Fans of Minnesota High School hockey vote each week for a top performer and for the week of Jan. 9-14, Becker/Big Lake’s Brayden Graning took home top honors.

Following a six-game losing streak, the BBL Eagles got back on track last week with back-to-back wins, thanks in part to their junior forward, Brayden Graning. 

Graning, who is averaging 3.00 points per game this season, recorded points on all but two of the Eagles’ 13 goals between last week’s two wins. Against Northern Edge on Jan. 13, Graning netted a pair of goals and added three assists in the team’s 7-2 victory. The next night, Graning one-upped his own output, contributing six points in the 6-2 victory at Prairie Center. He recorded a hat trick—his second of the season—and three assists. Four of his points last week were on power plays, as he tallied one goal and one assist with the man advantage in each game.

Graning captured the top performer title amongst competitiors from four other schools including: Camden Cilek of Redwood Valley, Jackson Gilmore of Apple Valley/Burnsville, Oliver Linnemann of Faribault and Markus Olson of Bagley/Fosston.

Graning received 42% of the votes.

Season

The BBL Eagles are sitting at 7-9 overall, 1-6 in the Mississippi 8 Conference.

The team started the 2022-23 campaign going 4-1 in their first five games before falling seven straight times in the latter half of December and first part of January. They have since rebounded with three wins in their last five games.

BBL’s wins have come against Sauk Rapids-Rice (4-3), Breckenridge/Wahpeton (4-2), Bagley/Fosston (4-3), Windom (6-2), Northern Edge (7-2), Prairie Centre (6-2)  and Moose Lake Area (5-1).

Their losses are against  Northern Edge (4-3), Monticello (9-2), Princeton (6-4), Northern Lakes (8-4), Pine City Area (7-3), La Crescent-Hokah (8-2), Cambridge-Isanti (10-1), Willmar (6-1) and Chisago Lakes (7-0).

The team played at home against Mora/Milaca on Tuesday.