CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – The Chippewa Steel (17-16-5) find themselves on the outside looking in after a win and pair of losses last week. January has been a busy month and the schedule does not slow down anytime soon, this weekend features a home and home series against the Minnesota Wilderness (22-14-4) who have fallen out of the top spot in the Midwest Division and losers of three straight. The upcoming weekend and following month for the Steel will be a key factor in whether they make the playoffs for the second straight season or not.
TICKET/GAME AND BROADCAST INFORMATION
Friday’s home game for the Steel is Hawaiian Night! Bring those aloha vibes and enjoy specific Hawaiian themed events throughout the night! Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, to purchase tickets to Friday’s game click HERE. If you plan on traveling to Cloquet for Saturday’s game you can purchase tickets HERE. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 PM at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena. If not, be sure to catch all the action 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.
TOMAS TRUNDA
Second year forward Tomas Trunda has made the most out of his oppurtunity with the top line lately. Since dating back just before Christmas Break, Trunda has five goals and two assists in his last 11 games along with a healthy plus six during that stretch. This season Trunda has already broken a career high in points set at 20 a season ago, he also doubled his goal total from a season go and has 11 through 36 games this year. Look for the Czechia native to have his fingerprints on an important playoff push for the Steel.
SCOUTING THE WILDERNESS
The Minnesota Wilderness have been in the top spot of the Midwest Division for the majority of this season until a recent stumble has them in 3rd place. They are still a shut down defensive team only allowing 2.76 goals per game, but they have lost some fire power to no fault of their own. Ashton Dahms was the leading scorer for the Wilderness with 28 points in 25 games when he departed to the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL. They still have Peteris Purmalis who has 13 points in eight games this season against the Steel, but we’re dealing with a few injuries the last time the teams met including defensemen Gustav Ozolins.
STANDINGS
Through 38 games for the Steel they have 39 points and sit 5th in the division, five points behind Anchorage who still has four games in hand on Chippewa. Minnesota has played the most games at 40 and has 48 points which has them in 3rd. Janesville who just swept the Steel is not tied in first with the Wisconsin Windigo at 49 points. Fairbanks, Springfield and Kenai River round out the eight teams. The Steel have eight games remaining against the bottom three teams in the division, so they still have opportunities to make up some ground.
Stay connected during the season by following the Steel @chippewasteel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at chippewasteelhockey.com.