CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – The 1st place Chippewa Steel (8-3-0) coming off a thrilling sweep of the Janesville Jets, now prepare for a home and home series with the Minnesota Wilderness (7-3-2). The Wilderness have not lost a game since Sept. 23 when they fell 4-3 in OT at the hands of the Steel. Since that loss Minnesota has rattled off six in a row and will look to end the hottest streak in all of the NAHL held by Chippewa at seven straight. Friday’s game will be held at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena with puck drop at 7:15 PM CT and Saturday’s will be at the Chippewa Area Ice Arena and puck drop will be at 7:00 PM CT.
TICKET AND BROADCAST INFORMATION
You can purchase tickets to Saturday’s home game HERE. Saturday is Military Appreciation Night at Chippewa Ice Arena presented by Harley-Davidson, all current and former Military Personnel are granted free admission. The Steel will be wearing special uniforms Saturday night that will be auctioned off after the game with all proceeds going to the Veterans Home of Chippewa Falls. If you are unable to make it to the Chippewa Area Ice Arena or travel to Cloquet, 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 wheels keep on turning for the Chippewa Steel, they have not lost in over an month and they leap frogged the Jets in the Midwest Division last weekend. The Steel did not play their best on Friday, and saw themselves training with less than 10 minutes to go in the third period. Their best players stepped up when it mattered most, Joe Kelly and Peyton Platter both scored within in three minutes of each-other to hang on for a 4-3 win. The top two lines for the Steel have carried the majority of the offensive load with multiple Steel holding four of more game point streaks heading into the weekend. Also, the goalie tandem of Ajay White and Carter Wisheart continues to stifle offenses with incredible saves, timely stops, and good rebound control. They both combined for 51 saves in the weekend sweep of the Jets and are key contributors to the win streak.
SCOUTING THE WILDERNESS
Minnesota is fresh off their Alaska trip which saw four games consisting of three opponents and four straight wins for the Wilderness. An OT and shootout win completed the sweep of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and ended the trip with a pair of wins against Anchorage and Kenai River to keep the win streak alive. They now come home to face a team that handed them their last loss back in September and are primed to take the division away. Ashton Dahms is leading the way with 13 points and has a point in all seven games he’s played in. Just like the Steel, the Wilderness have hit their stride and this weekend should be a fantastic matchup of speed, skill and great goaltending for sole possession of first place in the Midwest Division.
PITTER PLATTER
The Alaska Fairbanks commit has been great all season, but really turned it on last weekend against the Jets. His four points including two goals on Friday and a highlight reel goal the following day was good enough for the Midwest Division Player of the Week in the NAHL. It’s the first time this season a Steel member has been rewarded the honor and it surly wont be the last. Platter is on five-game point streak which includes nine points in that stretch, if he’s on the scoresheet, the Steel have a good chance of winning.
BLANCK RELEASES THE TALAN
Second year forward Talan Blanck is having a huge start to the season and was one of the key players that the Steel needed an uptick in offense from. Blanck is the leading scorer with 14 points in the first 11 games this season, and like his line mate, he is on a five game point streak including nine points in that stretch. The Steel have now scored 4 goals in six out of the seven games during their winning streak.
TWO GOALIES NO PROBLEM
The Steel have been spoiled with fantastic goaltending from both veteren Carter Wisheart and Rookie Ajay White. White has won four straight starts, during that span he has a 0.928 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against average. For Wisheart, he’s won three straight games with a 0.908 SV% and a 2.67 GAA. The tandem has been switching off weekends and both have been huge contributors to the winning streak.
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