Weekend Recap: After the Windigo dropped games 1 and 2 in Anchorage, the NAHL Midwest Division playoff championships shifted to Eagle River, WI, for the remainder of the best of five game series. To advance to the NAHL semi-finals, the Windigo would have to win 3 consecutive games. With their backs against the wall, anticipation was high as a large crowd assembled at the Dome in Eagle River to cheer on the Windigo. Unfortunately for the Windigo, several players returned home from the trip to Anchorage suffering from an illness that prevented them from keeping their food down. A similar illness struck the Windigo upon returning from Anchorage previously. Apparently, the long trips to Alaska take their toll.
(Photos courtesy Cathey Iverson): Cashen Naeve (#24) and Lucas Busch (#12) line up for a faceoff (above). Max Beckford makes a save. Tyler Grahme (#18). Braydon Beahm (#26) during a stoppage in play. Quinn DIsher (#8), Ethan DeKay (#17) and Logan Nickolaus press the attack (below).
Friday, May 10: Anchorage 3 at Wisconsin 0: The Windigo carried the play early in the first period, with the ice seeming to tilt towards the Anchorage end. Wolverines’ netminder, Liam Beerman, held the Windigo at bay until his teammates could find their legs. Anchorage struck first with 2 minutes remaining in the opening frame when Cole Frawner released an innocent looking shot from the far hashmark that seemed to handcuff Windigo goalie Max Beckford. The visitors went up 2-0 after scoring a power play goal at 8:13 of the second period. Anchorage continued to apply the pressure and outshot the Windigo 14 to 9 in the middle frame. Anchorage scored the final goal of the evening with just over 2 minutes remaining in the second period after an Anchorage forward intercepted a Windigo defenseman’s pass. A surprised Max Beckford was unable to make the save on an uncontested shot from close range. The third period was scoreless, as Anchorage focused on defense and repeatedly blocked shots and got sticks in Windigo passing lanes. Beerman finished the game with 24 saves to earn the shutout victory. Beckford took the loss for the Windigo with 28 saves.
Saying Goodbye to Several Players: Friday’s game marked the end of the junior hockey career for several Windigo 2003 birth year players, whose age will make them ineligible to play junior hockey next season. Regular season NAHL scoring champion Max Martin departs for Bowling Green State University. Sam Groebner will attend West Point and play for Army next season. Max Beckford will stop pucks for Bently University. Forward Quinn Disher will suit up for Michigan Technological University. Everett Pietila, Jack Thomas, Carter Theissen and Linards Lipskis, all concluded remarkable junior careers and are pursuing opportunities to play college hockey next year.
Coach’s Comments: A rather emotional Windigo head coach Blake Hietala shared the following after the game on Friday: “It’s difficult to find a bright spot in the type of game we played tonight. We did come out fairly strong, and controlled much of the first period. Their first goal was a bit of puck luck for them, a missed play by our goalie, and a back breaker for us. They were on a one on two rush and their guy simply threw the puck on net from the far boards. We didn’t seem ready for that shot. That play typified the type of series we had against Anchorage. This is certainly a bitter pill to swallow. Going into the series, I felt good about our chances. We had one of the top offenses in the league all season, but we struggled to find the net all series. They were very effective at blocking shots and breaking up our passes. Beerman deserves credit for getting the job done in net. They had several shots this series that found the back of our net that we’d like to have back. With the illness that hit our locker room this week, it seemed that several guys didn’t have much jump in their legs tonight. Looking back, perhaps home ice advantage would have helped. Losing the regular season championship to them by just 1 point came back to haunt us. Who knows, if we get them at home the first weekend of the series…maybe we get the jump on them. Unfortunately, the opposite happened. Overall, I’m proud of the season we had. I wish the best to the age outs. We will miss them. We’ve got a great group of guys coming back. We will be very competitive again next season.”
Up Next: For the Windigo, preparation for next season starts now. The Windigo host pre-draft camps in Hudson, WI (May 24-26) and Livonia, MI (May 31 – June 2). The NAHL draft will be held on June 12. Returning, tendered and drafted, players will attend the Windigo main tryout camp to be held in Hudson, WI, July 31 thru August 4. The 2024-25 schedule will be announced shortly after the draft.
