*Photo Contributed by Juan Carlos Wood – @photosbyjcw on Instagram
This past weekend, the Wisconsin Windigo traveled to Cloquet, Minnesota for a road series with the division-leading Wilderness. In the pair of clashes, the Windigo lost both games, decreasing their lead in the season series, which now stands at 5-3. The series was the final pair of regular-season matchups between the two squads, but they could see each other in the Robertson Cup Playoffs if their current placements in the standings hold.
Friday, Feb. 6
Final Score: Windigo 2, Wilderness 4
In the opening game of the series, the Windigo played well down the stretch on both ends of the ice, but a slow start would be too much to overcome. In the first period, Wisconsin allowed a pair of goals inside the first seven minutes of regulation to go down 2-0. The Wilderness would grab a third goal inside the first six minutes of the second period to take a 3-0 advantage.
The Windigo would begin a rally attempt late in the second period with two goals in the final six minutes of the period. The first goal was scored by team captain Alexios Georgaklis and was assisted by defenseman Henry Steele and left winger Ryan Mottau. Less than three minutes later, winger Jackson Ernst grabbed the second goal off a feed from blueliner Thomas Quast, who picked up his 17th assist of the season between New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Ernst’s goal was also assisted by center McCarthy Richardson. Both Georgaklis and Ernst’s goals were their 11th of the season, which is one tally back of the team lead.
After a third period that saw five penalties and a plethora of action in the neutral zone, the Wilderness would seal the game with 34 seconds remaining with an empty-net tally. Despite the 4-2 loss, the Windigo placed 24 shots on net compared to Minnesota’s 16. Quast led the Windigo with four shots on goal. In net, Easton Cody would pick up the loss after saving 12 shots on 15 attempts.
Saturday, Feb. 7
Final Score: Windigo 2, Wilderness 4
In the second game of the weekend, the Windigo got on the scoreboard earlier in the contest, but ultimately fell due to a three-goal second period from the Wilderness. After Minnesota scored the first goal of the game, Windigo defenseman Jordan Stange scored his second goal of the season to level the score at one apiece. Stange’s goal was his second in the last four games. The goal marked the first assist of the weekend for winger Sutton Verot and the second for Mottau.
After a scoreless stretch to end the opening period, the Wilderness took over the contest with three goals across two minutes near the middle of the second period. The trio of goals would give them the insurance they would need to sweep the weekend series.
Near the end of the third period, the Windigo refused to bow out quietly. On a power play, team captain Declan Burns scored his seventh goal of the season to make the score 4-2. The goal brought him up to 24 points on the season, which leads all Windigo defensemen. His tally was assisted by winger Peyton Mithmuangneua and winger Will Doherty.
In net, Windigo goalie Max Larsson compiled 22 saves on 26 shots on goal.
Standings
With the series loss, the Windigo now have a 25-17-1 record, which places them fourth out of eight teams in the Midwest Division. With 51 points, Wisconsin is tied with the Springfield Jr. Blues, but the latter currently owns the tiebreak with more regulation wins. With the pair of wins, the Wilderness now hold a 31-7-4 record and elevated their lead over the division to 11 points.
Top Prospects Tournament
On Feb. 16 & 17, five Windigo players will take part in the upcoming NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. For Team Midwest, both co-captains Alexios Georgaklis and Declans Burns made the squad alongside forward Peyton Mithmuangneua. On the season, Georgaklis leads the team with 36 points, Burns leads the team with 0.89 points per game, and Mithmuangneua has 23 assists with 26 points, both of which rank second for Wisconsin.
For Selects White, Brendan Finley was selected to the squad’s forward group. Across 36 games this season, the 2008-born winger has 12 goals and 21 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 11 points across 38 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 73-34-3-4 overall record across 114 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 rest of the Windigo will have a weekend of rest before returning to action the following weekend for a pair of home games against opponents from Alaska. Wisconsin will host the fifth-place Anchorage Wolverines on Friday, Feb. 20 before playing the second-place Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Puck Drop on Friday, Feb. 20 is set for 7:35 PM CST. Tickets for each game can be purchased from the team’s website and can also be accessed using this link. 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.
