February 24, 2015

Junior Gold wraps up regular season hockey action

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

The Watford City Junior Gold Oilers hockey team completed its home schedule on Friday night knocking off the Richland Rangers, 8-3. Before the game, the seniors and parents were recognized for their participation and dedication to the Oilers hockey program. Seniors playing their final home game were Cody Johnson, Daniel Marmon, Ted Ramage, Beau Heiser, Wyatt Staal, Dalton Wright, Jon Dunn, Eric Leiseth and James Devers. During the pre-game ceremonies, Kerry Jo Garmann dropped the ceremonial puck and was given a warm Oiler welcome. Also, Nick Valenzuela did a great performance of the National Anthem.
With all the hype, the Oilers controlled the first period holding a 25-5 shot advantage, but could only find the back of the net one time as the Ranger goaltender was up to the challenge. Jon Dunn scored with 15:29 remaining in the first period, scoring a power play goal with the help of Ted Ramage and Beau Heiser.
The hometown boys wasted little time to beat the Ranger netminder  in the second period as Heiser pinched in and picked up a loose puck and hit a streaking Ted Ramage in the slot just 31 seconds into the period.
Dunn added his second goal of the game just nine seconds later on some pretty passing from Ramage and Derrike Hayden for a 3-0 Oiler lead.
Dalton Wright increased the Oilers lead when he beat the Ranger goalie stick side. Wright did a dirty toe drag to beat a Ranger defenseman sending himself in alone. Daniel Marmon and Cody Johnson assisted on the play.
Dunn would complete his hat trick with Ramage and Wright adding assists on the play.
The Rangers would finally beat Oilers goalie, Quayde Shores, on a misdirection shot to cut the lead to 5-1. The Rangers then took advantage of loose defensive coverage by the Oilers as Richland County scored  with just eight seconds remaining in the period to trail Watford City, 5-2, after two periods of play.
Richland County would cut Watford City’s lead to two goals 20 seconds into the third period as they scored on a power play goal. But the Oilers would answer right back as Tyler Uhlich threw a puck from the left point and found the net. Dunn and Ramage added the assists on Uhlich’s first goal of the season.
Ramage then added his second goal of the game with just over 10 minutes left as he converted on a Heiser and Hayden feed.
Dalton Wright capped off Watford City’s scoring as he scored his second goal of the game with 2:47 left with the help of his line mates, Marmon and Rait Elliot.
Shores turned aside 25 Ranger shots while the Oilers threw 62 shots on net.
On Saturday, the Oilers skated up against the Watford City Oilers B team, claiming a 14-0 win. Scoring for the Oilers was Ted Ramage with three goals and two assists, Daniel Marmon and Jon Dunn with two goals and two assists each, James Devers and Derrike Hayden scoring two goals on one assist each, Dalton Wright and Eric Hellandsaas scoring one goal and three assists each, Eric Leiseth with one goal and one assist and Beau Heiser with four assists on the night. Shores turned aside 10 shots in posting his sixth shutout of the year.
The Oiler played their final regular season game on Monday against Crosby in a game that would determine the league champion.
The Oilers dropped the hard-fought game, 2-1.
Dalton Wright put the Oilers up 1-0 in the second period as he knocked a rebound past the Comets goalie on a Beau Heiser assist.
But Crosby would score two goals in the third period to win the contest. Quayde Shores was strong in the goal, turning aside 35 Comet shots.
The next action for the Oilers will be the State Tournament which will be held in Mayville on March 5, 6 and 7.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER