Top scorer lifts Wilderness to sweep

The top scorer for the Minnesota Wilderness delivered his most dramatic goal of the season on Friday. Kevin Marx Norén scored as time expired in regulation, giving the Wilderness a 4-3 win en route to a home-and-home series sweep last weekend against the Chippewa Steel.

A 20-year-old from Knivsta, Sweden, Norén scored twice in Friday’s game in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, then added a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet.

Norén has seven points in his last three games, and leads the team with 18 goals. He’s among the top 10 goal scorers in the 29-team North American Hockey League.

With the sweep, the Wilderness (21-12-4) moved a point back of Midwest Division-leading Fairbanks Ice Dogs (47 points to 46).

Minnesota got a season-high 43 saves from Isak Posch in Saturday’s tight affair. He won both games over the weekend.

However, not all is well with Minnesota, which extended its scoreless streak on power plays to 18 straight man advantages without a goal.

In Friday’s dramatic win, Minnesota held the lead three times through two periods, with Chippewa clawing back each time. Tied at 3 with time expiring, Gunnar Thoreson carried the puck into the zone and fired a shot that slipped off the keeper’s glove. Norén beat the goalie, Carter Wishart, with a glove-side rebound as the clock struck 0:00.

The Wilderness are battling the injury bug, keeping six players out of Saturday’s game.

This weekend, Minnesota heads to the Nelson Center in Springfield, Illinois, to take on the Jr. Blues. With 32 points, Springfield is in last place in the eight-team division.

First-year forward commits to Air Force

Joe Cesario has soared to the top of Minnesota’s rookie scoring stats with 13 goals and 23 points, good for third overall on the team. The 19-year-old forward announced last week he will play his college hockey at the Air Force Academy of the Atlantic Hockey Association.

A native of Westminster, Colorado, Cesario has played in all 35 of Minnesota’s games this season. With the Air Force Academy based in Colorado Springs, Cesario will be returning to his home state when he moves on to play college hockey.

“I’m really proud of Joe being rewarded for his hard work this season,” said Minnesota head coach Brett Skinner in a team news release. “Being from Colorado, it really feels like a good fit for both Joe and Air Force and we couldn’t be happier for him.”

Wilderness rewarded with strong play

The Minnesota Wilderness’ success in the first half of this season has allowed it to send the Midwest Division’s largest contingent of players to the NAHL’s Top Prospects Tournament, set for next month near Pittsburgh. The Wilderness will send five players plus head coach Skinner to the event, which comprises four teams, representing the league’s four divisions. Skinner will be the head coach of Team Midwest and will be joined by Minnesota forwards Reid Daavettila, Cole Gordon and Norén, along with defensemen Michael Quinn and Severi Sulonen.

The tournament is meant to feature players who have not yet earned a college commitment, while also featuring a handful of others that NHL scouts have requested to see, a team news release said.

The tournament is scheduled for Feb. 6-7 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.