Finally, a win over Windigo

Two close games led to a split between the Minnesota Wilderness and Springfield Jr. Blues this weekend at the Nelson Center in Springfield, Illinois. Springfield captured Friday’s contest, 4-2, while the Wilderness skated away with a 2-1 shootout victory Saturday.

Minnesota erased one-goal deficits twice Friday before the Jr. Blues sealed the win with two third-period goals.

Zach Homer scored in the first period to even the game at one.

The Wilderness needed only two rounds in the shootout Saturday.

Ferry Netusil and Nate Murray scored in the first two rounds, while goaltender Nick Erickson held strong in denying chances from Springfield’s Jagur McClelland and Junsu Kwak.

Erickson was also strong through regulation and overtime, as he stopped 26 of 27 Springfield shots. The Wilderness outshot the Jr. Blues 32-27.

Homer scored the Wilderness’ lone goal in regulation time, on a breakaway. Niko Laus then tied the game in the second with a power play goal.

The teams were then scoreless in the third and a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime before the shootout.

The Wilderness finally got a win against the Wisconsin Windigo in a Thanksgiving Eve game in Cloquet. Zach Homer scored twice, while Valdemar Andersen made 28 saves to lead the Minnesota Wilderness to a 5-2 win.

It was the first victory for the Wilderness (9-12-3) over the Windigo (17-3-3) in six meetings this season.

Patrick Dunaiski, a Cloquet native, had his first goal in the NAHL.

Homer became the third Wilderness player this season to be named the Midwest Division’s First Star of the Week.

Minnesota travels to Wisconsin this weekend for a two-game series against Janesville.