Trio of Home Games Launch Season's Second Half
Published on December 30, 2025 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Minnesota Wilderness News Release
The Minnesota Wilderness enter the season's second half this week with three home games including the franchise's first ever New Year's Day contest.
Minnesota (19-7-2) entertains the Chippewa Steel (5-21-2) on January 1 at Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet at 5:15 p.m. That will be followed by a 2-game home weekend series vs. the Kenai River Brown Bears (11-17-1) Friday and Saturday (Jan. 2-3) with puck drop set for 7:15 p.m.
Thursday's game will mark the fifth meeting of the season between the Wilderness and Steel. Minnesota has won the first four games of the season series, including a sweep of the most recent pair Dec. 12-13 in Chippewa Falls.
The weekend set vs. Kenai River will mark the first two contests of the season between the Midwest Division rivals in Cloquet. The Wilderness and Brown Bears previously met in Soldotna, AK, on Oct. 3 and 4, with Minnesota winning both games.
The Wilderness last played Dec. 19-20 in Brookfield, WI, vs. the Wisconsin Windigo, where they split a 2-game series, falling Friday, 4-3, and winning Saturday, 6-2.
The Steel dropped a pair of games in its last outing, also Dec. 19-20, at home vs. the Fairbanks Ice Dogs by scores of 6-0 and 7-1.
The Brown Bears are coming off a split in its last weekend series. Kenai River visited Janesville on Dec. 19-20, where the Jets were victorious in game 1, 4-1, while the Brown Bears countered with a 5-2 triumph Saturday.
Media: All games can be seen on NAHLTV.co
Midwest Division standings
Place Team Games Played Points This week's opponent (all games Fri./Sat. unless otherwise noted)
1 Wilderness 28 40 Thurs. vs. Chippewa, Fri/Sat. vs. Kenai River
2 Springfield 31 39 2 vs. Fairbanks
3 Fairbanks 30 38 2 @ Springfield
4 Wisconsin 30 35 Home/home vs. Janesville
5 Janesville 31 29 Home/home vs. Wisconsin
6 Anchorage 29 29 Sat. @ Chippewaa
7 Kenai River 29 23 2 @ Wilderness
8 Chippewa 28 12 Thurs. @ Wilderness, Sat. vs. Anchorage
Tale of the Tape:
Team GF GA PP PK
Chippewa 60 135 12 for 88 (13.6%) 37 for 152 (75.7%)
Kenai River 94 120 9 for 82 (11%) 25 for 109 (77.1%)
Wilderness 123 76 27 for 116 (23.3%) 27 for 118 (77.1%)
North American Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2025
- 2025-2026 Aberdeen Wings Alumni Update - Aberdeen Wings
- Trio of Home Games Launch Season's Second Half - Minnesota Wilderness
- Bobcats Set for 3 in 4 with Minot - Bismarck Bobcats
- Aden Gariepy Commits to Adrian College - Watertown Shamrocks
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