9/20/26 Aberdeen, SD
The Aberdeen Wings kicked off the 2026-2027 season this past weekend at the Odde Ice Center, where they faced off against Minot. Both teams had a perfect exhibition season. Friday night with points on the line it was a back and forth battle that saw the Wings hold on for a 3-2 victory. Jonathan Doucette got the Wings on the board late in the first period with a power play goal assisted by Schaefer and Dustin. Brody Dustin would get a goal of his own later in the first shorthanded when he was able to receive a pass and score on a breakaway. Assisting on the Dustin goal were Hruby and Grimes. Minot would respond in the second with a pair of power play goals to make it a tied game heading into the final 20 minutes. Midway through the third it would be Doucette again giving the Wings the game winner with Hruby and Schaefer assisting. Braun would be tested throughout but ended up stopping 30 of the 32 shots he faced. Aberdeen ended the game going 1/6 on the power play.
Saturday night Minot came out strong, as you would expect, putting up the first 4 goals of the night. It wasn’t until late in the second period that the Wings got on the board with a power play shot from Price Grimes at the point that would light a fire for the Wings to start mounting a come back. The Grimes goal came with just 1:38 left in the middle frame on the power play from Riffey & Epp. The Wings didn’t just call it a period though, as Melker Hof would use the momentum and get another Wings goal with just :49 remaining in the period. Assisting on the Hof goal were Epp & Hontvet. Campbell Epp would get the game to within a goal just over midway through the final frame, but the comeback would come up short as Minot took game two 4-3. James would be credited with the assist on the Epp goal. Braun would make 26 saves on the 30 shots he faced.
The Wings will reload quickly and head to the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, MN this coming week. Games are Wednesday, Friday & Saturday for more information on the NAHL Showcase visit nahl.com/showcase/
