*Photo Contributed by Juan Carlos Wood – @photosbyjcw on Instagram
The Wisconsin Windigo are ready to continue their first trip to Alaska this season with a two-game series with the Kenai River Brown Bears. Both matchups, slated for Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22, are set to start at 10:30 PM Central Time (7:30 PM AKST).
In the first half of Wisconsin’s trip to Alaska, the team split the series with the Anchorage Wolverines. For the Windigo, the series was highlighted by a 4-3 shootout win Friday, Nov. 14 where newly-acquired forward Will Doherty scored two goals in regulation. In the shootout, Wisconsin converted all four of its tries with Doherty, Peyton Mithmuangneua, Riley Joslin and Jackson Ernst finding the back of the net before rookie goaltender Casimir Weckstrom made a save on Anchorage’s final attempt to secure the win. In the second game of the series, the Windigo fell to Anchorage 4-1 despite an early goal from Mithmuangneua.
For Kenai River, the Brown Bears are coming off a bye and haven’t played since they swept the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Kenai River won the first game 4-1 Friday, Nov. 7 before they held on for a 3-2 win Saturday, Nov. 8 that was fueled by forward Thomas Gunderson’s two goals.
Headed into the weekend slate, the Windigo are led in points by forward Teddy Richardson and defenseman Michael Ryan, who both have 18 tallies this season. Richardson is tied with winger Ryan Mottau with a team-leading seven goals and Ryan has a team-best 14 assists. In goal, Weckstrom leads the team with a 5-3-1 record, a 2.56 GAA and a .927 save percentage through nine games this season.
In the NAHL Midwest Division Standings, the Windigo are currently in third place with an 11-9-1 record and they recently passed their in-state rival, the Janesville Jets. Entering the series, Kenai River has an 8-10-0 record and rank seventh out of eight teams.
In the matchup history between Wisconsin and Kenai River, the two teams have faced off 23 times since the 2022-23 season, with the Windigo leading the all-time series 15-8. This season, the two sides split their first two meetings as the Windigo won the first game 5-1 before the Brown Bears held on for a 3-2 shootout win in the second meeting.
Puck Drop for Friday night’s game is set for 10:30 PM Central Time (7:30 PM AKST). All Windigo home and away games can be streamed on NATV. Visit nahltv.com for more details.
