After a successful trip to the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, MN, last week where they went 2-1, the Minnesota Wilderness return to Midwest Division play this weekend at the Kenai River Brown Bears.
These will mark the first meetings of the season between the Wilderness and Brown Bears. Kenai River (4-3-0) also finished the Showcase winning two of three games, with victories over the New Mexico Ice Wolves and New Hampshire Mountain Kings, and a loss to the El Paso Rhinos.
The Wilderness (5-1-1) defeated the Minnesota Mallards and Austin Bruins, while falling to the Lone Star Brahmas over the 4-day Showcase.
In 2024-25, the Wilderness went 6-2 in the 8-game series vs. the Brown Bears.
This weekend’s contests will be held Friday and Saturday (Oct. 3-4) at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, AK. Game time for both nights will be 7:30 p.m. AKDT.
Media: All games will stream on NAHLtv.com.
Midwest Division standings
| Place | Team | Games Played | Points | This weekend’s opponent(s) |
| 1 | Wilderness | 7 | 11 | 2 games @ Kenai River |
| 2 | Janesville | 6 | 8 | 2 vs. Anchorage |
| 2 | Kenai River | 7 | 8 | 2 vs. Wilderness |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 7 | 7 | 2 vs. Fairbanks |
| 5 | Anchorage | 5 | 5 | 2 @ Janesville |
| 5 | Fairbanks | 5 | 5 | 2 @ Wisconsin |
| 7 | Chippewa | 6 | 3 | 2 vs. Springfield |
| 8 | Springfield | 5 | 2 | 2 @ Chippewa |
Tale of the Tape:
| Team | GF | GA | PP | PK |
| Wilderness | 26 | 18 | 6 for 26 (23.1%) | 7 for 29 (75.9%) |
| Kenai River | 22 | 29 | 1 for 31 (3.2%) | 7 for 34 (79.4%) |