CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – Last weekend felt like a turning point for the Chippewa Steel (19-16-5) as they swept Minnesota to hand them their fifth straight loss now pull within five points with two games in hand of a playoff spot. The series sweep was the first since December and a great start to a crucial playoff push the rest of the season. The Steel turn their attention to the Kenai River Brown Bears (12-24-3), a team they have not seen since November and has now fallen to last place in the Midwest Division and on an 11 game skid.
GAME/TICKET INFO
Both games will be held at the Chippewa Area Ice Arena on Friday and Saturday with puck drop at 7:00 PM. Saturday’s game is Kiwanis Kids Club Night, the first 250 kids get in free and receive a mini stick giveaway! You can purchase tickets to both Friday and Saturday’s games by clicking HERE. If you are unable to make it to the games, you can catch all the action from the comfort of your own home on NAHLTV.
ANTON
Anton Astashevich joined the team in November added a ton of skill up front for the Steel and its come to light in recent weeks. Astashevich has proven to be key playmaker, in his last 10 games he has seven points including three goals and four assists. He scored the game winning goal last Saturday versus Minnesota and extend his point streak to three games. He’s also been lethal in the shootout for Chippewa, he’s two-for-two this season with his latest coming on Jan. 17 in a shootout win.
WHITE SAYS NO
The St. Thomas commit had a stellar weekend in between the pipes against Minnesota starting in both games and made 61 saves while allowing just two goals. Ajay White has won three out of his four starts and improved his numbers to a 2.75 GAA and 0.914 SV% in 21 starts this season. Last month, White was ranked as the 22nd ranked North American Goalie by NHL Central Scouting and will be a name to watch when the NHL draft rolls around this spring.
SCOUTING KENAI
The Brown Bears have been in some real trouble over the last month and have a losing streak that dates back to before Christmas. They have played a lot of the stiffer competition within the division and will be hungry to get a win in hopes of kicking off the month of February on the right note. In the four meetings this season between the Steel and Brown Bears both teams are 2-2. It’s been two months since the last meeting that occurred in November in Kenai when the Steel won two out of the three games. All three were decided by just one goal. Dylan Contreras and Nicholas Stevens provide the majority of offense for the Brown Bears, both forwards have 35 points in 39 games this season. Contreras has four goals against the Steel in the four games including a hat trick on opening night back in September at the Chippewa Area Ice Arena.
Stay connected during the season by following the Steel @chippewasteel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at chippewasteelhockey.com.