*Photo Contributed by Kristen Pearson – @k.pearson.photography on Instagram
The 2026 Robertson Cup Playoffs have arrived in the NAHL. This past weekend, the Windigo traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska for its first-round matchup with the Ice Dogs. After a trio of hard-fought games, the Windigo took a 2-1 lead in the series with a pair of shutouts in the opening two battles. Wisconsin sits just one win away from advancing to the Midwest Division Finals.
Friday, April 17
Final Score: Windigo 3, Ice Dogs 0
To kick off the 2026 playoffs, the Windigo put together their first shutout in over two months to win in dominant fashion. Wisconsin defended incredibly well, erasing six separate penalties throughout the course of the contest.
At the heart of the team’s defense, Windigo netminder Max Larsson put on a show, as he saved all 31 shots on goal en route to his third shutout of the season. He played exceptionally well down the stretch, where he made 24 saves across the last two periods.
Both teams exchanged blank periods offensively across the first two frames. It wasn’t until 53 minutes of regulation had passed that Windigo center Josh Sardo broke the tie. Just 20 seconds into a power play, co-Captain Declan Burns slid the puck to Sardo, who cut toward the center from the right side before burying the puck in the bottom left corner. Sardo’s go-ahead twine finder was his 17th goal of the season. Burns notched his 19th assist of the season on the play, and left winger Peyton Mithmuangneua also chipped in for his 29th helper.
Less than two minutes later, the Windigo used their momentum from the first goal to quickly double their lead. After Wisconsin blueliner Hunter Friedrich played the puck around the board, winger AJ Bongiorno and Mithmuangneua executed a give-and-go on the left wing. Mithmuangneua’s pass led Bongiorno towards the crease, where he handled the puck past Fairbanks’ netminder Miles Roberts to score Wisconsin’s second goal. Bongiorno’s tally was his seventh goal of the season and his fifth point over the team’s last seven games, where he’s made the most to his move to the team’s top line of forwards. Mithmuangneua used the play to eclipse 30 assists in the campaign, becoming the second Windigo player to do so this season. Friedrich’s secondary assist was his seventh point with the Windigo across 19 games this year.
Following a brawl on the boards consisting of all five players on the ice for both sides, the Windigo put the game to bed with an empty-net tally. With seven seconds remaining in the contest, Windigo winger Brendan Finley claimed possession off of a faceoff and weaved through three Ice Dogs’ defensemen before firing the puck into the back of the empty net from center ice. The tally was Finley’s 15th of the season, and co-Captain Alexios Georgaklis picked up the lone helper on the play for his face-off win. Georgaklis continues to lead the team in both assists (31) and points (48).
Saturday, April 18
Final Score: Windigo 1, Ice Dogs 0
With momentum giving them a tailwind from their all-around win in Game 1, the Windigo kept the ball rolling with another shutout victory in Game 2. Larsson stood on his head for the second straight night, compiling 29 saves for his second shutout of the series. He would be named the NAHL second star of the night for his performance.
For the second straight night, the first goal of the contest wouldn’t be scored until the third period. To break the tie, Bongiorno would once again be a hero offensively. As the Ice Dogs attempted to clear the puck out of their defensive zone with just over 12 minutes remaining in the contest, Bongiorno made a key stop to keep the puck in the team’s offensive zone. He then dished the puck to Windigo center Aidan Hickok, who fed him right back for Bongiorno to place the puck with pinpoint accuracy just inside the right post. The goal was Bongiorno’s second of the series, eighth of the season and team-leading fifth game-winning goal on the year. Hickok recorded his 11th assist of the season on the play, and Windigo winger Beau Kralovec notched his 15th point with a secondary helper.
With the pair of wins in the first two games of the series, the Windigo secured a series lead headed into Brookfield, regardless of Sunday’s outcome. They were one of two road teams in the NAHL Divisional Semis to win their first two games, joining the El Paso Rhinos in that regard.
Sunday, April 19
Final Score: Windigo 0, Ice Dogs 3
In the final contest of the weekend, the Windigo dropped their first game of the series. Fairbanks responded to the opening pair of losses in the series with a three-goal shutout win of their own, just 48 hours after the Windigo accomplished the same thing.
The duo of goals scored by the Ice Dogs in the second period would come fromDean Andrews and Oliver Barna, with Luke Osborn tacking on an empty-net tally late in the third. In net, Roberts made 19 saves en route to the win.
For the Windigo, Larsson played incredibly well for the third straight game. He made 35 saves on 37 shot attempts, raising his save percentage across 21 appearances for the Windigo this season up to .939. He currently holds the best single-season save percentage by a Windigo goalie with a minimum of 20 games played.
Midwest Division Update
With the pair of wins, the Windigo currently lead the Ice Dogs 2-1 and sit just one win away from advancing to the Midwest Division Finals. On the other side of the Midwest bracket, the Minnesota Wilderness lead the Anchorage Wolverines 2-1. The Wolverines won a close game to open the series, but the Wilderness responded with two consecutive shutouts of their own in Games 2 & 3.
Up Next
On Friday, April 24, the first-ever junior hockey playoff game in the greater Milwaukee area is scheduled to take place! Your Windigo will host the Ice Dogs for Game 4 in the Midwest Division Semi-Finals at 6:35 PM CDT. If Game 5 is necessary, it will take place on Saturday, April 25 at 6:35 PM CDT.
Tickets for the game can be purchased 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.
