Hockey

Wings edge Watertown in shootout

by
Dave Vilhauer
March 30, 2025

A group of Aberdeen Wings defenders help goalie Willum Braun keep the puck out of the net during a North American Hockey League game against the Watertown Shamrocks on Saturday at the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. Wings defenders include Grant Winkler (25), Cade Mosham (12), Luke Backel (14), Elvis Laskovs (5) and Charlie Burchfield (7). Pictured for the Shamrocks are Anton Macijevskis (26) and Henry Lechner (15). Courtesy photo

WATERTOWN – The Aberdeen Wings collected a key 4-3 shootout win over the Watertown Shamrocks Saturday night at the Prairie Lake Ice Arena.

Jibber Kuhl scored the lone goal in the shootout as the Wings stayed four points ahead of St. Cloud for the final playoff spot in the Central Division. Aberdeen has four games remaining while the Norseman have five games left.

Aberdeen owned a 2-1 lead over the Shamrocks following the opening period thanks to goals from Nikolai Tishkevish and Kuhl. The hosts tied the game in the second period, before the Wings jumped back in front in the third period on a goal from Gustas Zemaitis. However, Watertown’s Joseph Rice scored in the closing seconds of the third period to force overtime.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the extra session, sending the contest to a shootout. Aberdeen missed a pair of shots, before Kuhl connected. Meanwhile, the Shamrocks missed all three of their attempts.

Aberdeen goalie Willum Braun finished with 22 saves in all, including three big ones in the shootout.

Ryder Many Grey Horses of the Aberdeen Wings controls the puck in front of teammate Jibber Kuhl during their North American Hockey League game against the Watertown Shamrocks on Saturday at the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. Kuhl’s shootout goal lifted the Wings to a 4-3 win. Courtesy photo

The Wings will close out the regular season with four home games in the next two weeks, two against Minot next weekend and two against North Iowa the following weekend. All games will have a 7:15 p.m. puck drop at the Odde Ice Center.

To see a box score of the game, click on the following link:

https://www.aberdeenwings.com/game-center/?game_id=44172