BROOKINGS/SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Rangers split a pair of SDAHA league game over the weekend, beating Sioux Center, 8-2, Saturday on the road, before losing 3-2 to Sioux Falls on Sunday at Larson Ice Center.
The split gives Brookings an 8-2-1-0 record, good for 17 points and fourth in the varsity stand-ings. The Flyers improved to 11-1 for 22 points and are in second place behind Rushmore (12-1-1-0 and 25 points). Oahe sits in third with a 9-5 mark, good for 18 points.
Next weekend, the Rangers hit the road – facing Fremont on Saturday, and then, a Sunday rematch with the Flyers in Sioux Falls.
• Sioux Falls 3, Brookings 2
The Rangers built a 2-0 lead as Kobe Ischen’s goal less than 3 minutes into play opened the scoring as Alec Rice picked up the assist. Three minutes later, Dominic Dobesh tacked on an unassisted goal, but Keegan Anderson cashed in on a power-play chance with 6:11 remaining to get Sioux Falls within 2-1 at the first intermission.
Braden Malwitz beat the buzzer at the end of the second period to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the final frame.
Trey Ponto scored with 3 minutes to play to give the Flyers the 3-2 win.
“That’s a tough one – we had a lot of chances early,” said Ranger head coach JaColby Anderson. “When you get up 2-0 right away, you think you have a good chance of winning. At the same time, you can’t get too comfortable – game’s not over until that last buzzer goes off.
“The key thing was we didn’t capitalize on was the 5-on-3 (power play) in the second period – we got a few chances, but we just couldn’t bury the puck. I think if we score there, the outcome at the end is a different game.”
Brookings held a 26-23 edge in shots as the Rangers came up empty on five power-play opportunities, compared to Sioux Falls converting 1-of-3 chances.
Anthony Seykora collected 24 saves for the win as Dylan Geraets stopped 20 shots in the loss.
• Brookings 8, Sioux Center 2
After skating to a 1-1 draw after the first 17 minutes, the Rangers notched five second-period goals to take control at Vernon Arena on Saturday, before tacking on a pair of third-period goals for the final.
The Storm got on the scoreboard midway through the first period on Sam DeJong’s unassisted tally, but Brookings cashed in on a power-play opportunity with 4:37 to play when Brandin Heesch found the back of the net off assists from Austin Lesnar and Brenden Way.
Dobesh lit the lamp just 16 seconds into the second period as Trevor Kuechenmeister and Cody Niklason earned the assists, but three minutes later, Spence Van Ravenswaay tied the game off a DeJong setup.
From there, it was all Rangers as Kuechenmeister scored back-to-back goals – the first unas-sisted and the second on a setup from Dobesh on a power-play chance. Alec Nielson added an unassisted goal before Way lit the lamp with 2 seconds remaining off assists from Mason Gerstner and Lesnar.
Dobesh notched a short-handed goal 5 1/2 minutes into the third period as Kuechenmeister picked up the assist and then, Kuechenmeister provided the final margin with an unassisted short-handed tally.
Brookings held a 45-14 edge in shots as the Rangers picked up 18 minutes of penalties on six infractions, compared to 10 on five for the Storm.
Tristian Hokenson collected 12 saves for the win as Blake Cannegieter stopped 37 of the 45 shots he faced in the loss.
Photo: Dominic Dobesh scores an unassisted goal during the first period of the Rangers’ 3-2 South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association loss to Sioux Falls on Sunday at Larson Ice Center.
