Wilderness split weekend series with Blizzard

EVELETH—The Minnesota Wilderness NA3HL hockey team split their weekend series with Alexandria, dropping the Blizzard 3-1 on Friday before falling 8-4 on Saturday.

In Friday’s win, William Wadlington led the way for the Wilderness with one goal in each of the first two periods. Antony Eertmoed had the first goal of the contest for Minnesota, scoring with just 1:14 coming off the clock.

Alexandria got on the board late in the second period but neither team found the back of the net in the third, leaving the Wilderness’ 3-1 lead intact.

In goal, Hudson Smith stopped 35 shots to lead Minnesota to victory. Adam Holien kicked out 36 for the Blizzard.

Saturday, Alexandria and Minnesota went into the first intermission tied 3-3, but the Blizzard out-scored the Wilderness 5-1 in the second and third periods to put things away.

Four different Minnesota players found the back of the net in the loss with Nick Bogert, Neil Elsmore, Evan Brown and Joey Gabardi all scoring. Ethan Jacobson led the night in assists with two.

Wyatt Mineheine had a hat trick for Alexandria while Ehren Anderson added two goals.

In net, Bode Ekblad stopped 36 shots for the Blizzard. Calum Keating got the start for the Wilderness but was pulled 14:23 into the second period after conceding seven shots on 35 shots on goal. Hudson Smith finished the contest, giving up one goal on 14 shots.

The Wilderness host again this Friday and Saturday when they welcome the North Iowa Bulls to the Eveleth Hippodrome.

AB 0 1 0—1

MW 2 1 0—3

First Period

1, M, Antony Eertmoed (Michal Soukup),18:46; 2, M, William Wadlington (Caiden Balarezo, Cade Doud), 7:02.

Second Period

3, M, Wadlington (Ryder Pisiak, Doud), 11:54; 4, A, Blake Breiland (Jack Johnson, Dillan Smidt), PP, 2:33.

Penalties-Minutes: AB 0-0; MW 2-4.

Goalie saves: Adam Holien, AB, 14-12-10—36; Hudson Smith, MW, 8-8-19—35.

AB 3 4 1—8

MW 3 1 0—5

First Period

1, M, Neil Elsmore (Ethan Jacobson, Antony Eertmoed), PP, 9:41; 2, A, Wyatt Mineheine (Mallow Lomheim, Jack Johnson), PP, 9:16; 3, M, Evan Brown (Ethan Glimme, Cade Doud), 4:32; 4, A, Mineheine (Dillan Smidt, Lomheim), PP, 3:25; 5, M, Joey Gabardi (Jace Kampsula, Marccus Anttila), 2:45; 6, A, Landyn Randt (Parker Welz, Jack Welde), 1:35.

Second Period

7, A, Smidt (Mineheine, Lomheim), PP, 14:13; 8, A, Ehren Anderson (Cooper Ness, Chase Collings), 12:42; 9, M, Nick Bogert (Jacobson), 7:23; 10, A, Anderson (Ness, Collings), 6:28; 11, A, Mineheine (Harlan Rehm, Smidt), 5:37.

Third Period

12, A, Collings (unassisted), SH, 9:21.

Penalties-Minutes: AB 7-14; MW 13-42.

Goalie saves: Bode Ekblad, AB, 10-15-11—36; Calum Keating, MW, 16-12-x—28; Hudson Smith, x-3-10—13.