CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – After being swept for the first time this season at the hands of the Minnesota Wilderness (9-3-2), the Chippewa Steel (8-5-0) prepare to face the same opponent with the hopes of returning the favor this weekend. Friday and Saturday will feature a home and home series with Friday’s game at Chippewa Area Ice Arena and Saturday’s game will be held at the Iron Trials Event Center in Virginia, MN. Puck drop for Friday night is at 7:00 PM CT with doors opening to the building at 6:00 PM CT.
TICKET/GAME AND BROADCAST INFORMATION
You can purchase tickets to Friday’s home game HERE. Friday is Hockey Hair and Halloween Night at the Arena, wear your favorite costume and bring your mullets! “Mullet Boy” a.k.a Emmitt Bailey will be at the game to judge the night’s best mullets and costumes. If you are unable to make it to the Chippewa Area Ice Arena or travel to Virginia you can watch the game from the comfort of your own home on NAHLTV. You can watch the Steel all season long on NAHLTV and listen to the “Voice of the Steel” Joey Erickson.
SCOUTING THE STEEL
The Steel currently sit 2nd in the Midwest Division with 16 points, the Steel’s seven game winning streak was snapped in a 4-0 loss last Friday. It was the first time the Steel have been shutout this season, prior to that they had scored at least three goals in all seven of their wins. The power play struggles continue for Chippewa, even with Aidan Willis’s goal on the man advantage Saturday, the Steel are just 4-for-45 on the year. If the begin to produce on special teams the offense will be very tough to stop. 13 games into the season the Steel have accumulated 162 penalty minutes which is the least amount in the Midwest Division, but each penalty proved costly last weekend when Minnesota scored three power play goals in the sweep.
SCOUTING THE WILDERNESS
The hottest team in the North American Hockey League and the kings of the Midwest Division, the Minnesota Wilderness have now won eight straight. There last loss came in overtime on Sept. 23 at the hands of the Chippewa Steel in a 4-3 final. Since then the Wilderness have been incredibly stingy defensively and getting great goaltending in the process. In their last five games, they have held opponents to less than two goals on three different occasions. With sturdy defensemen in Gustav Ozolins and Beau Janzig, they limit opportunities offensively for their opponents and allows their forwards to do damage. The top two lines for Minnesota combined for 10 points in the two games led by Peteris Purmalis with five points including four assists on the weekend.
STRIKE WHILE ITS HOT
It’s no secret that playing from behind is much more difficult than playing with a lead, and the Steel have proven that a month into the season. The Steel are 7-0 when scoring the games first goal and 1-5 when their opponents do and are even worse when trailing after two periods, winless in five games. They have given up the first goal in the last three games, so look for the Steel to get off to a much better start to take some pressure off early.
WELCOME BACK
Second year goaltender Nick Erickson made his first start back since suffering an injury last spring and was perfect on Friday night in Cloquet last weekend. Erickson made 27 saves on 27 shots and helped lead Minnesota to their first shutout of the season. The Steel did not make his life as tough as they would have liked, but each and every chance they had he shut it down in a hurry. The Wilderness want to be cautious with him, but no one will be surprised if he’s dressed up and ready to go this weekend.
Stay connected during the season by following the Steel @chippewasteel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at chippewasteelhockey.com.