Weekend Recap: The Windigo hosted the Chippewa Steel at The Dome in a single game to finish the regular season campaign. Coming into the matchup the Windigo were in a tight race for the regular season Midwest Division title with the Anchorage Wolverines. Although the Windigo were able to secure two points with the win on Saturday night, the Wolverines still have two games remaining in the regular season in their bid to wrest the regular season championship from the Windigo. With the standings falling into place as we approach the final weekend of the regular season, the Windigo will have home ice advantage in the first round of the Roberston Cup playoffs beginning April 19. The Windigo are likely to host the Janesville Jets. However, if the Anchorage drops their final two games of the regular season, the Windigo could host the Minnesota Wilderness or the Steel.
Photos (courtesy Cathy Iverson): Cover image – Max Martin (#14) carries the puck. Ethan DeKay (#17– two photo sequence) scores a goal, and Max Beckford makes a save while Erick Comstock (#2) looks on.
Saturday, April 6: Steel 2 at Windigo 5: The game started with a fast pace that was interrupted just 58 seconds into the game when the Steel’s Peyton Platter was called for high-sticking, sending the Windigo to the power play. Although they did not score on the power play, the Windigo used the man advantage to gain the momentum causing the Steel to take another penalty at the 8:14 mark of the 1st period. Unlike the first man advantage, the Windigo were able to convert on the power play. Jacob Jastrzebski controlled the puck near the blue line feeding it down to Logan Nickolaus on the goal line. Nickolaus was able to freeze the goalie and find Martin back door for his 44th goal of the season. The Steel answered with a tally of their own just seven minutes later. At the end of the 1st period, the teams went to the dressing room tied on the score board, with the Windigo leading the shots battle 11-7. The Steel had a quality chance just passed the 13:00 mark of the 2nd period, but the play was blown dead before the puck passed the goal line behind Windigo netminder Max Beckford. The Windigo responded with a great individual effort from Ethan DeKay. Off the face-off, DeKay picked off a pass by the Chippewa defender and scored on a breakaway opportunity to take the lead 2-1. Using their newfound energy, the Windigo were able to create chaos for the Steel on the forecheck leading to a turnover forced by Jastrzebski. He then moved the puck to Cashen Naeve who fired a shot on net that squeaked through the goalie. The puck sat in the goal crease for Zach Cline to bang home his 8th goal of the season, putting the Windigo up 3-1. The 2nd period was littered with penalties for both teams as the game became chippier as it went on. Neither team was able to capitalize on power play opportunities. After the 2nd period, the Windigo led the shot battle 20-15. The beginning of the 3rd period brought a surge from the Steel that led to their second goal of the night via a one-time shot from the slot by Scott Miner. Following Miner’s goal, the Windigo were called for an infraction and went on the penalty kill. On the ensuing face-off, Windigo forward Logan Nickolaus was able to gather the puck and send a hail-Mary pass into the neutral zone. Braydon Beahm won the race to the puck and scored a short-handed breakaway goal to give the Windigo another 2-goal lead. The remainder of the 3rd period saw a tight battle between the Windigo and the Steel. Carter Theissen was able to seal the victory with an empty net goal from the Windigo’s own defensive zone. With the fifth goal of the night, the Windigo were able to secure the victory in the regular season finale in front of a large crowd in the historic Dome. The shots at the end of the game were tallied 32-24 in favor of the Windigo, giving Max Beckford his 18th win of the season on a 22-save performance.
Coach’s Comments: Windigo head coach Blake Hietala shared the following after Saturday’s game, “I was proud of the way the guys were able to finish out the regular season on a strong note and not let off the gas. We controlled the pace of play and were able to show throughout the full 60 minutes that we are a team on a mission going into playoffs. The atmosphere was great. We appreciate the fans injecting energy into our game. That is what we expect to see in the playoffs with the intensity and fast pace play combined with the energy from the crowd. Overall, we have a talented group of guys that battled all year and have put themselves in a good position heading into playoffs. Beckford was solid in net limiting their second chance opportunities, which is also a testament to the defensive core. The forwards worked hard and created chaos in the offensive zone with a heavy forecheck that lead to some quality chances for us. I like where our game is at and I’m excited to carry this momentum into playoffs.”