WATERTOWN, S.D. — The Watertown Shamrocks wrapped up their exhibition slate at Prairie Lakes Ice Arena over the weekend, splitting a two-game series against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
Watertown opened the weekend with a 6-3 victory Friday, powered by a four-goal second period. Andrew Smulkstys put the Shamrocks ahead early with a goal at 3:52 of the first period. Justin Bartley and Justin Orbochta extended the lead to 3-0 midway through the second before Fairbanks’ Gage Leonard got the Ice Dogs on the board at 5:45.
Beau Christy and Owen Chartier followed with consecutive goals—Chartier’s coming on a power play at 2:21—to push Watertown’s lead to 5-1. Fairbanks rallied with back-to-back goals late in the period from Vincent Arnone and Dean Andrews to cut the margin to 5-3, but Chartier sealed the win with his second goal of the night at 2:48 of the third period. Watertown outshot Fairbanks 35-30 in the contest.
Fairbanks answered Saturday with a decisive 5-1 win. Ryder Millar and Ryan Shanahan built a 2-0 first-period lead for the Ice Dogs, and Harrison Kaszubowski added a third-period tally to make it 3-0. Third-period goals from Dane Gatmaitan and Samuel Johnson extended the Fairbanks advantage to 5-0.
Jake Pietila spoiled the shutout bid for Watertown, scoring a power-play goal at 10:58 of the third period. The Shamrocks held a 30-26 edge in shots on goal despite the loss.
Watertown opens the regular season on the road this weekend against the Austin Bruins.
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