The Gillette Wild opened the 2025–26 season with a hard-fought split against division rivals, the Sheridan Hawks, in a thrilling weekend series at Spirit Hall Ice Arena.
Friday Recap:
Friday night’s game saw the Hawks take early control, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first period. The Wild battled back in the second, tying the game at 3-3, but Sheridan reclaimed the lead with an early third-period goal. Despite a strong push in the final five minutes — including a near miss off the post — the Wild couldn’t equalize. Pulling the goalie in the final minutes gave the Hawks an opportunity to tack on two empty-net goals, sealing a 6-3 win for Sheridan.
Saturday Recap:
Saturday’s matchup was a tightly contested battle from the start, with both goaltenders putting on a show and keeping the game scoreless through the first period. The Hawks broke the deadlock in the second with a powerplay goal off a long stretch pass, capitalizing on a Wild miscue. Gillette answered right back with a gritty, highlight-reel play as Dylan Peterson connected with Dominic Arndt, who powered through a Hawks defender to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the third.
The final period was a 20-minute battle with both sides trading scoring chances, but the goaltenders stood tall, forcing overtime. Early in the 3-on-3 sudden death period, the Wild took a penalty but killed it off with determination, pushing the game into a shootout.
Sheridan struck first in the shootout, but Ole Svangstu responded for the Wild to even things up at 1-1, electrifying the home crowd. After both teams failed to score in the next two rounds, it was down to sudden death.
Goaltender Austin Trieber made, arguably, his most important save of the night denying Sheridan’s fourth shooter and keeping the Wild alive in the shootout. Assistant captain, Beau Delich, stepped up next and buried a 5-hole goal to clinch the Wild’s first victory of the season.
Gillette’s Three Stars of the Night:
- 3rd Star: Dominic Arndt – One goal, including the game-tying effort
- 2nd Star: Beau Delich – Shootout-winning goal
- 1st Star: Austin Trieber – 55 saves
The Wild are back in action this next weekend against the Badlands Sabres, looking to build on Saturday’s momentum and continue their push in the division.