BRAINERD — Drew Haakonson scored or assisted on all three of the Brainerd Warriors goals in a 3-1 Central Lakes Conference win against the Fergus Falls Otters Monday, Jan. 26.
The win is the Warriors’ fourth in five games and moves them to 4-3 in the conference and 6-10-2 overall.
Brainerd recorded two goals in the final two minutes of the first period to grab a 2-0 lead. Cooper Katenzberger scored on assists from Landon Gangl and Haakonson with 1:49 left in the first.
Haakonson added an unassisted goal with 40 seconds left to give the Warriors momentum into the first intermission.
“We just had to put the cute stuff away today and grind,” Haakonson said. “They played hard and were physical. I thought we did an OK job. The third period wasn’t our best.
“Scoring at the end of periods really kills the other team’s momentum. It happens to us a lot, so today it felt good going back to the locker room.”
Brainerd goalie Tristan Rollins is in a perfect position to deny Fergus Falls’ Tanner Danaghue’s goal attempt during a Central Lakes Conference boys’ hockey game on Monday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Essentia Health Sports Center.
Jeremy Millsop / Brainerd Dispatch
Warriors’ head coach Jerr Johnson thought the first five minutes were critical to setting the tone.
“We were really good early and then hit a little bit of a lull,” Johnson said. “Fergus is a good team with a couple of good lines. We created our own chances, which is huge. Drew had that big second goal at the end of the first period.”
The Warriors committed five penalties and killed off all five. Brainerd killed six penalties in a row dating back to its win Saturday, Jan. 24, against Duluth Denfeld.
The Brainerd Warriors celebrate Cooper Katzenberger’s first-period goal against Fergus Falls during a Central Lakes Conference game on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at Essential Health Sports Center.
Jeremy Millsop / Brainerd Dispatch
“Killing penalties has been huge for us lately,” Johnson said. “It’s been a huge point of emphasis because that’s what wins games this time of year.”
Late in the second period, Haakonson scored a power-play goal on assists from Ayden Dobis and Zander Peterson to make it 3-0.
It was the first power-play chance for the Warriors and they made the most of it.
“We have been putting some work on the power play and penalty kill and it’s really starting to come together,” Haakonson said.
Brainerd’s Zander Peterson skates toward the goal during a Central Lakes Conference game against Fergus Falls on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at Essential Health Sports Center.
Jeremy Millsop / Brainerd Dispatch
Haakonson’s three points give him a team-leading 22 with nine goals and 13 assists.
“From a defenseman, that’s never easy to do,” Johnson said. “He is having a great season. He had a couple of tough shifts to start, but settled down and took over the game.”
Haakonson added: “After coach talked to me, I just went out and played my game.”
Fergus Falls’ Brant Scheuerman scored on an assist from Luke Warner at the 4:51 mark of the third period. It was a delayed penalty on Brainerd and Fergus Falls had an extra attacker on the ice.
Brainerd’s Drew Haakonson celebrates his first-period goal against the Fergus Falls Otters that handed the Warriors a 2-0 lead on Monday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Essentia Health Sports Center.
Jeremy Millsop / Brainerd Dispatch
“Maybe in the past when it gets to a 3-1 game we would panic, but tonight our guys continued to play hard and finish that game off,” Johnson said.
Brainerd’s Tristan Rollins recorded 17 saves in the win as the Warriors outshot the Otters 28-18.
“He had a win for us on Saturday and we put him back out there,” Johnson said. “I’m sure he wants the one that went in back, but he had a really good night for us.”
The Warriors play their third game in four days Tuesday, Jan. 27, against Alexandria at home. It’s a Section 8-2A and Central Lakes Conference tilt. Brainerd is 1-3-2 in Section 8-2A games.
“We feel good about ourselves,” Johnson said. “Alexandria will be a tough opponent, so it’ll be good to have momentum going into that one.”
Haakonson added: “I think we are starting to find something here. We have won four out of our last five and it’s starting to come together.”
First period: Brd-Cooper Katzenberger (Landon Gangl, Drew Haakonson) 15:11, Brd-Haakonson 16:20
Second period: Brd-Haakonson (Zander Peterson, Ayden Dobis) PPG 16:35
Third period: FF-Brant Scheuerman (Luke Warner) 4:51
Shots on goal: Brd 28, FF 18
Goalies: Brd-Tristan Rollins (17 saves); FF-Holden Stenstrom (25 saves)
Conference: Brd 4-3. Overall: Brd 6-10-2. Next: Brainerd hosts Alexandria 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Brainerd’s Cooper Katzenberger, No. 3, watches his goal fly over the shoulder of the Fergus Falls goalie during a Central Lakes Conference game on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at Essential Health Sports Center.
Jeremy Millsop / Brainerd Dispatch