DC boys battle hard — fall to Raiders in championship game

ROCHESTER — As always, Wildcats net-minder Jackson Roethler did a yeoman’s job of protecting his goal, but the No. 8-ranked Northfield Raiders did just enough to top Dodge County in the Section 1, Class 1A boys hockey title game on Wednesday, February 28, at the Rochester Recreation Center.
They ultimately wore down the combative DC goalie, coming up with (3) third-period goals to seal the 4-1 victory. The Wildcats were left heartbroken, having come so close to a second trip to state in four seasons. But the gritty bunch has nothing to hang their heads about, after a spectacular 19-8-1 season.
Dodge County bids farewell to eight outstanding seniors, including Roethler, forwards Gryffon Funke, Isaac Nelson, Aidan Nelson, Gideon Ellinghysen and Ethan Hearn, as well as defensemen Caeden Smith and Bronson Freerksen. Funke departs after a 44-goal, 74-point senior season.
“I think it was just a group with pure determination,” Dodge County co-head coach Bryce Wilcox said of the Wildcats’ seniors. “Some of them were thinking they might not even come out, whether it was a year ago or two years ago, but they decided to stick with it.
“Without that bond, without them sticking it out, we’re not able to put a 15-man team together. I can’t say enough about them. I’m going to miss every single one of them.”
The No. 8-ranked Raiders take a 22-4-2 record into the state tournament, which began Wednesday, March 6, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Scoring by periods: Dodge County: 0, 0, 1; Northfield: 0, 1, 3; Shots on goal favored Northfield, 49-15; Power Plays: Northfield, 1-4; Dodge County, 0-1; Penalties: Dodge County, 8 minutes on 4 infractions; Northfield, 2 minutes on 1 infraction; Individual Scoring DC: Gryffon Funke, 1 assist; Brett Ludvigsen, 1 assist; Gideon Ellinghysen, 1 goal; Goalie Jackson Roethler, 49 shots on goal, 45 saves.
1st Period Scoring: None. Penalties: Whiteman, NFIELD (Tripping, Minor, 2.0 min) 4:27; Nelson, DODGE (Tripping, Minor, 2.0 min) 6:00. Goalie Changes: None. 2nd Period Scoring: NFIELD — Cashin Goal (even strength) (Monson) 13:08. Penalties: Brown, DODGE (Interference, Minor, 2.0 min) 16:30; Klomps, DODGE (Cross-Checking, Minor, 2.0 min) 16:35. Goalie Changes: None.
3rd Period Scoring: NFIELD — Kennelly Goal (even strength) 5:07; DODGE — Ellinghysen Goal (even strength) (Funke, Ludvigsen) 5:24; NFIELD — Monson Goal (even strength) (Frank) 9:31; NFIELD — Steward Goal (power play, EN) 15:34. Penalties: Brown, DODGE (Holding, Minor, 2.0 min) 14:03. Goalie Changes: None.