ABERDEEN, SD. (Friday, March 28th, 2025):
The Watertown Shamrocks fell to the Aberdeen Wings 6-1 on Friday night in a tough road matchup at the Odde Ice Center. Despite outshooting Aberdeen 32-28, the Shamrocks struggled to capitalize on their opportunities, while the Wings made the most of theirs. Watertown got off to a promising start when Zach Boren opened the scoring in the first period, but Aberdeen quickly responded with two goals of their own to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. From there, the Wings continued to apply pressure, adding two more goals in the second and another pair in the third to secure the victory. Shamrocks goaltenders Phileas Lachat and Mason Gudridge combined for 22 saves, while Aberdeen’s Damon Cunningham turned aside 31 of 32 shots for the win.
Discipline proved to be a major issue for the Shamrocks, as they racked up 49 penalty minutes, including a five-minute major and game misconduct for Carter Sproule in the second period. While Aberdeen only converted once on the power play, Watertown’s time spent shorthanded prevented them from generating sustained offensive momentum. The Shamrocks’ power play struggled to break through, going 0-for-5 on the night. Leading scorers Cam Markham and Travis Lefere were held off the scoresheet, while Carter Sproule and Markham each picked up an assist on Boren’s lone goal.
WATERTOWN, SD. (Saturday, March 29th, 2025):
The Watertown Shamrocks battled hard against the Aberdeen Wings in a thrilling Saturday night showdown, ultimately falling 4-3 in a shootout. The Shamrocks kept pace with Aberdeen throughout regulation, with Spencer Sasenbury leading the offense by netting two key goals. Joseph Rice also found the back of the net, while Travis Lefere contributed two assists. Goaltender Mason Gudridge made 28 saves, including three crucial stops in overtime, to keep the game within reach. Despite a strong effort, the Shamrocks were unable to convert in the shootout, while Aberdeen’s Jibber Kuhl secured the game-winning goal.
This marks another tightly contested battle between these two teams, with Watertown showing resilience despite coming up short. The Shamrocks outshot Aberdeen in overtime but couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Both teams engaged in a physical contest, with a combined 64 penalty minutes being handed out. Watertown will look to bounce back in their next matchup against St. Cloud as they continue to push for a strong finish to the season.
Photo by: Roger Merriam/Public Opinion