Up Next: The Windigo Travel to Alaska to Take On Kenai River and Anchorage
Eagle River, WI, October 14, 2024.
Photo (courtesy Cathy Iverson): Goaltender Lucas Szyszka (#33) makes a save with Harper Frey looking on. Cashen Naeve (#24), Braydon Beahm (#11) and Jackson Ernst (#6) celebrate a goal. Riley Joslin (#28), Wyatt Herres (#10), Jackson Ernst (#6) and Luke Baker (#19) pursue an opponent. Szyszka focuses on the puck while Daniil Dolzhenko (#15), Lucas Busch (#9), Ronnie Hill (#13) and Riley Joslin (#28) look on.
Weekend Recap: The Windigo hit the road for two games against Midwest Division rival Chippewa Steel. Earlier in the season, the Windigo swept the Steel at home by the scores of 5-3 and 3-2. The Windigo secured a victory Friday evening, 2-0 and earned an additional point in the standings by virtue of a shootout loss on Saturday. With an 8-1-1 (wins, losses, shootout losses) record, the Windigo lead the Midwest Division with 17 points, 2 ahead of their next opponent – Kenai River.
Friday, October 11: Windigo 2 at Chippewa 0: The Windigo got off to a slow start, taking 7 penalties and being outshot 21 to 10 in the first two periods. Goalie Lucas Szyszka made several spectacular saves to keep the Steel off the scoreboard. Windigo defenseman and co-captain Cashen Naeve scored the game winner 51 seconds into the third period. Alexios Georgaklis gained the offensive zone and passed the puck to Teddy Richardson. Richardson drove towards the net with the puck and spotted Naeve near the far post. Richardson slid the puck across the top of the crease and Naeve’s one-timer found the back of the net. Braydon Beahm took advantage of a power play opportunity midway through the third period scoring his fifth goal of the season with a snapshot from the low slot. Zach Cline’s pass threaded the needle to find Beahm’s stick. Elliot Gulley was credited with the secondary assist. The Windigo penalty killing unit was perfect- shutting down 8 power play opportunities for the Steel, in part due to Szyszka’s stellar performance. Szyszka earned his first shutout and eighth victory of the season, stopping 29 shots. The Windigo mustered 15 shots on net.
Saturday, October 12: Windigo 2 at Chippewa 3(SO): In a reversal of Friday’s game, it was the Windigo who carried the play offensively during the first two periods, outshooting the Steel 30 to 21 in the first 40 minutes of play. Gavin Middendorf put the Steel on the board 8 minutes into the first. Michael Ryan’s power play goal four minutes into the second period tied the game. Zach Cline and Elliot Gulley cycled the puck and found Ryan dropping into the high slot. Ryan feigned a pass to his right to get the Steel goalie to move, then released a quick shot that handcuffed the netminder. Chippewa regained the lead at 10:05 of the second. Windigo co-captain Logan Nickolaus’ fourth goal of the season tied the game 9:38 into the third period. With a power play drawing to a close, defenseman Cashen Naeve drove to the net and released a shot to the short side. Nickolaus scooped up the rebound and deposited it into the net. Regulation play would end in a tie. After 5 minutes of evenly played overtime, the game would be decided via shootout. The Windigo’s first two shootout attempts failed, while the Steel were successful with their first two shootout attempts, handing the Windigo their second defeat of the season. Lucas Szyszka suffered his first loss in net, saving 36 of the 38 shots faced. The Windigo placed a total of 36 shots on the Steel’s net.
Coach’s Comments: Head coach John Mitchell offered the following comments after the weekend series: “In some respects, Friday’s game was our weakest performance of the season. We weren’t moving our feet and pressuring them consistently. Their zone exits were too easy. Our passing was off. Szyszka kept us in the game and deserved the shutout. Defensively, we played reasonably well as a team. Our veterans lead the way in the third. Cashen Naeve has been playing well all season. I like the way he jumped into the opening and put himself in position to score. Richardson made a nice play to find him. Beahm’s goal was another great effort on his part. I thought we played much better Saturday, and perhaps deserved to win that game more so than on Friday. Szyszka was great in goal. We created more offensive opportunities on Saturday. Our power play clicked reasonably well all weekend, with one of the two goals on Friday and both goals on Saturday coming off the power play.” With two veteran defensemen out of action due to injuries, the Windigo inserted two relative newcomers into the lineup. Assistant coach Bryce Reddick complimented his defensemen’s effort. “With DiMaggio and Klicka out for the weekend, Dolzhenko and Naeve showed great leadership out there in helping some of the younger guys settle into the game. Rookies Hayden Frey and Wyatt Herres had to log quite a few minutes and acquitted themselves well. Burns and Joslin were solid too. Michael Ryan’s offensive contribution is always a plus for us.” offered coach Reddick.
Up Next: The road trip continues as the Windigo head to Alaska to take on the Kenai River Brown Bears on October 18-19. They then head further north to face the Anchorage Wolverines on October 25-26. You can follow the Windigo while they are on the road on NATV. Subscribe at https://nahltv.com. The Windigo return home on November 1 and 2, to face the Janesville Jets. Game time is 7pm both nights. Tickets are available at www.wisconsinjuniorhockey.com/tickets.
