WATERTOWN SHAMROCKS (17-13-0-0) vs. ST. CLOUD NORSEMEN (10-18-4-0)
ST. CLOUD MUNICIPAL ATHLETIC COMPLEX AND PRAIRIE LAKES ICE ARENA | NAHL REGULAR SEASON | GAME #31 AND #32 | JANUARY 16 AND 17, 2026
The Watertown Shamrocks will play away and at home against the St. Cloud Norsmen on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex and Saturday at 7:00 p.m in Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. It will be the Shamrocks’ thirty-first and thirty-second regular-season games of the 2025-26 season. This is the first regular-season matchup between these two teams.
WATERTOWN SHAMROCKS:
The Shamrocks will enter this division matchup after sweeping a two-game series against the Austin Bruins, 3-2 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday.
On Friday, both teams remained scoreless for the first 20 minutes. In the second, Owen Chartier started the scoring for the Shamrocks, with Payton Struck netting a second to end the period up 2-0. The Bruins got their first goal in the third, followed by Chartier’s second of the game for the Shamrocks. Despite the Bruins’ attempt at a comeback, the Shamrocks held strong to a 3-2 win. On Saturday, Sebastian Haborak got his first goal with the Shamrocks. Later, Antons Macijevskis scored a short-handed goal for a 2-0 lead. The Bruins had a goal to finish the first, but both teams were held scoreless in the second period. In the third, the Bruins scored their second goal to tie the game, but Justin Obrochta put the Shamrocks on top 3-2 for the final score.
The Shamrocks have won four of their last five games and currently sit in fourth place in the Central Division.
ST. CLOUD NORSEMEN
The Norsemen will enter this division matchup after dropping two home games to the Bismarck Bobcats, 3-0 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday.
On Friday, the Norsemen were held scoreless, despite 16 shots on goal. The Bobcats dominated with a goal from Mark Evans in the first, then two from Cooper Williams in the second period. On Saturday, the story was similar. Cooper Williams and Ben Rakowski put up two for the Bobcats in the first period, and Ben Osiashvilli and Mark Evans put up two more in the second. St. Cloud got its first and only goal of the weekend on the power play from Samuel Misak.
The Norsemen have won one of their last five games and currently sit in seventh place in the Central Division.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
SHAMROCKS:
- Zach Boren currently leads the team with 18 goals and 34 points, and is second with 16 assists. He had one assist on the weekend.
- Owen Chartier is second with 13 goals and scored two goals this weekend.
- Justin Obrochta recorded a goal and an assist on the weekend, for a total of 19 points this season.
NORSEMEN:
- William Esterbrooks currently leads the team with 10 goals, eight assists, for a total of 28 points this season.
- Sam Crane is second in points, with nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points this season.
- Samuel Misak scored the Norsemen’s only goal of the weekend and has 11 points this season.
By Lily Schutzehofer
Photo by Sarah Cooper