Watertown Shamrocks Release 2026–27 NAHL Schedule, Set Home Opener for October 9
- Steve Jurrens
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown Shamrocks, in coordination with the North American Hockey League (NAHL), have released their full 59‑game schedule for the 2026–27 regular season. The Shamrocks will open the new campaign with a playoff rematch on the road, facing the Austin Bruins on September 18 and 19 at Riverside Arena.
Head Coach and General Manager Casey Kirley said starting the season against a familiar postseason opponent sets an early tone.
“Austin is a good team, and we had a lot of good games with them last season,” Kirley said. “It’s great to play against a strong opponent right out of the gates.”
Division Realignment Brings Major Schedule Changes
Watertown will continue competing in the NAHL’s Central Division, but several offseason changes across the league have reshaped the divisional landscape. After operating with eight teams for the past two seasons, the Central Division will return to a six‑team format.
The North Iowa Bulls have departed for Houston, Texas, reducing the division to seven teams before the Minnesota Mallards were reassigned to the Midwest Division. The Central previously operated as a six‑team division from 2015 until the Shamrocks and Mallards joined in 2024.
The realignment resets the scheduling formula for all Central Division clubs. Each team will play three games at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota from September 23–26. Beyond the Showcase, Watertown will face four divisional opponents 12 times each, and one opponent eight times.
Kirley said the streamlined division will intensify competition.
“We play in a strong division,” Kirley said. “With the reduced number of teams, we will see the same opponents more often, which should make for some intense games.”
Home Opener Set for October 9
The Shamrocks will open their home schedule with a two‑game series against the Bismarck Bobcats on October 9–10 at Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. Bismarck is the club designated for the eight‑game grouping, while Watertown will meet Austin, Aberdeen, Minot, and St. Cloud 12 times each.
Vice President and Director of Broadcasting and Media Blake Theisen said the balanced schedule gives fans plenty of opportunities to pack Prairie Lakes Ice Arena.
“We are so excited to welcome fans back into the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena for the upcoming season,” Theisen said. “The schedule this season is incredibly balanced and provides a ton of opportunities for fans to make it out to a game this year. Our fans are truly the best in the North American Hockey League and provide us with a real home ice advantage. We can’t wait to get the season underway.”
Marquee Home Dates Highlight the Season
The 2026–27 home slate includes several fan‑favorite traditions and new holiday matchups:
· Halloween Night: October 31 vs. Minot Minotauros
· Thanksgiving Weekend: First‑ever home game on November 28 vs. Aberdeen Wings
· New Year’s Eve: December 31 vs. Aberdeen Wings
· Valentine’s Day Weekend: Two‑game home series vs. St. Cloud Norsemen
· St. Patrick’s Day Game: March 17 vs. Aberdeen Wings
· Home Finale: April 16 vs. Aberdeen Wings
Kirley said the team is eager to return to Watertown in August to begin preparations.
“We’re excited to get back to town in August,” Kirley added. “We’re looking forward to a successful third season in Watertown.”
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Full 2026–27 Schedule
The Shamrocks full 2026-27 season schedule can be found below.
