The visiting Kenai River Brown Bears split a two-game North American Hockey League series with the Wisconsin Windigo on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21.
The Bears lost 5-1 on Saturday and won 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday to move to 2-2-0-0 overall. The Windigo are 2-1-0-1.
Kenai River head coach Darren Banks said the biggest thing he takes out of the weekend is the way his team bounced back in less than 24 hours to win Sunday.
“They did a good job of preparing in a short time frame, and I thought our compete level was a lot better,” he said. “I thought that our detail was better on Sunday and ultimately I thought that we battled better on Sunday.”
The Bears won the shot count 13-7 in the first period and emerged with the lead on a goal by Massimiliano Monson.
“We had some things that we wanted to establish early in that period and we felt like we did that,” Banks said. “After the night before, coming out with a lead after that first period was good for our group.”
In the second period, Joseph Erickson knotted the score for the Windigo. With 2 minutes, 27 seconds, left in the period, Gavin Jensen, assisted by Michael Fiedorczuk and Evin Anderson, put the Bears out front again.
In the second period, Kenai River killed off two penalties. The Windigo were 0 for 3 on the power play in the game.
Banks credited assistant Chris Heath and the players for coming together to improve the penalty kill after the first weekend.
“The blocking was really good on the kill,” Banks said. “We thought our guys were pretty bought in on the kill.”
With 16:24 left in the third period, Carsen Gause scored the equalizer.
In the shootout, Trevor Stewart and Monson scored for the Bears, while Nicholas Genette stopped two of three Wisconsin shooters.
Gennette had 31 saves in his debut for the Bears, while Casimir Weckstrom stopped 36 for the Windigo.
“I just felt like he was a calming presence back there,” Banks said of Gennette. “He came up with some big saves, but really just felt consistent throughout the game.”
Friday, the Windigo scored the first five goals of the game.
Joshua Sardo put Wisconsin out in front after the first period, then Michael Ryan, Ben Norris and Alexios Georgaklis scored in the second period for a 4-0 lead.
In the third period, Beau Kralovec put the Windigo up 5-0 before Monson, assisted by Riley Mullen, scored with 10 seconds left to play to spoil the shutout.
Easton Cody made 32 saves for Wisconsin, while Mitchell Mccusker stopped 40 for the Brown Bears.
The Brown Bears open up play at the NAHL Showcase on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 8 a.m. AKDT against the New Mexico Ice Wolves.
Banks said it’s always exciting for the players to get to play in front of so many scouts at the Showcase.
The Kenai River coach came to the Bears this season after serving as the head coach and general manager for the New Mexico Ice Wolves in the NA3HL.
“They’re a good organization and a good team, and I’m thankful for my time there,” Banks said. “I’m excited to play.”
Friday
Windigo 5, Brown Bears 1
Ken 0 0 1 —1
Wis 1 3 1 —5
First period — 1. Wisconsin, Sardo (Burns), 17:02. Penalties — Wisconsin 1 for 2:00.
Second period — 2. Wisconsin, Ryan (Mannausau, Richardson), 1:37. 3. Wisconsin, Norris (Steele), 4:58. 4. Wisconsin, Georgaklis (Burns, Richardson), 12:14. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00; Wisconsin 2 for 4:00.
Third period — 5. Wisconsin, Kralovec (un.), 7:02. 6. Kenai River, Monson (Mullen), 19:50. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00; Wisconsin 2 for 4:00.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 13-11-9—33; Wisconsin 19-12-14—45.
Goalies — Kenai River, Mccusker (45 shots, 40 saves); Wisconsin, Cody (33 shots, 32 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 3; Wisconsin 0 for 2.
Saturday
Brown Bears 3, Windigo 2, SO
Ken 1 1 0 0 1 —3
Wis 0 1 1 0 0 —2
First period — 1. Kenai River, Monson (un.), 12:15. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00.
Second period — 2. Wisconsin, Erickson (Sardo, Bahneman), 6:33. 3. Kenai River, Jensen (Fiedorczuk, Anderson), 17:33. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00; Wisconsin 1 for 2:00.
Third period — 4. Wisconsin, Gause (Severin, Kralovec), 3:36. Penalties — none.
Overtime — none. Penalties — none.
Shootout — Kenai River 2 (Jensen NG, Stewart G, Monson G); Wisconsin 1 (Gause NG, Joslin G, Norris NG).
Shots on goal — Kenai River 13-9-12-4—38; Wisconsin 7-13-11-2—33.
Goalies — Kenai River, Genette (33 shots, 31 saves); Wisconsin, Weckstrom (38 shots, 36 saves).
Power plays — Wisconsin 0 for 3.
