*Photo contributed by Juan Carlos Wood – @shotsbyjcw on Instagram
The Wisconsin Windigo squared off with the Janesville Jets in a hard-fought series this past weekend. After the two games concluded, the Windigo and Jets split the contests, meaning the I-43 rivals will remain level at two wins apiece in the season series.
Friday, Oct. 10
In the first bout of the series, the Windigo took care of business, as they won 3-1 and secured their first win since the NAHL Showcase. It was a strong win for the team on all fronts, as they led the Jets from the second minute of the game. The Windigo opened the scoring when second-year forward Alexios Georgaklis scored his second goal of the season. Later in the period, rookie tight winger Brendan Finley netted his third goal of the season to give the Windigo an early 2-0 lead.
After the Jets scored their lone goal of the game from team point-leader Hans Hedlund, second-year Windigo forward Sammy Misak scored an empty-net goal late in the third period to seal the win. Misak’s goal was his first of the season and highlighted a two-point, second-star performance.
Finley earned the first star of the game, and the game’s third star was awarded to rookie goaltender Casimir Weckstrom for the Finnish keeper’s heroics in his first win of the season. Weckstrom made 47 saves and allowed zero goals at even strength, conceding the lone Janesville tally on a Windigo penalty kill. His total of 47 saves was a season high for any Windigo goaltender this season.
The Windigo also received a strong performance from second-year defenseman Michael Ryan, who dished out two assists to Finley and Misak in the win. Heading into Saturday’s contest, he led the team in points (6) alongside Georgaklis, who also had an assist on Misak’s empty-netter.
Saturday, Oct. 11
In the latter half of the series, Wisconsin fell to the Jets 4-1 in a game where Janesville got out to a 3-0 lead. The visitors received goals from Sammy Smith, Grant Dillard and Joey Fankhanel. The Windigo broke the shutout in the late stages of the second period when second-year forward Jackson Ernst buried a slapshot goal from distance. His second goal of the season brought the deficit within two, where it remained until the final minute of regulation. With the clock winding down, Jets winger Connor Hillig, alumnus of the local Brookfield Stars varsity team, scored an empty-goal for his fourth twine finder of the season.
For the Windigo, Ernst was awarded the third star of the game alongside Georgaklis, who earned the first star. The two have been climbing up the all-time points leaderboard for the Windigo as Georgaklis currently ranks 15th (51 points) and Ernst finds himself just outside the top-25 (35 points).
The second star of the game would be awarded to newly-acquired defenseman Hudson Bjornson. Earlier in the week, the Windigo acquired Bjornson in a trade with the El Paso Rhinos of the league’s South Division. In six contests with El Paso, Bjornson tallied two assists. In his debut, he had consistent play defensively. However, the most action-packed part of his debut was a staged fight with Janesville’s Grant Dillard late in the second period. Both skaters will serve one-game suspensions during next weekend’s series.
Standings
In the NAHL Midwest Division Standings, the Windigo currently rank fourth with a 4-6-1 overall record through 11 games. The Jets are in second place with a 6-4-0 record and trail the red-hot Minnesota Wilderness, who are the first team in the NAHL to 10 wins this season (10-1-1 record through 12 games).
Up Next
The Windigo are set to travel within the Midwest Division for the first time this season and will be on the road each of the next three weeks. The team’s first trip away from the Ponds of Brookfield (outside the NAHL Showcase) will be at Janesville Ice Arena for another two-game tilt with the Jets.
The series will take place across Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Oct. 18. Puck Drop for Friday’s contest is set for 7:30 PM Central Time. If you can’t make it in person, all Windigo road games can be streamed on NATV. Visit nahltv.com for more details, and make sure to switch to the “Away Broadcast” within NATV to support the Windigo.
