Windigo and Steel break into NAHL Midwest win column

By Jim den Hollander
Editror/Publisher
Midwesthockey.info
The Chippewa Steel broke into the win column in a big way on day two of the NAHL Showcase Tournament at National Sports Center Super Rinks in Blaine, MN Thursday.
After starting the season with a pair of defeats, the Steel took its frustrations out on the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks, pounding in the east coast team 8-3 in on of the 16 games played at the Super Rinks on Day two of four.
Also impressive was the Wisconsin Windigo who used a 3-0 shutout against the 3-0 New Jersey Titans, another team from the East Division. Other Midwest Division action saw the Janesville Jets failing to pick up a point for the first time in four games falling to the El Paso Rhinos from the South Division, the Amarillo Wranglers getting by the Minnesota Wilderness 4-1 and the Springfield Jr. Blues falling to 0-2 with a tough 2-1 loss against the Philadelphia Rebels.

Chippewa Steel 8 Danbury Hat Tricks 3
This one was all but over after 20 minutes as the Steel blasted off to a 6-0 first period lead.
Joe Kelly (’03/Eau Claire, WI) paced the attack with two goals, others added by Mason Chen (’04/Toronto, ON); Peyton Platter (’03/Eau Claire, WI); Noah Grolnic (’05/Arvada, CO); Scott Miner (’05/Winnipeg, MB); Tomas Trunda (’04/Prague, Czech Republic) and Jacob Ligi *’04/South Lyon, MI).
Ajay White (’06/Bryn Maw, MI) picked up the win in goal with 24 saves, spelled briefly by Jack Hochsprung (’05/Apple Valley, MN).
The win was impressive, but the Steel will be looking to stay hot down the stretch as the team has been outscored 9-0 in three third periods so far.

Wisconsin Windigo 3 New Jersey Titans 0
Lindards Lipskis (’03/Riga, Latvia) shrugged off a so-so performance on the first day at the Showcase with a dazzling 27-save shutout against a Titans team that entered the contest riding a three-game season opening winning streak. Will Schumacher (’04/Prior Lake, MN) scored twice in the game with Maxwell Martin (’03/Tawas City, MI) adding the other.

Janesville Jets 2 El Paso Rhinos 3
After opening the season with back-to-back wins at home, the Showcase as thrown some tough opposition at the Jets so far.
On Thursday it was the Rhinos, battling back from a 2-0 deficit near the halfway mark of the second period with three straight goals, the game winner coming 4:04 into the final frame.
Rhett Kodsi (’04/Boca Raton, FL) and Max Wagener (’03/St. Louis, MO) scored the Janesville goals with Matthew Alberti (’04/Hamburg, NY) stopping 23 of 26 in goal.

Minnesota Wilderness 1 Amarillo Wranglers 4
The Wilderness fell to 0-2-1-0 on the season with a game that got away from them in the final period. Teams were even at 1-1 after both first and second periods but three unanswered in the final 20 lifted the Texas club to the win.
Joe Cesario (’03/Westminster, CO) scored the lone Wilderness goal and Tommy O’Donnell (’04/Bloomfield Hills, MI) stopped 24 shots.

Springfield Jr. Blues 1 Philadelphia Rebels 2
After opening the regular season with a tough loss the previous day, the Jr. Blues came closer, but ultimately fell short against the Philly squad.
Logan Ganz (’04/Freeburg, IL) denied them a shutout with his goal inside the final eight minutes of the contest and JJ Cataldo (03/Stuart, FL) turned in a solid 26-save effort in goal.
Kenai River Brown Bears and Anchorage Wolverines added wins for the Alaska portion of the division, Wolverines getting past the New Mexico Ice Wolves 2-1 in overtime while the Brown Bears doubled the Johnstown Tomahawks 4-2. Meanwhile Fairbanks IceDogs dropped to 0-4 on the young season with a 4-0 loss to the Maryland Black Bears.

Games will start at 11 a.m. again Friday (Sept. 15) and at 11:30 (all times CDT) the Wilderness will face another tough opponent, putting its 0-2-1-0 record up against the 3-1-0-0 Maryland Black Bears. The Windigo will look to build on Thursday’s win taking on the Lone Star Brahmas (2-2-0-0) at 1:45 p.m. The Jr. Blues will also have a tough task as they look to two-game snap its skid against the 2-1-0-1 Maine Nordiques at 2:45 p.m. and the Janesville Jets will play the 7:45 p.m. contest taking on a Danbury Hat Tricks team still looking for its first victory.
Teams will wrap up play in Blaine on Saturday.