CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – The Chippewa Steel (2-3-0) are back home after going 2-2 at the NAHL Showcase last week and look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season against the Minnesota Wilderness (1-3-1). Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7:00PM CT, the Chippewa Area Ice Arena hosts the first of 10 meetings this season between the two foes on Teacher Appreciation Night at the arena (Teachers get in FREE with badge)!
TICKET AND BROADCAST INFORMATION
If you have not already purchased tickets to tomorrows contest click HERE. If you are unable to make it to the Chippewa Area Ice Arena, 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.
LOOK AT THE STEEL
Five games into the season, the Steel have looked quite different since their opening night loss to Kenai River on Sept. 9. The additions of Bradley Fraser, Alex Lunski, Lukas Peterson and Joey Sylvester (returner from last season), has forced first year Head Coach Chris Ratzloff to trot out a variety of lineups. As games rolled on at the NAHL Showcase, the Steel became more and more competitive and found themselves in two close games against St. Cloud and Bismarck on the final two days. Chemistry was starting to click for certain lines that have not been together for more than 10 days, and the Steel closed the door on a much needed 4-3 win over Bismarck in the finale.
LOOK AT THE WILDERNESS
The Wilderness have had a similar start to the Steel in terms of being on both ends of some lopsided scores with games getting tighter and much more competitive towards the end of the NAHL Showcase. Minnesota is also led by a first year Head Coach in Colten St. Clair, who is trying to retain success from last season for a squad that finished second in the Midwest Division with 77 points. The Wilderness bring back nine players from a year ago and have a plethora of forwards with lots of experience in junior hockey. Oliver Stumpel is leading the way with four points through the first five games, and Adam Johnson is back who is on the verge of his 100th career game has added a couple of goals to begin the season.
BLUE PAINT BLUES
With Nick Erickson awaiting on the bench recovering from an injury suffered last year, the Wilderness have gone to Loris Uberti and Tommy O’Donnell to fill the void. Erickson who appeared in four games last season had a 3-1 record with a 2.50 GAA and a .907 SV%. Uberti and O’Donnell have posted below a .900 SV% in their first couple of starts early this season, granted they have not allowed the majority of games to get out of hand, but stronger starts in the pipes for the Wilderness will help the cause.
KELLY STEEL
Starting his third season with the Chippewa Steel this season, Eau Claire, Wisconsin native Joe Kelly is showing no signs of slowing down. Kelly leads the Steel in scoring with six points in the five games, and has been very noticeable playing along side Rookie Jacob Ligi. Kelly finished the NAHL Showcase with five points including a pair of goals in route to a four point night against Danbury.
IN WHITE WE TRUST
Rookie goaltender Ajay White has turned heads early this season after his first couple of stars in juniors. He took the bulk of the heavy load starting three out of the four games last weekend. So far, White has posted a 2.67 GAA and a .907 SV% in his first three stars and has picked up both wins this season. The Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania native has showed outstanding poise and rebound control and this could just be the beginning of a long career.
MIDWEST UPDATE
Through the first handful of games, the Janesville Jets lead the Midwest Division with 8 points after a 3-1-2 start. They are followed by Anchorage, Kenai River, and Wisconsin rounding out the top four. The Steel currently sit fifth with four points, followed by Fairbanks, Minnesota and Springfield who is still looking for their first win of the season.
Stay connected during the season by following the Steel @chippewasteel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at chippewasteelhockey.com.