Home Team | Visiting Team | Date | Time | Venue |
Austin Bruins | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, September 18, 2026 | 7:00PM | Riverside Arena |
Austin Bruins | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 7:00PM | Riverside Arena |
SHOWCASE | TBD | TBD | TBD | Super Rink |
SHOWCASE | TBD | TBD | TBD | Super Rink |
SHOWCASE | TBD | TBD | TBD | Super Rink |
Bismarck Bobcats | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, October 2, 2026 | 7:00PM | VFW Sports Center |
Bismarck Bobcats | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 7:00PM | VFW Sports Center |
Watertown Shamrocks | Bismarck Bobcats | Friday, October 9, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Bismarck Bobcats | Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Aberdeen Wings | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, October 16, 2026 | 7:15PM | Odde Ice Center |
Watertown Shamrocks | Aberdeen Wings | Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Aberdeen Wings | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 7:15PM | Odde Ice Center |
Watertown Shamrocks | Minot Minotauros | Friday, October 30, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Minot Minotauros | Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | St. Cloud Norsemen | Friday, November 6, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
St. Cloud Norsemen | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 7:00PM | St. Cloud MAC |
Watertown Shamrocks | Austin Bruins | Friday, November 20, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Austin Bruins | Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Aberdeen Wings | Watertown Shamrocks | Wednesday, November 25, 2026 | 7:15PM | Odde Ice Center |
Watertown Shamrocks | Aberdeen Wings | Saturday, November 28, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Austin Bruins | Friday, December 4, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Austin Bruins | Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Austin Bruins | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, December 11, 2026 | 7:05PM | Riverside Arena |
Austin Bruins | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, December 12, 2026 | 7:05PM | Riverside Arena |
Minot Minotauros | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, December 18, 2026 | 7:35PM | Maysa Arena |
Minot Minotauros | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, December 19, 2026 | 7:35PM | Maysa Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Aberdeen Wings | Thursday, December 31, 2026 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Aberdeen Wings | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, January 1, 2027 | 7:15PM | Odde Ice Center |
St. Cloud Norsemen | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, January 2, 2027 | 7:00PM | St. Cloud MAC |
Watertown Shamrocks | Austin Bruins | Friday, January 8, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Austin Bruins | Saturday, January 9, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Bismarck Bobcats | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, January 15, 2027 | 7:15PM | VFW Sports Center |
Bismarck Bobcats | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, January 16, 2027 | 7:15PM | VFW Sports Center |
St. Cloud Norsemen | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, January 22, 2027 | 7:00PM | St. Cloud MAC |
Watertown Shamrocks | St. Cloud Norsemen | Saturday, January 23, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Bismarck Bobcats | Friday, January 29, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Bismarck Bobcats | Saturday, January 30, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Austin Bruins | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, February 5, 2027 | 7:05PM | Riverside Arena |
Austin Bruins | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, February 6, 2027 | 7:05PM | Riverside Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | St. Cloud Norsemen | Friday, February 12, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | St. Cloud Norsemen | Saturday, February 13, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Aberdeen Wings | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, February 19, 2027 | 7:15PM | Odde Ice Center |
Watertown Shamrocks | Aberdeen Wings | Saturday, February 20, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
St. Cloud Norsemen | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, February 26, 2027 | 7:00PM | St. Cloud MAC |
Minot Minotauros | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, March 5, 2027 | 7:35PM | Maysa Arena |
Minot Minotauros | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, March 6, 2027 | 7:35PM | Maysa Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Minot Minotauros | Friday, March 12, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Minot Minotauros | Saturday, March 13, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Aberdeen Wings | Wednesday, March 17, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | St. Cloud Norsemen | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Minot Minotauros | Watertown Shamrocks | Friday, March 26, 2027 | 7:35PM | Maysa Arena |
Minot Minotauros | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, March 27, 2027 | 7:35PM | Maysa Arena |
St. Cloud Norsemen | Watertown Shamrocks | Thursday, April 1, 2027 | 7:00PM | St. Cloud MAC |
Watertown Shamrocks | Minot Minotauros | Friday, April 2, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | Minot Minotauros | Saturday, April 3, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Watertown Shamrocks | St. Cloud Norsemen | Friday, April 9, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
St. Cloud Norsemen | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, April 10, 2027 | 7:00PM | St. Cloud MAC |
Watertown Shamrocks | Aberdeen Wings | Friday, April 16, 2027 | 7:00PM | Prairie Lakes Ice Arena |
Aberdeen Wings | Watertown Shamrocks | Saturday, April 17, 2027 | 7:15PM | Odde Ice Center |
Information on single‑game tickets and promotional nights will be announced at a later date.
