*Photo Contributed by Juan Carlos Wood – @photosbyjcw on Instagram
This past weekend, the Wisconsin Windigo played their first three-game week (outside the 2025 NAHL Showcase) of the regular season. Not only were the Windigo able to pick up two wins against the visiting Chippewa Steel, but they were also able to post their first shutout of the season with a 5-0 win Sunday, Jan. 25.
Friday, Jan. 23
Final Score: Windigo 5, Steel 1
In the series opener, the Windigo made a statement with their second win of four goals or more in January. Wisconsin opened the scoresheet with a power-play goal from assistant captain Ryan Mottau less than seven minutes into the first period. His tally was assisted by co-captain Declan Burns and winger Peyton Mithmuangneua. Minutes later, center Josh Sardo took over the game with two goals in a five-minute span. His first goal came off a sharp feed from winger Will Doherty. Not too long after, Sardo’s second tally was set up by Mithmuangneua, who played the puck to Sardo trailing down the ice before the center tucked the puck away top shelf. By the end of the first, the Windigo led 3-0.
After a few exchanged penalties to highlight the start of a scoreless second period, the Steel scored their lone goal of the game on a power play at the 6:13 mark. With time winding down in the period, the Windigo got the goal back with a long shot from assistant captain Riley Joslin, who rifled the puck from just inside the blue line to give Wisconsin a 4-1 lead.
Neither side was able to grab a goal in the early stages of the third period until center McCarthy Richardson scored his first goal of the season in a Windigo jersey. The goal was his second of the season and came in his return to the lineup after missing over one month with an upper-body injury. With his goal off the rush, he helped seal the 5-1 win. Between the pipes, Easton Cody sailed to his 11th win of the season while making 19 saves in the process. The win was his second of the year against Chippewa.
Outside of the two-point performances from Mithmuangneua, Sardo and Joslin, the Windigo also received assists from defenseman Henry Steele and co-captain Alexios Georgaklis.
Saturday, Jan. 24
Final Score: Windigo 2, Steel 5
In the second game of the weekend, the Windigo fell to Chippewa, who received an explosive five-goal performance from their offense. Despite the losing effort for the Windigo, they received a two-goal performance from Mottau, who converted on two separate power plays. The 20-year-old winger placed the first tally on the scoreboard in a similar fashion to game one, less than seven minutes into regulation. Following four consecutive goals from the Steel, Mottau struck again with a man advantage roughly seven minutes into the third period. His second goal was his 12th of the season, which currently leads the team.
On Mottau’s pair of twine finders, he received an assist from Steele, Burns, Mithmuangneua and defenseman Cal Grilz. In net, Cody made his second consecutive start and recorded 15 saves on 19 attempts.
Sunday, Jan. 25
Final Score: Windigo 5, Steel 0
In the rubber match for the weekend series, the Windigo bounced back in a big way, securing their first shutout win of the season. Lockdown defense was the key to Sunday’s win, where the Windigo defended through a five-minute major penalty and two other minor infractions. The shutout was recorded by goaltender Max Larsson, who saved all 19 shots on goal. Across his first four starts with the Windigo, he has a 3-1-0 record, a 1.49 GAA and a .938 save percentage.
To open the scoresheet, Windigo winger Sutton Verot tallied his first goal of the year when he tipped in a shot from long range attempted by Grilz. Near the end of the period, second-year left winger Beau Kralovec struck the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season to put Wisconsin up 2-0. His tally was assisted by center Brayden Severin and right winger Jackson Ernst.
In the second period, the Windigo continued their defensive dominance and added a third goal when Kralovec scored his second of the game. The goal was his eighth of the season and 12th all-time, which secured him a spot in the top 25 Windigo goal scorers.
Late in the third period, blueliner Quinten Flores was rewarded for his strong all-around play in the weekend series with his first goal for the Windigo. The goal came against his former team after playing 10 games for the Steel to begin the season. To wrap up the big day, Ernst scored his ninth goal of the season to place the Windigo up 5-0. Ernst’s tally was his 23rd across two seasons with the team, which is tied for ninth on the all-time goal leaderboard.
Standings
Following the three-game weekend, the Windigo are up to a 23-15-1 record through 39 games, which places them third in the Midwest Division standings. They are currently tied with the Springfield Jr. Blues at 47 points, but hold the tiebreaker with two more wins. Wisconsin is tied for wins with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, but the latter has 49 points due to two more overtime losses. After the one-win weekend, Chippewa remains in eighth place with a 7-29-2 overall record.
With their recent pair of wins, the Windigo catapulted back into the NAHL Power Rankings. They occupy 10th place in the current rankings, which trails their division rivals, the Springfield Jr. Blues (7th) and Minnesota Wilderness (5th).
Top Prospects Tournament
This past Thursday, five Windigo players were announced to have been selected for the upcoming NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. For Team Midwest, both team captains Alexios Georgaklis and Declans Burns made the squad alongside forward Peyton Mithmuangneua. On the season, Georgaklis leads the team with 35 points, Burns ranks second on the team with 0.83 points per game, and Mithmuangneua has 19 assists with 22 points, both of which rank second for Wisconsin.
For Selects White, Brendan Finley was selected to the squad’s forward group. Across 33 games this season, the 2008-born winger has 11 goals and 20 points. Two of Finley’s goals have been game-winning tallies. For Selects Blue, rookie blueliner Henry Steele was named to the team’s defensive core. Born in 2009, the blueliner is the youngest player in the NAHL Midwest Division and has compiled eight points across 34 games this season.
Joining the five skaters will be Windigo head coach John Mitchell, who was named the Assistant Coach for the Selects White roster. Across two seasons at the helm, Mitchell has led the team to a 71-32-3-4 overall record across 110 games.
Congratulations to the six members of the Windigo organization who were selected to take part in the event! Make sure to tune into the tournament, which will take place in Plymouth, MI, on Feb. 16-17. All games at the event will be streamed on NATV.
Up Next
The Wisconsin Windigo will play their four and fifth consecutive games against the Steel when the two face off at Chippewa Ice Arena on Friday, Jan. 30 and Saturday, Jan. 31.
Puck Drop on Friday, Jan. 30 is set for 7:00 PM CST. If you can’t be there in person, all Windigo home and away games can be streamed on NATV. Visit nahltv.com for more details.
