Final Pair vs. Steel Brings Huge Playoff Implications
March 27, 2025 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Minnesota Wilderness News Release
The Minnesota Wilderness go toe-to-toe this weekend against the team it is chasing for the Midwest Division's final playoff spot. The Chippewa Steel will be in Cloquet Friday, while the two squads will meet again Saturday in Chippewa Falls, WI.
The Steel occupy fourth place in the division with 60 points, six points ahead of the Wilderness in fifth place with 54 points. The Wilderness must win at least one of the games this weekend in order to remain in contention to make the 2025 Robertson Cup playoffs.
Last weekend, both teams split home weekend series. The Steel fell to the Springfield Jr. Blues in their Friday night contest, 3-2, then rebounded to win Saturday, 4-1.
The Wilderness dropped a 5-3 decision to the Janesville Jets, Friday, 5-3, before trouncing the Jets, 8-1, Saturday.
These will be the seventh and eighth meetings of the 2024-25 season between the Wilderness and Steel. The Wilderness have a 1-4-1 record in a season series that Chippewa has already clinched.
Friday's game at Northwoods Credit Union Arena is slated to start at 7:15 p.m.; Saturday night's contest at Chippewa Area Ice Arena is set for 7 p.m.
Media: NAHLTV.com
Midwest Division standings:
Place Team Games Played Points This weekend's opponent
1x Wisconsin 53 76 2 games @ Fairbanks
2x Fairbanks 52 72 2 games vs. Wisconsin
3x Anchorage 53 68 2 games vs. Kenai River
4 Chippewa 52 60 Home/home vs. Wilderness
5 Wilderness 53 54 Home/home vs. Chippewa
6 Springfield 53 53 2 games vs. Janesville
7 Kenai River 53 49 2 games @ Anchorage
8 Janesville 53 36 2 games @ Springfield
x = clinched playoff spot
Tale of the Tape:
Team GF GA PP PK
Chippewa 159 163 43 for 228 (18.9%) 34 for 211 (83.9%)
Wilderness 188 183 50 for 243 (20.6%) 32 for 194 (83.5%)
• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...
North American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2025
- Billy Batten Commits to Army West Point - Minot Minotauros
- Weekend Preview Versus Philadelphia - Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks
- Black Bears Gear up for Final Home Regular Season Series against Titans - Maryland Black Bears
- Final Pair vs. Steel Brings Huge Playoff Implications - Minnesota Wilderness
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
