Who: Minnesota Wilderness vs. Chippewa Steel
When: Oct. 20, 7:15 p.m. CDT; Saturday, Oct. 21, 7:00 p.m. CDT
Where: Friday: Northwoods Credit Union Arena, Cloquet, MN; Saturday: Chippewa Area Ice Arena, Chippewa Falls, WI
The lead: After moving into a tie for first place last weekend, the Minnesota Wilderness and Chippewa Steel take extended winning streaks into the first of two straight home-and-home weekend series’.
Media: All of the action can be seen on nahltv.com.
Records: Chippewa: 11 games, 8-3, 16 points; Wilderness: 12 games, 7-3-2, 16 points
Midwest Division Standings:
|
Place |
Team |
Points |
Games played |
This weekend’s opponent |
|
1 |
Chippewa |
16 |
11 |
Home/home vs. Wilderness |
|
1 |
Wilderness |
16 |
12 |
Home/home vs. Chippewa |
|
3 |
Janesville |
14 |
13 |
2 games @ Anchorage |
|
4 |
Wisconsin |
13 |
12 |
2 games @ Kenai River |
|
5 |
Anchorage |
12 |
10 |
2 games vs. Janesville |
|
6 |
Kenai River |
11 |
12 |
2 games vs. Wisconsin |
|
6 |
Fairbanks |
11 |
12 |
2 games vs. Springfield |
|
8 |
Springfield |
6 |
12 |
2 games @ Fairbanks |
Last weekend: The Steel earned its sixth and seventh consecutive wins thanks to a home-and-home sweep vs. Janesville. In Chippewa Falls on Oct. 13, the Steel slipped past the Jets, 4-3, and then followed with a 5-3 win in Janesville on Oct. 14. The Wilderness won a pair of games on Alaska’s southern coast to extend its winning streak to six games (and its point streak to seven). In Kenai River on Oct. 13, the Wilderness were victorious 3-1, and then defeated Anchorage Oct. 14, 4-1.
Season series: Minnesota and Chippewa met once previously this season. In Chippewa Falls on September 23, the Steel defeated the Wilderness in overtime, 4-3.
Southern Coast Conquerors: Last weekend’s Wilderness victories at Kenai River and Anchorage extended the team’s dominance over its rivals in games played on Alaska’s southern coast. Through its history as a franchise, Minnesota now holds a combined 16-3 record in regular season games played at Anchorage and Soldotna, AK. Against the Wolverines, the Wilderness are 6-1 at the Ben Boeke Ice Arena in Anchorage, and has won the last five games. Anchorage’s only home win vs. Minnesota came on March 11, 2022.
Versus the Brown Bears, the Wilderness are 12-2 all-time at the Soldotna Regional Sports Center, and has won the last 9 contests at Kenai (10 if you include last season’s playoff victory). Kenai River’s last victory vs. the Wilderness at its home arena came on Oct. 25, 2014.
Ollie The Brown Bear Hunter: Oliver Stümpel seems to be at home while playing on the road at Kenai River. With two goals last weekend, the forward from Torrance, CA, now has five points over three games played in Soldotna, if you combine two games he played last season. Stümpel’s lifetime numbers on the road at Kenai are three goals and two assists. Over 10 games this season, Stümpel has four goals and three assists for seven points.
PK Lockdown: One big factor in the Wilderness’ ability to extend its winning streak has been its work on the penalty kill. Minnesota was 11 for 11 in keeping the Fairbanks, Kenai River and Anchorage power plays off the scoreboard over the four games. The last time the Wilderness PK allowed a goal was on September 29 vs. Springfield.
2nd Home Opener: This weekend, the Wilderness will get to play its second home opener of the 23-24 season, as the game vs. Chippewa will be its first at Northwoods Credit Union Arena. Its first three home games were held in Proctor at the St. Luke’s Sports and Event Center due to a malfunctioning cooling tower at the Cloquet arena.
Platter Plates League Award: Chippewa forward Peyton Platter’s performance last weekend earned him Midwest Division Star of the Week honors. In the weekend sweep of Janesville, the native of Eau Claire, WI, generated four points. In Friday’s 4-3 home victory, Platter led the Steel with two goals. He followed that with one goal and one assist in Saturday’s 5-3 victory in Janesville. On the season, the veteran posted 13 points in 11 games, which puts him second in team scoring.