9/11/2026
For immediate release
Cloquet, MN
The organizations that have claimed four of the last six Midwest Division playoff titles go
head-to-head this weekend to kick off their 2026-27 NAHL regular season schedules.
The Minnesota Wilderness go to Brookfield, WI, to meet the Wisconsin Windigo in a 2-
game series, Friday and Saturday nights at the Ponds of Brookfield.
The Wilderness and Windigo have historically been two of the Midwest Division’s
stronger clubs throughout the 2020s. The two teams met in the 2023 and 2026 division
finals, with the Wilderness coming through in both series to advance to the Robertson
Cup semi-finals. The Windigo won the division crown in 2025. In 2021, they claimed
their first Midwest Division title when the team was based in Richfield, MN, and known
as the Minnesota Magicians. The Wilderness and Windigo have each had one
additional finals appearance in the last five seasons, when both teams fell to
Anchorage. In 2022, the Wilderness lost to the Wolverines and, in 2024, Anchorage
eliminated the Windigo. To sum up, the last six Midwest Division final series have seen
either the Wilderness or Windigo organizations participating.
Both teams enter 2026-27 with new coaches. The Wilderness brought in Sam Graham
as the new head coach over the summer. He is joined by Mitch Callahan and Colin
Bailey as new assistant coaches. Graham took over for Zach Stepan who moved on to
become the head coach at Augsburg University.
Meanwhile, the Windigo saw John Mitchell leave to become an assistant coach with the
ECHL’s Rapid City Rush. Andrew Howard was then hired to become Wisconsin’s new
head coach; Grayden Skok and Anthony Rohde stayed on staff as the team’s assistant
coaches.
Another thing in common with these teams are new faces on the roster. Only seven
players return from the Wilderness squad that advanced to the Robertson Cup Finals
last season. Back for opening day of 26-27 are forwards Robinson Djian, Max Edwards,
River Freeman, and Kevin Lysohir, along with defensemen Jack Martens, Cayden Neice
and Owen Smith.
Minnesota has also regained forwards Jakeb Lynch and Frantisek Netusil, who played
with the Wilderness in 2024-25.
The Windigo return five players from last season’s team. Forwards Aiden Hickok,
Joshua Sardo and Brayden Severin are back along with defensemen Hunter Friedrich
and Jordan Stange.
Both games this weekend begin at 6:15 p.m. CDT.
Wilderness Birthday: Alexander Nicklin, F, Sept. 13 (18)
Media: Watch all games on NAHLTV.com.
2025-26 Regular Season Tale of the Tape
Click here to view Regular Season Tale of the Tape