Final Regular Season Stretch Begins with Pair at Springfield
NAHL Minnesota Wilderness

Final Regular Season Stretch Begins with Pair at Springfield

Published on March 12, 2026 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Minnesota Wilderness News Release


After enjoying a weekend of rest and relaxation, the Minnesota Wilderness return to game action this weekend with two contests at the Springfield Jr. Blues.

Minnesota arrives with a 2026 playoff spot secured after clinching a return to the post-season last weekend after the Anchorage Wolverines fell to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday night. The Wilderness (35-9-4) are now shooting to nail down first place in the Midwest Division, which they currently lead by 11 points over second place Fairbanks.

This weekend marks a rematch of a series from two weeks ago (Feb. 27-28), when Minnesota made its first trip to Springfield (25-19-5) for the 2025-26 season. That weekend, the Wilderness swept the Jr. Blues, winning by scores of 3-2 and 4-1.

Minnesota is 4-0 in the season series vs. Springfield. The pair opened the campaign with two games in Cloquet which the Wilderness triumphed 4-2 and 6-2.

Overall, the Wilderness have won three straight games.

Last weekend (March 6-7), the Jr. Blues split a weekend series at the Wisconsin Windigo. Springfield was victorious Friday in a shootout, 4-3. The Windigo countered with its own 4-3 win in regulation Saturday.

The contests this weekend will be at the Nelson Center in Springfield, IL. Friday night's game is set for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop, while Saturday, the teams will start at 6:05 p.m.

Wilderness Birthday: March 14 - Valdemar Andersen (21)

Media: Watch all games on NAHLTV.com.

Tale of the Tape

Team GF GA PP PK

Wilderness 207 (4.31 GFPG) 118 (2.46 GAPG) 37 for 186 (19.9%) 32 for 185 (82.7%)

Springfield 152 (3.1 GFPG) 146 (2.98 GAPG) 43 for 210 (20.5%) 27 for 167 (83.8%)

Midwest Division standings

Place Team Games Played Points This week's opponent (all games Fri./Sat. unless otherwise noted)

1 x-Wilderness 48 74 2 @ Springfield

2 Fairbanks 51 63 2 @ Kenai River

3 Wisconsin 49 60 2 @ Chippewa

4 Anchorage 50 56 3 vs. Janesville (Fri., Sat., Sun.)

5 Springfield 49 55 2 vs. Wilderness

6 Janesville 47 45 3 @ Anchorage (Fri., Sat., Sun.)

7 Kenai River 49 37 2 vs. Fairbanks

8 Chippewa 49 21 2 vs. Wisconsin

x=clinched playoff spot

Check out the Minnesota Wilderness Statistics

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2026


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