Who: Minnesota Magicians at Minnesota Wilderness
When: Nov. 24, 2021, 7:15pm
Where: Northwoods Credit Union Arena, 1102 Olympic Dr., Cloquet MN
The main course: After a year off due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Wilderness will host the annual Thanksgiving Eve game this Wednesday night. The Minnesota Magicians return as the opponent for the 6th time since the holiday tradition began in 2014. The Wilderness have a 4-2 all-time record in this game, in which they have played the Magicians in each season except 2019, when they hosted Austin.
Records: Wilderness: 13-7-1; Magicians: 10-8-3
NAHL Midwest Division standings:
| Team | Points | Games played | |
| 1 | Springfield | 31 | 24 |
| 2 | Fairbanks | 29 | 23 |
| 3 | Anchorage | 27 | 20 |
| 3 | MN Wilderness | 27 | 21 |
| 5 | Chippewa | 25 | 24 |
| 6 | MN Magicians | 23 | 21 |
| 7 | Janesville | 17 | 21 |
| 8 | Kenai River | 8 | 22 |
Previous meetings:
-
- 10/15: Wilderness 4 at Magicians 3 OT
- 10/16: Magicians 7 at Wilderness 3
- 11/5: Magicians 1 at Wilderness 2
- 11/6: Wilderness 6 at Magicians 5 OT
Last weekend: The Wilderness are coming off a weekend sweep of a home-and-home series vs. the Chippewa Steel. The Wilderness took game 1 in Chippewa Falls 3-2 in a shootout, and followed with a 6-0 home win on Saturday.
The Magicians split a weekend series in Janesville, winning 4-3 Friday and falling 5-2 on Saturday.
Livecchi shines: Goaltender Sam Livecchi earned Midwest Division Star of the Week honors for his play last weekend vs. Chippewa. The Rochester, NY native picked up his 1st shootout win Thursday 3-2 and his first shutout Saturday, 6-0.
Trio make debut: Three new acquisitions made their first appearance since joining the Wilderness in Saturday’s game vs. Chippewa:
- Logan Anderson, F: The former Duluth East Greyhound was acquired from the Wichita Falls Warriors. He spent his 2 previous Jr. A seasons with the Minot Minotauros and the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers.
- Brendan Doyle, F: The Stratham, NH, native is a Jr. A rookie who started the season with the Janesville Jets. He opened his tenure with the Wilderness with a goal on Saturday.
- Jackson Lucia, D: Lucia is in his 1st Jr A season. The former Hermantown Hawk was with the AJHL’s Blackfalds Bulldogs when the season began.
Magical hometown hero: Richfield native Gavin Best has been soaring for his hometown team lately. Best is now tied for the Magicians lead in scoring after putting up 1 goal and 4 assists over his last 3 games.