CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI – With a hard earned split last week against the Windigo, the Chippewa Steel (15-12-2) take on the Midwest Division leader Minnesota Wilderness (18-9-3) on Friday, Dec. 15, at the Chippewa Area Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT, marking the 7th meeting of the two teams and the halfway point for the Steel’s season. The Steel are currently in 4th place in the division with 32 points, clinging on to the final playoff spot trailing the Wilderness by seven points.
TICKET/GAME AND BROADCAST INFORMATION
Friday’s game is Teddy Bear Toss Night! Make sure to pack your stuffed animals and when the Steel score their first goal, throw them onto the ice! All stuffed animals will be donated Toys For Tots in Eau Claire for children in need! For Friday’s game, tickets can be purchased online here or at the door for cash only. If you are unable to make it out to Chippewa Falls, 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
After losing on Friday night 6-1 at the hands of Wisconsin, the Steel bounced back with a 4-3 win on Saturday to keep pace with the top four in the division. With Carter Wishart called up to the USHL, Ajay White started both games and made 34 saves in the win. The Steel are also without their second leading scorer in Talan Blanck who was called up by Sioux City in the USHL, but Joe Kelly and Tomas Trunda stepped up in his absence. Kelly and Trunda combined for a goal and two assists last weekend playing along side Peyton Platter. Chippewa has lost the lost five meetings and have been shutout by the Wilderness three times, a win would go a long way heading into the break.
SCOUTING THE WILDERNESS
Minnesota took two of three games against Fairbanks last week to the tune of two shutout performances by Nick Erickson, who earned the NAHL Midwest Division Player of the Week. He made 74 saves over the weekend and has an incredible 1.67 GAA and 0.944 save percentage eight starts this season. He is 4-0 against the Steel in his career. The Wilderness shut opponents down, they allow under two and a half goals per game with their stout defense and get enough scoring up front on most nights to win. They certainly have the Steel’s number this season, but will be without their top scorer Ashton Dahms. Fortunately, Peteris Purmalis has 11 points in the season series against the Steel and will look to have a big impact on Friday.
HELLO ROOKIE
It took first year forward Jackson Lackas 20 games to score his first career goal, and now he can’t stop. The rookie has now scored in three straight games and continues to be noticeable on almost every shift. As the youngest player on the team, maybe it took him some time to warm up to the junior hockey game, but the flashes are their and sometimes it takes one to get the ball rolling. Has has four points in 23 games played and look to extend his goal scoring streak against Minnesota.
MONKEY OFF THE BACK
Tomas Trunda, in his second season with the Steel, found the back of the net last Saturday for the first time since Nov. 11. At the time of his goal, it have the Steel a 2-1 lead and was a much needed tally at the time for a scoring drought that lasted near a month. He has four points in his last five games and has been a key part of the offensive success.
Stay connected during the season by following the Steel @chippewasteel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online at chippewasteelhockey.com.