Weekend Recap: The Windigo launched their 2024-25 campaign with a sweep of the Chippewa Steel. Large, early season crowds enjoyed the fast pace and physical play on display both nights.
Friday, September 13: Steel 3 at Windigo 5: Veteran defenseman Cashen Naeve started the scoring three minutes into the game with a shot that found the top corner of the net. Logan Nickolaus and Braydon Beahm earned the assists on Naeve’s goal. Ten minutes later, fellow blueliner Mario DiMaggio intercepted a Steel clearing attempt and buried the puck to the far side to put the Windigo up 2-0. Jack Lesperence cut the Windigo lead in half with a goal for the Steel early in the second period. Zach Cline (assisted by Elliot Gulley and Ryan Murphy) responded for the Windigo at 9:12 of the middle stanza. A goal mouth scramble resulted in Alexios Georgaklis scoring a power play goal, increasing the Windigo lead to 4-1. Ryan Murphy and Braydon Beahm were credited with the assists. Steel veteran Thomas Trunda brought is team to within two goals to close out the second period. The Windigo carried the play during the first two periods, holding a 22 to 14 shot advantage. Wyatt Kerr made things interesting with 2:28 remaining with a shot that sailed over the shoulder of Windigo netminder Lucas Szyszka. Seeking to complete the comeback, the Steel pulled their goalie in favor of an extra attacker. After receiving a pass from Luke Baker, Zach Cline found himself bearing down on an empty net. He sealed the victory with just over a minute remaining. Naeve, Georgaklis, and Cline earned the first thru third star of the night for their contributions to the win. Szyszka, who spent most of last season in net with Omaha in the USHL, made 19 saves to record his first win as a Windigo.
Saturday, September 14: Steel 2 at Windigo 3 (OT):In a reversal of Friday’s contest, it was the Steel who carried the play in the early going. Lucas Szyska kept the Windigo in the game as the Steel outshot the Windigo 12 to 7 in the opening period. Aiden Willis put the Steel on top with a goal four minutes into the first period. Veteran forward Logan Nickolaus tied it up for the Windigo. Jordan Brothers found Nickolaus cutting across the top of the crease and placed the puck on his stick for a redirect into the net. Luke Baker picked up the secondary assist with his rink wide pass to Brothers skating down the far boards. Carson Strapon tucked in a loose puck in front of the net to score his first NAHL goal midway thru the second period, putting the Windigo up 2-1. Declan Burns and Baker assisted on the play. Gavin Middendorf beat a Windigo defender wide and scored on a wrap-around to tie the game for the Steel at 11:39 of the second period. After a scoreless third period, the game would be decided in overtime. Just over a minute into 3-on-3 overtime play, Elliot Gulley found himself on a rush with teammate Zach Cline. Bearing down on a Steel defender, Gulley used Cline as a decoy, cutting across the mid-slot and released a shot into the short side of the net, sending the large, early season crowd of Windigo fans into a frenzy. Cline and Riley Joslin earned assists on the game winner. Lucas Szyszka earned his second win of the season, stopping 25 shots. The Windigo fired 19 shots on the Steel’s net. Gulley earned first star for his heroics. Szyszka’s stellar performance, stopping 25 of 27 shots on net, earned him the second star. Luke Baker was named third star in recognition of his two assists and hard work up and down the ice.
Coach’s Comments: Head coach John Mitchell offered the following after his first weekend behind the Windigo bench: “It was great to start of the season on a high note. On Friday, I was very pleased with our play during the first two periods. We seemed to take our foot of the gas in the third and gave them a chance to get back into the game. Our veteran defensemen stepped up and led the way for us early on. It was great to see Cash and Mario break the ice for us. We talked about the need to keep the momentum going in the third. We’ll work on that as the season progresses. Cline was rewarded for his hard work on Friday. We’re looking for returners like him to show the new guys what it takes to be successful in this league. We seemed to come out flat on Saturday. We took too many penalties. Lucas stood tall in net for us. He made several good saves that gave us a chance to get our feet moving. We have much to work on, but for the most part, I was pleased with our effort this weekend.” New assistant coach Bryce Reddick, who focuses on coaching the defensemen saw some things he liked in his defensive core. “With only two returning veteran defensemen in the lineup, we weren’t sure what to expect this weekend. A number of guys stepped up for us. I liked the offense they contributed and the grit they exhibited. We turned the puck over a few times, perhaps trying to do too much. We defended well on the penalty kill, keeping their power play off the scoreboard all weekend. We’ve got to play with more discipline and stay out the of penalty box,” added Reddick.
Up Next: The Windigo hit the road on Friday, September 20, to take on the Minnesota Wilderness in Cloquet, MN. They host the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Saturday, September 21 at 7pm Tickets are available at www.wisconsinjuniorhockey.com/tickets and at the door.