BEMIDJI — With the score tied 1-1 late in the third period, the Brainerd Warriors liked their chances of defeating the top-seeded Moorhead Spuds.
Then an official’s whistle blew, penalizing Brainerd five minutes for boarding. About a minute later, Brainerd drew another penalty. The Spuds scored in a 5-on-3 situation and added an empty netter for a 3-1 win over the Warriors in the Section 8-2A championship game Thursday night at the Sanford Center.
At the 9:17 mark of the third, Brainerd received a 5-minute major. At 10:12, the Warriors’ drew an interference penalty, giving Moorhead a 2-man advantage for 2 minutes and 6 seconds. The Spuds’ Logan Ness quickly capitalized at 10:32, jamming the puck through bodies and past Brainerd goalie Jared Stearns.
Moorhead’s Terry Leabo scored into an open Warriors net with 15 seconds left to deny Brainerd its first trip to the state tournament.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s a 1-1 hockey game, and we get put down two men short, and that results in the winning goal,” Warriors coach Jim Archibald said. “I just wish the players on the ice could have decided the game.
“It’s frustrating, but we’re very proud of these guys. Each and every one of them can walk out of this building tonight with their heads held high because they had a heck of a season. They came tonight and played their heart out. That’s all we can ask for.”
The third-seeded Warriors could ask for nothing more from Stearns. He stopped 27 shots and was just as stingy as Moorhead’s Michael Bitzer, who made 23 stops.
Brainerd’s opportunities in the third, during which it was outshot 14-6, included Cole Smith’s rocket on a turnover close to Bitzer, who survived a Brainerd 4 on 3 and 5 on 4 late in the third.
“We had as many missed opportunities as they did,” Archibald said. “We had a couple bounces that maybe didn’t go our way, but that’s hockey. That’s part of the game.”
Brainerd finished 23-5, appearing in only the second section final in program history.
“The guys put forth a heck of an effort,” Archibald said. “Our last three games they played very well. Unfortunately, we didn’t end up where we wanted to be, but as coaches we’re very proud of these guys. We’ll take the weekend off, but sit down Monday and talk to everyone individually. I guess we’ve got to start looking at next year now.”
Brainerd’s Aaron Rich tied the game 1-1 at 14:21 of the second. Matt Pohlkamp wheeled around and flicked a shot off of Bitzer’s shoulder. The rebound dropped to Rich in front and he whacked it in.
“It was kind of a scramble in front,” Archibald said. “It was kind of a greasy goal and somebody poked it in.”
The Warriors outshot Moorhead 12-7 in the second and had several opportunities. Gaven Motschenbacher threw two difficult shots toward Bitzer on a power play, Bitzer made a pad save on a hard Mitch McLain shot and Bitzer made a skate stop on a Cole Smith chance.
Stearns foiled Thomas Carey in front in the second. He also received a little goaltending assistance from defenseman Chris Pohlkamp, who gloved an on-ice shot while Stearns had shifted to the opposite side of the net.
Moorhead’s Bryant Christian opened the scoring at 14:16 of the first.
Stearns stopped a shot by Nick Uglem, the puck fell in the crease and Christian was there to tap it home.
Brainerd’s chances included Matt Pohlkamp’s blast off of Bitzer’s chest on a power play and Thomas Stoxen’s slap shot from the point that required Bitzer to make a toe save.
Moorhead, which outshot the Warriors 9-6 in the first, had additional opportunities. Aaron Herdt hit the pipe from close range, and Cody Rahman was robbed in front by Stearns.
Brainerd 0 1 0 — 1
Moorhead 1 0 2 — 3
First period: M-Bryant Christian (Nick Uglem, Tony Uglem) 14:16
Second period: Brd-Aaron Rich (Matt Pohlkamp, Mitch McLain) 14:21
Third period: M-Logan Ness 10:32; M-Terry Leabo (Christian) eng 16:45
Shots on goal: Brd 6-12-6-24, Moor 9-7-14-30
Goalies: Brd-Jared Stearns (27 saves); Moor-Michael Bitzer (23 saves)
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
Comments (7)
Add commentGreat Season
What we have here is a group of extraordinary young men that will succeed in life, just as they have succeeded on the ice this season. We wish you the very best in your future endeavors.
M. Stearns
Live Broadcast
The game was very entertaining to listen to on the radio. Sounds like it was a very hard fought game, just didn't have the lucky bounce go the Warriors' way. Good luck the rest of the winter sports/athletes and also good luck to the upcoming spring athletic teams/players/coaches! Hopefully there is an alumni recognition at Adamson Field this spring, be nice to see some old and new faces!
Archibald
Spoken like a true Fighting Sioux player: “I just wish the players on the ice could have decided the game." Code for "the refs need to let the players play". Which is really amusing, as it means "ignore the rule book in the last period of a tied game." Which means that you AREN'T letting the players play (by the rules). Isn't what has happened in hockey lately enough to stop high school coaches from promoting this "hockey is a violent sport" attitude? We know what you meant to say, coach. Why not have the guts to come right out and say it straight, instead of hiding?
So who decided the game if not the players?
“I just wish the players on the ice could have decided the game....". I'm taking this to mean that the coach believed the refs had a hand in Moorhead's victory. What great sportsmanship, coach. If your guy received a major penalty that tells me it wasn't a close call. If it were your player would've been given a 2 minute minor.
Your quotes make you sound like a sore loser and it only takes away from the solid effort your team put up.
Congrats players. I enjoyed following your season.
flight
I agree completely. Nice post.
Ron
Back at ya. And I am not happy that Brd lost. I have no stake in this game, but Mr. Potato head's team has had a lot of exposure and success at State. I'd be happy to see someone other than them get to experience the X. But like you said, it was very likely that it wasn't even close to a borderline call. This "hockey is different than any other sport" attitude has to change. Maybe the general public will become interested if it does.
Or who knows, maybe hockey is different. After all, basketball players run up and down the floor for many minutes without coming off the court. Hockey players can only skate for 45 seconds and then need rest. Maybe hockey should change it's play and substitution rules to be like basketball. Maybe then the players would be too tired for illegal hits! ;-) Or maybe the lighter, faster, better-conditioned players would become the stars, as the huge, lumbering enforcers couldn't keep up with the speed of the game and become non-factors.
Actually.....
This particular 5 minute penalty really was controversial. The hit did not warrant 5 minutes and did not meet the definition of boarding, which is what they called. The refs didn't call much on either side up until that point and their decision to call what they saw "boarding" in a tie game with 5 minutes left was questionable at best. And it's not about sour grapes......Bemidji people (and one Bemidji ref) who were there agreed that the call was bogus. Archie is right this time around. It was a good game, either team could have won, but the refs unnecessarily changed the course of the game.