Up Next: Windigo to Host Springfield in Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend Feb. 21-22
Eagle River, WI, February 10, 2025
Photos: Logan Nickolaus (#23) prepares to take a faceoff (top picture). Zach Cline (#4) had 3 goals on 1 assist on the weekend to earn Bauer Midwest Star of the Week honors. Beau Kralovec (#20) on the rush on Friday.. Teddy Richardson (#25) makes a pas.
Weekend Recap: The Windigo returned home to entertain large crowds of hockey enthusiasts in Eagle River for the USA Hockey National Pond Hockey Championships. The four points earned by the Windigo over the weekend propelled them to 63 points, allowing them to maintain first place in the NAHL Midwest Division standings. Fairbanks picked up 3 points at home during the weekend by losing to Kenai River in overtime on Friday and winning in overtime on Saturday. Anchorage did not play last weekend; hence, Fairbanks and Anchorage are tied for second place in the division with 56 points. Chippewa swept Springfield to maintain fourth place with 48 points.
Friday, February 7 – Jets 1 at Windigo 4: Windigo newcomer Hunter Hayes wasted little time making his presence felt with his new team. Hayes, acquired from the Minnesota Mallards on February 5, scored on his first shift with the Windigo. Linemates (and fellow California natives Luke Baker and Alexios Georgaklis) created a turnover in the neutral zone that eventually sprung Hayes all alone with the puck at the top of the circle. Hayes’ wrist shot from the faceoff dot found the back of the net low to the far side. Janesville answered with a goal of their own a minute later to tie the game 1-1. Late in the opening frame, Hayes stripped a Janesville player of the puck in the neutral zone and passed it over to Ben Aucoin. Hayes joined Aucoin heading up ice and created a 2-on-1 rush. Aucoin moved to his right, opening space for Hayes to the far side. Aucoin drew the defenseman and a Janesville back checker to him, which left Hayes all alone. Aucoin slide the puck over to Hayes and he promptly released a shot that found its mark just inside the near post. The Windigo outshot Janesville 13 to 11 in the first period. The second period saw the play tilt heavily in the Windigo’s favor. They outshot their guests 21 to 6 in the middle frame. Jets’ netminder Matthew Alberti kept his team in the game with several spectacular saves. The Windigo took advantage of an offensive zone faceoff midway thru the second period. Logan Nickolaus won the draw back to Hill. He faked a pass and spun around heading towards the corner. Hill found Zach Cline planted at the back door and delivered a precision pass across the low slot. Cline redirected the puck into the net. Windigo captain Cashen Naeve made it 4 to 0 in favor of the Windigo just 2 minutes into the third period. Naeve received a pass from Harper Frey in front of his net and headed up ice. Naeve’s end to end rush culminated with him going around the outside of two Jet defenders and backhanding the puck into the net. Beau Altman earned his 7th win of the season in net for the Windigo, making 20 saves. Alberti took the loss in net for the Jets with 45 saves.
Saturday, February 8 – Jets 0 at Windigo 4: Saturday’s game picked up where Friday’s game left off. The Windigo dominated play and outshot the Jets 20 to 4 in the first period. Ronnie Hill scored 10 minutes into the game. Logan Nickolaus and Zach Cline applied an aggressive forecheck that resulted in Hill firing a shot on net from the mid-slot. Nickolaus battled for the rebound and fed it back to Hill. This time, Hill’s shot found the back of the net to put the Windigo up 1-0. Zach Cline made it 2 to 0 in favor of the Windigo when he deposited a rebound shot off the stick of Cashen Naeve. Ronnie Hill was credited with the second assist. Michael Ryan continued the scoring parade for the Windigo near the end of the second period. In fact, Ryan scored twice in the same sequence. His first shot from an acute angle hit the top of the back of the net. The goal light went on and his teammates commenced celebrating the apparent goal. The puck bounced out of the net and into the slot where Ryan recovered it. Seeing that the referee failed to signal a goal on his first shot, he fired the puck into the net again. Finally, prompting the referee to signal a goal. The second period closed with the Windigo leading 3-0, having outshot the Jets 12 to 5 in the second period. The Windigo continued to carry the play in the third period and killed off three successive penalties. Cline closed the scoring with a shorthanded goal 11:23 into the third period. Nickolaus made an aggressive play in the defensive zone to take the puck away from a Janesville player. From his knees, Nickolaus tipped the puck up to Cline, who headed up ice all alone on a breakaway. Cline deked the goalie, forehand to backhand, to score his third goal of the weekend. Lucas Szyszka got the start in net for the Windigo and made 13 saves in route to his 4th shutout and 21st win of the season. Christian Kirsch put in a valiant performance in net for the Jets, making 40 saves in the losing effort.
Coach’s Comments: Windigo head coach John Mitchell had the following to say after the weekend series: “I was incredibly pleased with our effort this weekend. Janesville is a talented team with several players committed to D-1 college teams. We played much more disciplined hockey than we have recently. The guys maintained the structure we were looking for and picked up defensive assignments pretty well for the most part. We cut down on undisciplined penalties. Our penalty kill was perfect on the weekend, shutting down all 9 of the Jets’ power plays this weekend. Zach Cline’s shorthanded goal was the exclamation point for our PK unit. Cline had a great weekend with 3 goals and 1 assist – certainly deserving of Midwest player of the week honors. We acquired Hunter Hayes from the Minnesota Mallards last week. He led their team in scoring and got off to a great start with us, scoring our first two goals on Friday and chipping in an assist on Saturday. The California Connection (Luke Baker, Alexios Georgaklis and Hunter Hayes are all California natives) looked good out there. Their skills complement each other, and they showed they are difficult to defend. Cashen Naeve had a strong weekend for us. His end-to-end rush that resulted in a goal showed what he is capable of when he puts his mind to it. Our goaltending has really solidified. It was great to see Lucas Szyszka get another shutout and Beau Altman pick up another win. It’s nice to have two guys we can rely on back there.”
Cline Named Bauer Midwest Star of the Week: Zach Cline led the way offensively for the Windigo during the sweep over Janesville to earn Bauer Midwest Star of the Week honors. Cline posted 3 goals, including a shorthanded goal on Saturday, and added 1 assist. He posted a +4 rating as well. In 43 games played for the Windigo this season, Zach has 13 goals and 25 assists, with an impressive +13 rating. Coach Mitchell, shares more about Cline’s work ethic, “Zach has been our most reliable player to date. He has consistently produced from day one, which speaks volumes to his daily preparation and focus. As many know, it’s extremely difficult to stay healthy and produce game in and game out on a regular basis. He is a natural leader and embodies everything a coach looks for in a player. As an organization, we could not be more happy for him.”
Top Prospects Tournament: The Windigo are off this coming weekend. Head coach John Mitchell and seven Windigo players will compete in the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, MI, on February 17 and 18. Mitchell has been selected to coach the Midwest Division Team. Windigo players Cashen Naeve, Logan Nickolaus, Mario DiMaggio, Braydon Beahm and Lucas Szyszka will represent the Midwest Division. Hunter Hayes and Nate Farrell will play for the Select Black team. The two were acquired by the Windigo just before the trade deadline last week. Those games will be streamed at www.nahltv.com. The schedule for the tournament can be found by clicking here.
Up Next – Hockey Fights Cancer: The Windigo have the upcoming weekend off before returning home to host Springfield on 21 & 22. Those games will feature a jersey auction, 50/50 raffle and other events in the Windigo’s annual hockey fights cancer fundraiser. Game time is 7pm both nights. Tickets are available at the door or at www.wisconsinjuionrhockey.com/tickets.