BROOKINGS – Ashton Witte and Carter Merritt both scored twice to help the Rangers drop Mitchell 7-1 in a South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association boys’ game Saturday night at Larson Ice Center.
Witte added an assist as he, Max Kjelden and Logan Bortnem each posted three-point games. Breck Hirrschoff tallied a pair of assists.
Neither team scored in the opening period, and the Marlins grabbed a brief lead 43 seconds into the second as Max Dailey lit the lamp on a power play on an assist from Austin Kerr.
Merritt answered 21 seconds later – Hirrschoff assisted – and it was all Brookings after that.
Witte scored the go-ahead goal on a power play with 10:05 left in the second. Kjelden was credited with the assist.
Jacob Drew (9:52), Kjelden (6:24 on a power play) and Bortnem (:29) also found the back of the net in the second as the Rangers moved ahead 5-1.
Merritt and Witte (power play) scored in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the game to provide for the final margin.
Brookings outshot Mitchell 43-16.
Kade Brecher made 15 saves to earn the win.
Jeremy Long had 36 saves in the loss.
The Rangers (2-0), who opened league play with a 6-2 victory at Watertown on Friday, and Marlins (1-2) play again Friday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. in Mitchell.
BROOKINGS 7, MITCHELL 1
Mitchell 0 1 0 – 1
Brookings 0 5 2 – 7
First Period
Penalties – Eric Biggerstaff, M (tripping), 13:24; Austin Kerr, M (tripping), 10:38; Max Kjelden, B (cross-checking), :36.
Second Period
1. Mitchell, Max Dailey (Austin Kerr), 16:17 (pp). 2. Brookings, Carter Merritt (Breck Hirrschoff), 15:56. 3. Brookings, Ashton Witte (Max Kjelden), 10:05 (pp). 4. Brookings, Jacob Drew (Breck Hirrschoff, Logan Bortnem), 9:52. 5. Brookings, Max Kjelden (Ashton Witte), 6:24 (pp). 6. Brookings, Logan Bortnem, :29. Penalties – Eric Biggerstaff, M (hooking), 15:21; Eric Biggerstaff, M (interference), 12:24; Ashton Reimnitz, M (cross-checking), 10:22; Austin Kerr, M (high-sticking), 9:17; Ashton Reimnitz, M (high-sticking), 6:28); Derrick Goldammer, M (slashing), 4:52; Ike Johnson, B (holding), 1:46.
Third Period
7. Brookings, Carter Merritt, 5:25. 8, Brookings, Ashton Witte (Logan Bortnem), 3:20 (pp). Penalties – Peyton Nash, M (roughing), 4:10; Tate Dailey, M (cross-checking), 4:10; Derrick Goldammer, M, 4:10 (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:10; Jamison Honkomp, B (checking from behind), :20; Jamison Honkomp, B (checking from behind – misconduct), :20.
Shots: M 16, B 43. Power-play opportunities: M 1-for-3, B 3-for-11. Goalies: M, Jeremy Long 43 shots-36 saves; B, Kade Brecher 16 shots-15 saves.
