The Dodge County Wildcats are headed to the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament and they didn’t take the easy path to get there.
All week, Dodge County embraced the underdog role and turned it into a defining chapter in program history. After surviving a thrilling 4–3 overtime win over the second-seeded Waseca High School Bluejays, the Wildcats once again found themselves staring down a favorite. Top-seeded Northfield High School entered the Section 1A Championship at the Rochester Recreation Center as the team to beat. But when the lights were brightest, it was Dodge County that looked poised, composed, and battle-tested.
They earned it the hard way.
In the crease, junior Wes Werner delivered a performance that flipped the script. He turned aside 32 of 34 shots, tracking pucks cleanly through layers and controlling rebounds in high-traffic areas. When Northfield pressed to swing momentum, Werner slowed the game. When they pushed late, he shut the door. Calm feet. Controlled movements. No panic. Big-game goaltending is how underdogs become champions.
Up front, Dodge County’s leaders rose to the moment. Camryn Koch struck first with a first-period goal, his 20th of the season, giving the Wildcats early belief and forcing Northfield to chase. From there, senior Gabe Coshenet took control. He finished with two goals and an assist, attacking seams, finding soft ice, and finishing with conviction. Now sitting at 61 points (28 goals, 33 assists) in 28 games, Coshenet played like a veteran who understood that championship games aren’t waited on — they’re seized.
Dodge County heads to state at 19–8–1, but the trajectory tells the real story. Since January 17, the Wildcats have gone 11–2–1. Structure tightened. Goaltending stabilized. Top players elevated. They’ve become heavy on pucks, responsible without them, and opportunistic when windows open.
This isn’t just a feel-good run. It’s a team peaking at the right time and earning its place on Minnesota’s biggest stage.
The Wildcats are state bound.