Otters fall in overtime, New Ulm edges Fergus Falls 3 to 2

The New Ulm Eagles defeated the Fergus Falls Otters 3 to 2 in overtime on Saturday, December 13, 2025, when Hunter Larson scored the game winning goal. The match went back and forth through three regulation periods before the extra frame decided a tight contest.

New Ulm took the initial lead late in the first period on a goal by Carson Uecker, with assists from Mason Buegler and Trevan Thordson. The Eagles extended pressure in the second period and Kadyn Zender scored late in that period, set up by Chase Johnston and Luke Johnson. Fergus Falls responded early in the third period when Brant Scheuerman converted a chance assisted by Parker Thielke to put the Otters ahead. Two minutes later Hunter Larson tied the game at 2 to 2 on an assist from Bobby Rewitzer, sending the game to overtime where Larson would net the winner.

Statistically the game illustrates a common pattern in closely matched regional hockey, where scoring is concentrated in short bursts late in periods. The scoring sequence featured goals in the late stages of the first and second periods and an early third period reply, producing momentum swings that investors in local sports programming and small business owners track for attendance and revenue projections.

For Otter Tail County the outcome matters beyond the scoreboard. Competitive home games and narrow margins tend to sustain ticket demand and increase evening spending at nearby restaurants and retail outlets when travel and weather allow. They also feed the talent pipeline, as close high school and junior level matches help keep youth participants engaged, which in turn affects future municipal planning for ice time and facility maintenance. Local athletic budgets and volunteer programs see these games as barometers of community interest when officials weigh funding and scheduling decisions for recreation facilities next year.

On the sporting side the overtime loss will influence team morale and could affect standings and playoff positioning as the season progresses. Small sample outcomes like this can have outsized effects on coaching decisions and roster management. For residents who follow local hockey, the game offered both drama on the ice and a reminder of the broader economic and social roles neighborhood sports play in Otter Tail County.