PWB vs Mandan 1/12/24

Before the game even started there were some technical difficulties getting the National Anthem to play, so coach Jeff got the building started and everyone joined in to sing.

Mandan opened the scoring 4 minutes into the game, but Watford quickly answered with a goal from Hayden Bittner.  Mandan went up 2-1 and again Watford answered back when Cannon Hooper sent the puck around to Logan Russbacher who skated the puck up the ice and found the back of the net.  Mandan scored in the opening minute of the 2nd period to go up 3-2.  Minutes later, Gage Maertens skated behind Mandan’s net and put a back-handed shot by their goaltender.  The Oilers would strike again a minute later on the powerplay.  Skyler Secret-Pu made a shot that was blocked and ended up on the stick of Russbacher. He shot and it bounced around to the front of the net where Hayden slid it over to Jayce Fink who shot. The puck went off the goalie and the post before Cole Schettler poked it in to take the lead. Mandan tied it and they went into the 3rd period locked at 4-4.  Mandan scored early in the 3rd but again Watford answered back when Josh Sumner poked the puck away from Mandan, it was picked up by Schettler who passed to Fink to tie it up.  The game went to overtime and after a few minutes of back and forth battling, Mandan put a shot in to end the game.  Netminder Evan Jensen had 23 saves in the game.  Player of the game went to Gage Maertens for his hard work on both ends of the ice.

PWB @ Williston White 1/14/24

This was the 3rd time these teams came up against each other this season, losing the first time 2-7, and the second time in overtime.  The Oilers were ready to take their revenge.  After Williston put a quick one in the net, the Oilers responded with 3 of their own.  Hunter Bittner scored first on a Powerplay goal. Then a wide-open Jayce Fink netted the puck off a pass from Josh Sumner.  Skating out this game was Evan Jensen and he buried the puck when it bounced out to him from Fink.  Williston scored and then Logan Russbacher took a shot from the point that went in, another assist to Sumner and the first period ended 4-2 in favor of Watford.  The Oilers continued to build their lead in the second, with and unassisted goal by Fink, then a powerplay tally by Gage Maertens, assisted by Hayden Bittner.  The 7th point for the Oilers came off a shot from Skyler Secrest-Pu to Max Cieloha for the goal.  The Oilers had a hefty 7-2 lead going into the final period, but Williston wasn’t going to give up.  They put in 2 rebound goals in the first 3 minutes of the third period and the Oilers were on their heels.  A reminder was given that they needed to play the whole game till it ends and Watford managed to hold on and put one more in when Hunter Bittner got the puck to his brother Hayden to make it 8-4.  Goaltender, Cole Schettler stopped a flurry of shots in the third and ended the game with 23 saves and was named player of the game.