Weekend Recap: The Windigo traveled 3,462 miles to Soldotna, Alaska, to take on the Brown Bears. The Windigo brought a 20-10-3-2 (wins-losses-OT losses- shootout losses) record into the weekend, good for 45 points. The Brown Bears had 37 points going into the series with a 10-23-2-0 record. The sweep catapulted the Windigo to a tie for first place in the Midwest Division with the Janesville Jets.
Friday, January 19: Windigo 3 at Brown Bears 1: The road legs were evident in the first period, as the Windigo seemed a little sluggish and their timing out of sync. The Brown Bears outshot the Windigo in the opening stanza 12 to 8, but Windigo goaltender Max Beckford was up to the task and the period ended scoreless. Momentum shifted to the Windigo in the second period, in which they outshot their opponent 15 to 9. Windigo forward Braydon Beahm broke the deadlock 9:32 into the middle frame. Quinn Disher won a neutral zone scrum and dished the puck to Elliot Gulley, as they entered the offensive zone. Gulley backhanded a pass to Beahm skating down the middle of the ice. Beahm’s quick wrist shot found its mark high to the glove side. League scoring and point leader, Max Martin, made it 2-0 in favor of the Windigo just 3 minutes later. Luke Baker’s centering pass from below the goal line found its way to Mario DiMaggio in the mid-slot. DiMaggio released a shot which Martin redirected into the back of the net. Jackson Ebbott got the Brown Bears on the board 3 minutes into the third period with a power play goal. Tyler Grahme scored an empty netter from his blue line in the waning seconds of the game to seal the victory. Beckford recorded his 9th win of the season with 30 saves. The Windigo registered 34 shots on the Brown Bears’ net.
Saturday, January 20: Windigo 4 at Brown Bears 0:Game 2 of the series was a chippy and physical contest in which 21 minor penalties were called, eight of which were against the Windigo. Quinn Disher scored his second goal of the season to put the Windigo on top just under 5 minutes into the game. Elliot Gulley foiled a Brown Bear clearing attempt and passed the puck to Braydon Beahm at the top of the circle. Beahm found Disher in the high slot, from where he released a shot low to the glove side. Tyler Grahme’s 14th goal of the season put the Windigo up 2-0 early in the second period. With the Windigo moving the puck well on a power play, Will Schumacher unleased a one-timer that rebounded to Max Martin. Martin slid the puck across the crease to Grahme camped all alone on the far side of the net for an easy goal. On a power play again just 5 minutes later, Martin wasted little time in scoring his 29th goal of the season, burying a rebound off a shot from Grahme. Everett Pietila picked up the second assist on the play. Logan Nickolaus closed out the scoring midway through the third period by tapping in a rebound shot off the stick of Zach Cline. Quinn Disher earned the second assist. Windigo netminder Linards Lipskis stopped all 23 shots sent his way, recording his 4th shutout and 12th win of the season. The Windigo registered 30 shots on net.
Coach’s Comments: Windigo head coach Blake Hietala offered the following after the weekend series: “These are games we should expect to win at this stage of the season, in spite of the long road trip. Beckford was sharp in net right from the start on Friday. He gave his teammates the opportunity to settle into the rhythm of the game and get their legs moving. It was great to see Beahm, Disher and Nickolaus get on the scoreboard this weekend. Their efforts exemplify the depth we have up front. We have several players capable of scoring on a regular basis. Martin continues to show why he is the leading scorer in the league. Grahme and Schumacher continue to produce and demonstrate why they are among the elite players in this league. It was great to see Lipskis earn another shutout. Our goaltending duo is performing well.”
Up Next: The Windigo head further north, to Fairbanks, AK, to face the Ice Dogs in a three game series January 25,26 and 27. The Windigo return home to host the Anchorage Wolverines Feb 2-3, at 7pm. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $15 for the reserved access section. Visit www.wisconsinjuniorhockey.com/tickets.