Wilderness Ready to Defend Home Ice

Cloquet-Based Team Tied 1-1 in NAHL 1st Round Series with Janesville

Like Thieves in the Temple, the Minnesota Wilderness stole a game in Janesville and open up a the second weekend of the North American Hockey League playoffs tied 1-1 in the Best-of-5 series.

Corey Millen’s team started a run of 10 straight playoff wins by sweeping the second weekend a year ago.  A sweep this weekend would send the Wilderness to the NAHL Midwest Division finals.

However, Millen doesn’t want his guys looking at the big picture as he expects a pair hard fought games this weekend.

“We’ve got to take it one game at a time,” said Millen.  “Actually, we have to focus on one period at a time and try to win each period and go from there.”

The Wilderness hope home-ice advantage plays in their favor as well.

“The home atmosphere is a lot more in our favor for this weekend,” said forward Koby Bender.  “Hopefully we can take advantage of that and get some wins.”

Both Game 3 Friday and Game 4 Saturday are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.  The Wilderness play their home games at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet.