WATERTOWN – The Rangers blasted the Lakers 6-2 to open South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association boys’ league play Friday night at Maas Arena.
Ashton Witte and Kane Kurtenbach both lit the lamp within the game’s first 69 seconds.
Witte scored again later in the first as Brookings was up 3-1 after a period.
Logan Bortnem found the back of the net in the second.
Leading 4-2 heading to the third, Carter Merritt (15:37) and Max Kjelden (3:31) added goals to seal the deal.
Kjelden and Jamison Honkomp both tallied a pair of assists.
Philip Kuechenmeister made 16 saves to earn the win in goal.
Brookings is host to Mitchell tonight at 7:15 at Larson Ice Center.
BROOKINGS 6, WATERTOWN 2
Brookings. 3 1 2 – 6
Watertown 1 1 0 – 2
First Period
1. Brookings, Ashton Witte (Max Kjelden), 16:20. 2. Brookings, Kane Kurtenbach (Alec Rice, Charles Marshall), 15:51. 3. Watertown, Jacob Van Dusseldorp (Max Evans, Blair Boomsma), 12:24. 4. Brookings, Ashton Witte (Max Kjelden, Jamison Honkomp), 1:39. Penalties -- Kaiden Rawlins, W (interference), 11:20; Wes Koenig, B (roughing), 4:50; Parker Sheehan, W (high-sticking), 1:03; Max Kjelden, B (high-sticking), 1:03.
Second Period
5. Brookings, Logan Bortnem, 13:18 (sh). 6. Watertown, Jared Slobotski (Kaiden Rawlins), 16:40 (pp). Penalties – Jamison Honkomp, B (tripping), 15:38; Kane Kurtenbach, B (tripping), 8:26; Mason Lloyd, W (high-sticking), 5:30; Jamison Honkomp, B (slashing), 2:01; Parker Sheehan, W (tripping), :04.
Third Period
7. Brookings, Carter Merritt (Jamison Honkomp), 15:37 (pp). 8. Brookings, Max Kjelden, 3:31. Penalties – Max Kjelden, B (tripping), 11:51; Mason Evans, W (head contact – misconduct), 1:03.
Shots: B 34, W 18. Power-play opportunities: B 1-for-4, W 1-for-5. Goalies: B, Philip Kuechenmeister 16 saves-18 shots; W, Owen McBride, 28 saves-34 shots.
