BROOKINGS – The Rangers picked up their first win of the season with a 4-3 comeback over Rushmore on Saturday night at Larson Ice Center, but the Thunder earned a split with a 3-1 win on Sunday morning.

Brookings, 1-3 on the season, returns to league play on Friday, Jan. 4 at Huron.

Saturday

• Brookings 4, Rushmore 3

Max Kjelden’s unassisted goal 6 minutes into the game got the Rangers on the scoreboard, but Rushmore cashed in on a power-play chance when Seth Stock lit the lamp off a Blake DeVries assist to make it 1-1 after one.

Stock cashed in on another power-play opportunity in the second period as Ryan Nolan picked up the assist for a 2-1 Rushmore lead through two.

Cody Niklason tied the game just 71 seconds into the third period with an unassisted tally, but Kael Delzer answered with an unassisted goal to put the Thunder back up, 3-2, with less than 10 minutes to play.

Wes Koenig netted the puck with 4:43 left to level the game at 3-3, and then, Austin Lesnar scored with 3:47 on the clock off a Carter Shoup setup for the game-winning goal.

Rushmore held a 25-20 edge in shots as Carter Schulz finished with 22 saves for the win in goal.

RUSHMORE 3, BROOKINGS 1

Rushmore 1  1  1  –  3

Brookings 1  0  3  –  4

First Period

Scoring: 1. Brookings – Max Kjelden (unassisted), 10:51. 1. Rushmore – Seth Stock (Blake DeVries), pp, 5:35. Penalties: B, Max Kjelden (Interference), 6:09; R, Ryan Nolan (Holding), 4:28; R, Ryan Nolan (Roughing), 2:15.

Second Period

Scoring: 2. Rushmore – Seth Stock (Ryan Nolan), pp, 3:00. Penalties: B, Ashton Witte (Tripping), 15:18; R, Seth Stock (Holding), 9:10; B, Alec Rice (Tripping), 4:39; B, Bench Minor, 4:39; B, Alec Rice (Interference), 1:50.

Third Period

Scoring: 2. Brookings – Cody Niklason (unassisted), 15:49. 3. Rushmore – Kael Delzer (unassisted), 9:16. 3. Brookings – Wes Koenig (unassisted), 4:43. 4. Brookings – Austin Lesnar (Carter Shoup), 3:47. Penalties: B, Cody Niklason (Roughing), 8:59; R, Ethan Ellander (Roughing), 2:38, B, Cody Niklason (Roughing), 2:38.

Power Plays: R 2-6; B 0-4. Shots: R 5-11-9 – 25; B 7-6-7 – 20. Saves: R, John Young 16; B, Carter Schulz 22.

Sunday

•  Rushmore 3, Brookings 1

The Thunder tallied goals in each period for their first win of the season.

Nolan scored the only goal of the first period off a Carson Kulmala assist before DeVries lit the lamp early in the second for a two-goal advantage.

Ashton Witte cut the lead in the half on an unassisted goal with 7 seconds on the clock to make it 2-1 heading into the second intermission.

Nolan provided for the final margin with a power-play goal with 4:06 left in the game as Stock and Kael Delzer picked up the helpers.

Rushmore outshot the Rangers, 28-19, as Philip Kuechenmeister collected 25 saves in the loss.

RUSHMORE 3, BROOKINGS 1

Rushmore 1  1  1  –  3

Brookings 0  1  0  –  1

First Period

Scoring: 1. Rushmore – Ryan Nolan (Carson Kulmala), 11:18. Penalties: R, Seth Stock (Holding), 16:12; R, Ethan Ellander (Hooking), 15:54.

Second Period

Scoring: 2. Rushmore – Blake DeVries (unassisted), 5:16. 1. Brookings – Ashton Witte (unassisted), 0:07. Penalties: B, Jamison Honkomp (Slashing), 14:05; B, Carter Shoup (Roughing), 1:07.

Third Period

Scoring: 3. Rushmore – Ryan Nolan (Seth Stock, Kael Delzer), pp, 4:06. Penalties: B, Cody Niklason (Checking from Behind), 4:43; B, Cody Niklason (Checking from Behind – Game Misconduct), 4:43.

Power Plays: R 1-4; B 0-2. Shots: R 9-12-7 – 28; B 6-8-5 – 19. Saves: R, John Young 18; B, Philip Kuechenmeister 25.