March 10, 2015

Pee Wee Oilers claim back-to-back State crowns

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

Watford City’s Pee Wee hockey team capped off a perfect season as the Oilers claimed their second back-to-back State Pee Wee Gold Hockey Tournament on Sunday at the McKenzie County Multipurpose Building.
Opening Round
Watford City 11, Fargo Freeze 2

The Oilers opened their tournament play with a resounding, 11-2, win over the Fargo Freeze Red.
Jackson Dodds opened the game with a pair of goals, while Fox Dodds, Blake Zimmerman and Preston Larson would tack on additional goals for the Oilers to give Watford City a 5-0 lead at the end of the first period.
The Oilers would extend their lead to 11-1 at the end of the second period, with Jackson Dodds scoring three goals, while Fox Dodds netted two goals, and Jayden Russell one goal.
Jackson Dodds, who ended up scoring six goals in the game, scored the Oilers’ final goal in third period.
Recording assists in the game was Tayson Grotte with three assists; Fox Dodds with three assists; while Preston Larson, Evan Tepsa and Jayden Russell had one assist each.
Semifinals
Watford City 6, Grand Forks Eagles 3

Jackson and Fox Dodds proved to be the deadly combination for the Oilers in Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Grand Forks Eagles.
The fast-skating pair scored all of the Oilers’ goals as Jackson would drive the puck into the back of the net on four occasions, while twin brother, Fox, would tally Watford City’s other two goals.
The Oilers held a 1-0 lead after the first period of play on a Jackson Dodds’ goal.
Fox Dodds got into the scoring column in the second period to put the Oilers up 2-0, with Jackson netting the last two goals for Watford City for a 3-1 lead going into the final period of play.
Watford City would emerge with the 6-3 win and advance to the State title game as both teams would net two goals in the final period of play.
Jackson and Fox Dodds each netted one goal in the final period to secure the Oilers’ win.
Credited with assists in the game was Jackson Dodds with two assists, while Blake Zimmerman, Jayden Russell, Fox Dodds, Evan Tepsa and William Elliot had one assist each.
State Championship
Watford City 4, West Fargo Stampede 3

After a scoreless first period, Jackson and Fox Dodds propelled Watford City to a 2-0 lead after two periods of play.
But if the Oilers thought that it was going to be a cake walk to the Pee Wee Gold championship title, West Fargo had other thoughts.
The Stampede scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead with five minutes left in the final period.
But the Dodds’ duo, who had been Watford City’s leading scorers in the first two games of the state tournament, came to the rescue of the Oilers in the final 2½ minutes of play.
Jackson Dodds would score the game-tying goal with 2:31 left in the third period on a Evan Tepsa assist. And then just 18 seconds later, Fox Dodds went one-on-one with the West Fargo goalie as he sent the puck flying into the net for the game-winning goal.
Evan Tepsa had two assists in the game for the Oilers.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER