Who: Minnesota Wilderness vs. Wisconsin Windigo
When: Nov. 17 and 18 7:15 p.m. CST
Where: Northwoods Credit Union Arena, Cloquet, MN
The lead: The Midwest Division’s top two teams clash as the 2nd place Wisconsin Windigo visits the first place Wilderness.
Media: All of the action can be seen on nahltv.com.
Records: Wisconsin: 21 games: 11-7-3, 25 points; Minnesota: 20 games: 12-6-2, 26 points
Midwest Division Standings:
| Place | Team | Points | Games Played | This weekend’s opponent |
| 1 | Wilderness | 26 | 20 | 2 games vs. Wisconsin |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 25 | 21 | 2 games @ Minnesota |
| 3 | Kenai River | 22 | 22 | Home/home vs. Anchorage |
| 4 | Anchorage | 20 | 17 | Home/home vs. Kenai River |
| 4 | Chippewa | 20 | 20 | 2 games @ Fairbanks |
| 4 | Janesville | 20 | 20 | 2 games @ Springfield |
| 4 | Fairbanks | 20 | 21 | 2 games vs. Chippewa |
| 8 | Springfield | 17 | 21 | 2 games vs. Janesville |
Last weekend: Both teams earned splits in their respective series’ last weekend. Wisconsin had a 3-point weekend vs. Springfield after the Jr. Blues won 5-4 in overtime on Nov. 10, and the Windigo bounced back with a 6-2 victory on Nov. 11.
The Wilderness dropped its first contest on Nov. 10 in Janesville, 5-4, and countered with a 1-0 triumph on Nov. 11.
Birthday: Beau Janzig 11/17 (20)
Last season’s series: Including playoffs, the Wilderness and Windigo met 14 times in 2022-23. Wisconsin won eight of ten meetings in the regular season, while the Wilderness was victorious in the playoff series—the Midwest Division Final–by a 3-games-to-1 margin.
Power Play Re-Awakens: After a 3-game drought where it went 0-for-12, the Wilderness power play returned to form last weekend in Janesville. Minnesota’s man-advantage attack went four-for-10 in the 2-game series vs. the Jets. That includes Saturday night’s performance where it went one-for-three.
Dahms Deciders: Forward Ashton Dahms’ red-lighter Saturday was the only one the Wilderness needed in its 1-0 victory. It marks the sixth game-winner of the campaign for the Lakeville, MN, forward, which already ranks third highest for game-winning goals in a single season in team history. In the Wilderness record book, Dahms trails only Jakob Romo, who scored 8 GWGs in 2013-14, and Kevin Marx Norén, who scored 7 in 2022-23. Overall, Dahms has hit the back of the net 13 times over 15 games this season.
Sealing the Goalmouth: Adam Prokop’s shutout Saturday gives Minnesota five games where it held opponents scoreless, which is tied for most in the league this season. St. Cloud is the only other squad with five shutouts. Saturday night was Prokop’s second game where he did not allow a goal. Nick Erickson (2) and Loris Uberti (1) are the other Wilderness netminders to blank opponents during this campaign.
Military Appreciation: This weekend the Wilderness honors our military with special uniforms being auctioned off to benefit military families. All veterans and active military get free admission. Two Wilderness players will be joining the military after this season. Beau Janzig and Joe Cesario are both committed to play in the NCAA with the Air Force Academy and are guests on the latest edition of Into the Wilderness available here:
https://youtu.be/leObz0FBTAo?si=QdIru5LrR_ODFTdb
Windi-going Strong Offensively: The Windigo enter this weekend with 85 goals scored—the most in the Midwest Division, and second highest total in the NAHL. With 21 games played, the Windigo are averaging slightly more than four goals per game. Forward Max Martin is a big reason for Wisconsin’s offensive output. The veteran from Tawas City, MI, leads the NAHL in points with 38 (16 goals, 22 assists). Martin earned Midwest Division star of the week honors last weekend after posting three goals and one assist in the series vs. Springfield.