Up Next: The Windigo Visit Anchorage in Battle of Top Teams in the Midwest
Photo (courtesy Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion): Cashen Naeve (#24) rushes the puck up ice.
Weekend Recap: The top teams in the NAHL Midwest Division standings going into last weekend’s competition squared off in Soldotna, AK. The top seeded Windigo took on the second place Brown Bears. In spite of 21 hours of travel to face the Brown Bears, the Windigo took care of business, sweeping the Brown Bears in the weekend series.
Friday, October 18: Windigo 4 at Kenai River 2: After the long road trip, the Windigo understandably seemed sluggish during the first two periods of play. Kenai outshot the Windigo 14 to 7 in the opening frame and closed the period with a 1-0 lead. Braydon Beahm notched his 6th goal of the season five minutes into the second period. Firmly planted at the top of the crease, Beahm redirected a Michael Ryan shot from the point. Kenai scored less than a minute later to regain the lead. Beahm tied the game mid-way through the third period. Elliot Gulley won a neutral zone faceoff back to defenseman Wyatt Herres. Herres found Beahm headed towards the offensive zone. Beahm leaned in as he drove to the net, going backhand to forehand to deposit the puck in the back of the net. Riley Joslin scored his first NAHL goal at 11:58 of the third period to put the Windigo in the lead. Harper Frey’s shot from the point was redirected by Ronnie Hill. The puck deflected off of Joslin into the net. Teddy Richardson’s empty netter with 1:53 remaining sealed the victory. Beau Altman earned his first win in his first start of the season for the Windigo, stopping 23 shots. The Windigo mustered 24 shots on net. The Windigo penalty killing unit shut down eight Kenai power play opportunities, including a five minute major and two 5-on-3 opportunities for Kenai in the third.
Saturday, October 19: Windigo 8 at Kenai River 2: Kenai River jumped out to an early lead, scoring just 11 seconds into the game. Luke Baker’s redirection of a shot from Daniil Dolzhenko tied the game nine minutes later. The second period was dominated by the Windigo, outshooting Kenai 19 to 9, with 5 of those shots finding the back of the net. Alexios Georgaklis gave the Windigo the lead for good 3:03 into the middle frame. Lucas Busch scored his 2nd goal of the season to increase the Windigo lead to 3 to 1. Elliot Gulley piled on with two consecutive goals, the second as the result of nice puck movement from Zach Cline and Michael Ryan during a power play. Ryan took his own turn on the power play with a one-timer to close the period with the Windigo leading 6 to 1. After killing off a full 2 minutes of a 5-on-3 power play opportunity for Kenai, Jordan Brothers scored to put the Windigo up 7-1. Kenai scored shorthanded to close the gap to. Brothers scored again to bring the final score to 8-2. The Windigo special teams were in top form again on Saturday, killing off all 5 power play opportunities for Kenai and scoring on 3 of 6 man advantage opportunities. Lucas Szyszka earned his 9th win of the season in net, recording 31 saves. The Windigo placed a total of 41 shots on two different Kenai netminders.
Coach’s Comments: “We looked a little rough for the first two periods on Friday. I was proud of the way the guys stayed the course. They fought off those penalties. As long as we were able to stay 5-on-5 we had a chance. That’s a long road trip for anyone to overcome and it showed. I was glad to see us get our legs moving in the third. Altman had a great debut for us. I had a gut instinct to put him in net tonight. I’m pleased it worked out for him and the team,” offered head coach John Mitchell regarding Friday’s game. “I was very pleased with our special teams. We play fast on the penalty kill,” added Mitchell after the game on Saturday. “Sometimes that can put our goalie in a bit of a predicament, and we need him to bail us out. Our PK didn’t allow a goal all weekend. The power play was 4 for 10.” Mitchell continued, “We’ve got a big test ahead of us in Anchorage. We will move our focus to that opportunity now.”
Up Next: The road trip continues as the Windigo head north along the Kenai Peninsula to Anchorage, Alaska, to take on the Wolverines on October 25-26. The Wolverines have moved into second place in the division, as the result of a split with Fairbanks last weekend, and the Windigo holding Kenai River off the board. You can follow the Windigo while they are on the road on NATV. Subscribe at https://nahltv.com. The Windigo return home on November 1 and 2, to face the Janesville Jets. Game time is 7pm both nights. Tickets are available at www.wisconsinjuniorhockey.com/tickets.
