McKenzie County Farmer - Sports

Watford City’s Junior Gold hockey team went 2-2 at the State Tournament this past weekend in Fargo.
On Friday, in the opening round, the Oilers skated against the Langdon/Park River Warriors dropping an 8-2 contest. The Oilers opened the scoring when senior defenseman, Derek Quitt, blasted a shot past the Warriors’ goalie. Douglas Norby and Zach Frick added assists on the play. Langdon would answer with six goals of their own before sophomore wing, Chris Larsen, scored the Oilers’ second goal. Langdon/Park River would score two more goals for an 8-2 final. Derek Thompson turned aside 37 shots for the Oilers.
On Saturday, the Oilers skated against the Grand Forks Stallions in a loser out game. Chris Larsen opened the scoring 2:30 in, converting a play with senior Zach Frick and Douglas Nordby. Derek Quitt put the Oilers up 2-0 on a slap shot from the point on an Oilers’ power play. Chris Larsen added an assist. Sophomore center Reid Kinden put the Oilers up 3-0 with 2:36 remaining in the first period when he slapped home a rebound off Brandon Taylor’s shot.
Grand Forks scored 49 seconds into the second period beating goalie, Derek Thompson, with a power play goal. Chris Larsen put the Oilers up 4-1 with a power play goal, tipping in a shot off Douglas Rolfson’s blast from the blue line.
At 10:56 of the third period, the Stallions’ scored to close the gap to 4-2. Zach Frick added an insurance goal with 1:29 remaining when he pounded home a beautiful feed from Douglas Nordby. Austin Patten also assisted on the play. Derek Thompson kicked aside 26 Stallion shots.
On Saturday afternoon, the Oilers skated against the Fargo Flames, in yet another loser out game. Fargo opened the scoring at 15:09. Just six seconds later, off the ensuing face-off, Douglas Nordby set up Zach Frick to even the score at 1-1.
At 6:16 of the second period, Douglas Rolfson blasted a slap shot past the Flames’ netminder, with Nordby and Derek Quitt assisting. It took the Flames 12 seconds to answer and even the game at 2-2. Fargo would take the lead (3-2) at 16:35 of the third. Senior Zach Frick scored his second of the game at 8:07 on an unassisted goal. Frick would complete his hat trick with 3:32 remaining to put the Oilers up 4-3. The Flames evened the score at 4-4 with just 47 seconds remaining.
In overtime, Derek Thompson turned aside three great Flames’ chances before Douglas Nordby ripped a shot past the Flames’ goalie, 2:24 into the extra session. Frick and Larsen each assisted on the play. Thompson kicked out 33 Flames’ shots.
On Sunday, the Oilers skated in the Consolation Championship game against the Sidney Rangers, dropping a 7-1 contest. Brandon Taylor scored the Oilers’ lone goal, unassisted. Derek Thompson kicked aside 42 Ranger shots.
The Oilers close out the season at 10-16. Playing their final games were Seniors Zach Frick, Max Johnson, Jacob Quale and Derek Quitt.
With a good group of underclassmen, the Oilers should be an exciting team to watch next season. Sophomore forwards Douglas Nordby and Chris Larsen and sophomore defenseman Douglas Rolfson should be strong players to lead the future Oilers.