Brainerd is unbeaten in Central Lakes Conference play and can claim the conference crown outright on Thursday with a home victory over St. Cloud — a task that may prove difficult with the past two meetings between these teams going to overtime.
Last year’s final regular-season meeting at Brainerd ended in a 3-3 draw, and last month the Warriors’ Luke Johnson (5-8-13) netted the overtime game-winner in a 5-4 decision.
Brainerd started the season unranked but has climbed to No. 9 in Class 2A after winning nine of its past 10 games, including a 5-0 victory over No. 8-2A Moorhead, the defending Section 8 champion.
The Warriors (18-5, 9-0) have thrived thanks to their defense, which is allowing 1.78 goals per game this season. Goaltender Colin Kleffman has contributed to his team’s efforts with six shutouts (second most in the state) and a .913 save percentage.
St. Cloud hasn’t beaten Brainerd since Granite City high schools Apollo and Tech formed the co-op last year. The program could secure a share of its first league title with a win, but a tie won't suffice as St. Cloud trails the Warriors by two points in the conference standings. St. Cloud could also make a case for a top-four seed in the Class 2A, Section 8 playoffs with a victory.
St. Cloud (17-6, 10-1) has generated scoring thanks to Brad Amundson (23-23-46) and Nick Portz (21-25-46), who combined for five points in the first meeting.