-Vleck (Annable) 1:22; R-Jordan Klein (Andy Hanson) 13:29
Third period: B-Jake Heikkenen (Annable) :20; B-Annable (Dalton Schreier, Randy Volkmuth) 3:51; B-Annable (Volkmuth, Heikkenen) 8:26; B-Brock Saatzer 11:11; B-Annable (Volkmuth, Heikkenen) 13:50; B-Annable (Volkmuth) 14:47
Shots on goal: Brd 16, RHMW 8
Goalies: Brd-Zachary Denny (6 saves); RHMW-James Charlton (7 saves)
Conference: Brd 4-0. Next: Mounds View vs. Brainerd at Riverside Elementary 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
