Adapted Floor Hockey: Brainerd completes 3-game season-opening sweep

After defeating Rochester 8-2 Friday, the defending state champion Warriors beat Dakota United 8-2 Saturday morning and then cruised past Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound/Westonka 12-4 later Saturday for the tournament title.

Against Dakota United, Heikkenen tallied a hat trick and four assists while Cody Vleck and Matt Allord each contributed a pair of goals.

"We were a little slow coming out in this game," Brainerd head coach Todd Person said of the Dakota United game, "but once we got into a rhythm we were able to control both ends of the floor as our three senior captains, with support from Matt Allord and Blaise Edinger, made sure Dakota United never had an opportunity to get into the game.​"

Brainerd outshot Dakota United 32-17 with Warrior goalie Karlee Shuler making 15 saves.

Heikkenen added another four goals and four assists against Robbinsdale. Allord, Vleck and Tre'Von Otey each scored twice for Brainerd.

"We had seen Robbinsdale handle Rochester in the early morning game," said Person. "With them already defeating Dakota Untied Friday night, this game was for the tournament title. We were coming off a 45-minute break ​ from our morning game, but because we had a comfortable lead against Dakota United, we were able to rest our starters for most of the third period.

"We came out of the gate quick with three goals in the first few minutes. A couple of penalties late in the first period seemed to rattle the players a bit and allowed Robbinsdale to move within one goal (at 5-4) midway through the second period."

After a timeout, the Warriors responded with three goals in a 37-second span and never allowed Robbinsdale to find the back of the net again.

Schuler defended the Brainerd net with 11 saves. The Warriors had a 31-15 shots on goal advantage.

"There were many positives this weekend not just from our three senior leaders, but from the younger players as well," Person said. "Everyone was able to get time in each game and use the skills they have been working on in practice.

"Karlee Schuler looked good in the goal and with the movement and space we were able to create on the floor it allowed us to control the puck keeping it out of our defensive zone and the opposing shots to a minimum."

Game One Saturday

Dakota United 0 0 2—2

Brainerd 2 4 2—8

First period: Brd-Jake Heikkenen 4:01; Brd-Heikkenen (Blaise Edinger) 11:00

Second period: Brd-Jacob Heinlen (Heikkenen) 0:44; Brd-Cody Vleck (Heinlen, Heikkenen) 3:19; Brd-Heikkenen (Matt Allord, Heinlen) 3:23; Brd-Vleck (Heikkenen) 3:42

Third period: DU-Riley Wasniewski (Edward Nelson) 7:15; Brd-Allord (Heikkenen) 12:50; DU-Blake Jackson 14:30; Brd-Allord (Heikkenen) 14:32

Shots on goal: Brd 32, DU 147

Goalies: Brd-Karlee Schuler (15 saves); DU-Nathan Jaworski (24 saves)

Game Two Saturday

Robbinsdale/H/M-W 2 2 0—4

Brainerd 5 5 2—12

First period: Brd-Allord (Heikkenen) 0:43; Brd-Heikkenen (Vleck, Heinlen) 2:03; Brd-Allord (Heikkenen) 3:31; Brd-Edinger (Heikkenen) 7:51; RHMW-Vincent Luu (Calvin Gerdt) 9:56; Brd-Vleck (Allord) 10:42; RHMW-Gerdt 14:47

Second period: RHMW-Luu 6:03; RHMW-Gerdt 6:46; Brd-Heikkenen 8:30; Brd-Tre'Von Otey (Heinlen) 8:32; Brd-Otey (Heikkenen, Heinlen) 9:07; Brd-Heikkenen (Allord) 10:25; Brd-Vleck (Otey) 14:30

Third period: Brd-Heinlen (Vleck) 1:00; Brd-Heikkenen 6:00

Shots on goal: Brd 31, RHMW 15

Goalies: Brd-Schuler (11 saves); RHMW-Haley Engebretson (19 saves)

Overall: Brd 3-1. Next: Brainerd hosts Mounds View 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.