Lady Ice Dawgs Fifth At North Dakota State Tournament

The 19U Lady Ice Dawgs traveled to Bismarck, N.D., this past weekend to compete in the North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association State Tournament. The Lady Ice Dawgs were going into the tournament ranked seventh after the regular season standings.

On Friday night the Lady Ice Dawgs faced the No. 2 ranked Bismarck Capitals on their home ice. Bismarck came out fired up and got two goals past Goalie Autumn Gault in the first period. The Ice Dawgs could not get the offense clicking and were unable to get one past the Bismarck goalie. Bismarck scored two more goals in the second and third period for the 4-0 win. Ice Dawgs goalie Autumn Gault, had 40 saves in the loss. Due to the loss, the best the Ice Dawgs could finish in the tournament would be fifth place.

On Saturday morning the Lady Ice Dawgs played the West Fargo Stampede – a team the Lady Ice Dawgs lost to during the regular season back in January. When the puck dropped it was obvious this was going to be a fierce battle. The Stampede would be the first to find the back of the Ice Dawg net in the middle of the first period. The Ice Dawgs continued to skate hard and with 8:40 left in the second period, Alex Simensen wrapped one around the Stampede goalie for the score. She was assisted by Makenzie Wesen and Madison Knodel. The Ice Dawgs continued the pressure in the third and with 14 seconds left in regulation, Kennedy Schmidt, assisted by Alex Simensen, hammered one past the Stampede goalie for the 2-1 win. The win was a great team effort. Gault had 31 saves in the victory.

On Sunday morning the Lady Ice Dawgs would face the Crosby Comets, a team that the Ice Dawgs had lost to twice on the regular season. The girls knew they were going to have to play a solid game to take home some hardware. The Lady Ice Dawgs started the game a little sluggish after the hard fought battle the day before. The Comets were the first to find the back of the net against Netminder Gault in the first for the only score of the period. As the period ended, Bailee Holstein took a vicious hit and went down on the ice. The hit would send Holstein to the hospital ending her season.

In the second period the Comets got 2 more past Gault, making it 3-0.

Starting the third period the Lady Ice Dawgs knew that it was do or die. At 27 seconds into the period, the Ice Dawgs started their scoring run. Makenzie Wesen found the back of the net assisted by Alex Simensen and Emily Kolstad. Still keeping the pressure on with 8:08 left in the third, Kennedy Schmidt fired one past the Comet goalie, unassisted. The girls knew this game was now in reach and with 2:50 left in regulation, Carly Wesley slid one under the pads to tie the game at 3-3 to end the period.

In the first overtime period neither team could get one past the netminders due to some solid defense and hustle. At the start of the second overtime period both teams were still having a difficult time in front of the net. With just over 2 minutes left in the second overtime, Madison Knodel, assisted by Brett See, found the left side of the net for the 4-3 double overtime victory. Gault had 26 saves in the victory.

The Lady Ice Dawgs showed a lot of heart and never gave up, placing fifth. Gault finished the weekend facing 105 shots with 97 saves and was named to the NDAHA All State Team. The three seniors playing their last tournament game were Carly Wesley, Tamrah Pewitt, and Makenzie Wesen.

Thanks for the memories. Great season, Lady Ice Dawgs.