BRAINERD — Aiden Olsen’s celebration for 100 points is going to have to wait.
The Brainerd sophomore came into the game against Dakota United needing six points to reach 100 points in his career.
Olsen scored four goals, including three in the first period, to help lead the Warriors to a 10-0 win against the Hawks Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Riverside Elementary.
“We knew that (Dakota) had lost a lot of their best players,” Olsen said. “But we knew they were still going to come out fighting. We had to come out strong and couldn’t mess around with the puck and be all fancy. We wanted to get clean shots and make clean passes.”
Olsen scored the Warriors’ first two goals as they jumped to a 5-0 lead after the first period. Summer Headlee assisted on both goals.
“I was really pleased,” Warriors’ head coach Todd Person said. “There were some early mistakes on positioning, but overall we had a lot of intensity and moved the puck around well.”
Headlee dished three assists including the next first-period goal scored by Caleb Keran. Landon Brotherton scored a goal on an assist from Henry Rivers to make it 4-0.
Brainerd’s Josh Pence controls the puck against Dakota United on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Riverside Elementary.
Conrad Engstrom / Brainerd Dispatch
Olsen completed his hat trick with a minute left in the first period to make it 5-0. James Martin and Logan Kargel tallied assists on Olsen’s third goal.
“I was really hoping to reach 100 points this game,” Olsen said. “It will mean a lot to reach that milestone. I hope I can hit that 100-point mark and know that I am valued on this team.”
Person is grateful to have a player like Olsen on his team.
“I’m thankful he is wearing a blue jersey because I would not want to have to come out with a plan to defend that kid,” Person said. “He is all over the place and is a menace on the floor and shoots from anywhere.”After a scoreless second period, Brainerd went on attack early in the third period. Senior Owen Olsen, who is already in the 100-point club, scored on an assist from Keran. Aiden Olsen recorded his fourth goal on an assist from Josh Pence to make it 7-0.
Brainerd’s Henry Rivers and Landon Brotherton celebrate after a goal against Dakota United on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Riverside Elementary.
Conrad Engstrom / Brainerd Dispatch
Rivers scored on an assist from Brotherton and then Martin scored two goals to end the scoring.
Brainerd senior goalie Andrew Kargel saved four shots as the Warriors outshot the Hawks 28-4.
“It’s nice to know he is always so calm back there,” Person said. “He never gets rattled and is rock solid.”
Brainerd moves to 2-0 and returns home Wednesday, Jan. 7, when it hosts Minneapolis Adapted.
“We have battled back and forth with Dakota over the years and it’s a good thing to know this is where we are at the beginning of the season,” Person said.
Aiden Olsen added: “We are working on communicating better and passing better. We have been working really hard in practice to condition ourselves and be ready for these games.”
Dakota United 0 0 0 — 0
First period: Brd-Aiden Olsen (Summer Headlee) 6:21, Brd-Olsen (Headlee) 9:15, Brd-Caleb Keran (Headlee) 10:50, Brd-Landon Brotherton (Henry Rivers) 12:22, Brd-Olsen (James Martin, Logan Kargel) 14:00
Third period: Brd-Owen Olsen (Keran) 1:29, Brd-Aiden Olsen (Josh Pence) 4:45, Brd-Rivers (Brotherton) 7:50, Brd-Martin (Owen Olsen) 11:25, Brd-Martin (Keran) 13:20
Shots on goal: Brd 28, D 4
Goalies: Brd-Andrew Kargel (4 saves); D-Sean Wilson (18 saves)
Overall: Brd 2-0. Next: Brainerd hosts Minneapolis Adapted 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7.
Brainerd’s James Martin and Owen Olsen celebrate against Dakota United on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Riverside Elementary.
Conrad Engstrom / Brainerd Dispatch