Windigo snag sweep of Minnesota; Beahm has eight-goal weekend

The Wisconsin Windigo felt right back at home last weekend as it swept the two-game series versus the Minnesota Wilderness, while Braydon Beahm, the North American Hockey League leading scorer (20), buried eight goals in the two games.
With 6-3 and 6-5 wins Friday and Saturday, the Windigo remain a clear competitor in the Midwest division. They currently sit in second place (15-2) behind the 16-4 Anchorage Wolverines.
Beahm led the team, including five goals in Saturday’s 6-5 competitive victory.
“I liked the way we closed out both games this weekend with strong third
periods. I think that reflects the depth of talent we have on this team,” said Windigo coach Bryce Reddick after the game on Saturday.

“We battled hard both nights. The Wilderness are a talented team and kept responding to our goals. We had some breakdowns in coverage right in front of our net, especially on Saturday. Good teams will make you pay for that. What can you say about a performance like Beahm had this weekend? Eight goals in two games against a quality opponent is
an impressive accomplishment.”

Wilderness 3, Windigo 6

After scoring four goals in both games in Janesville a few weekends ago, Wisconsin’s offense continued to groove back home.
Luke Baker worked with the puck and didn’t take much time to beat Minnesota’s goaltender, as the Windigo went up 1-0 in the first 30 seconds.

The action continued, but neither side tallied a goal until the visiting Wilderness tied things up at 11:25 of the opening frame.
Beahm got his first goal of the weekend late in the first, as the Windigo took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
A high-sticking penalty by the Windigo’s Martin Klicka allowed the Wilderness to take advantage with a man-advantage goal early in the second to put things back to even, 2-2.
Momentum flipped once again as Beahm gathered a quick wrister to light the lamp for the 15th time this year, and the second late-period tally gave Wisconsin a two-goal second intermission advantage, 4-2.
Ten seconds into a Windigo boarding penalty, Elliot Gulley dished a pass to center Zachary Cline who put up the fifth goal to go up by three.
Minnesota got one back just over midway through the third, but it wasn’t enough.
Lucas Szyszka saved 17 of the 20 shots he faced in the win.

Wilderness 5, Windigo 6

The two teams were back in action Saturday Night inside the historic Eagle River dome, which turned out to be a shootout of a game.
Minnesota flipped the script and struck first for a 1-0 lead at 6:22 of the first period.

Beahm then took over for Wisconsin, scoring five consecutive goals for the Windigo.
He scored at 13:18 and 15:29 of the first, as the two teams skated to a 2-2 tie after one period.
Another Beahm goal at 3:08 into the second put the Windigo up 3-2 before the Wilderness answered the bell once again midway through the period.
The seesaw second period continued as Beahm continued to bury pucks. His 19th goal of the year came with about five minutes left in the middle frame before a roughing penalty cost the Windigo a one-goal advantage as Minnesota tied things up, 4-4, before the second-period horn.
A pretty clean final period saw the two sides skate tied for more than half the period before the hot stick of Beahm got his fifth score of the evening, putting Wisconsin up 5-4 at a critical point of the game. Felix Haibock put the nail in the coffin with a goal with less than two minutes left to go ahead 6-4 as Minnesota answered shortly after that with just over a minute left.
Along with Beahm’s five-goal performance, Elliot Gulley tallied four assists in Saturday’s win.
Wesley Jefferson-Swint II played his first game in net this season and picked up the victory with 20 saves.
Wisconsin is back in action again next weekend on the road at Minnesota Nov. 22-23, with both contests starting at 7:15 p.m. The Windigo then return home for a two-weekend homestand Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 6-7.