Photo courtesy of Cathy Iverson Wisconsin celebrates defeating Janeville Friday, April 26, at the Janesville Ice Arena in Janesville, Wisconsin. The Windigo won the best-of-five series, 3-0.

EAGLE RIVER, Wis. — With 20 minutes left to play Friday night, the Wisconsin Windigo held a 3-1 lead in the third game of their opening round series against the Janesville Jets in their pursuit of the Robertson Cup. The Windigo were able to hold off the Jets for those final minutes to earn the win and the series sweep in the process.

Windigo coach Blake Hietala, a Houghton native and former Michigan Tech Huskies forward, felt that his team’s effort made a big difference in its success.

“We got a power play early, and we were fortunate enough to score there, which I think settled us into the game,” he said. “They had a good push, but our guys weathered it pretty well and took advantage of a couple opportunities. I think, looking at the 60 minutes as a whole, I like the way we played as a group and found a way to finish the series.”

Co-captain Max Martin got the Windigo on the board first just 1:34 into the contest with his 45th goal of the season. With Wisconsin on the power play after forward Tyler Grahme drew an early penalty, it took just 20 seconds for defenseman Erick Comstock to fire a shot from the point that Martin tipped into the net.

Forward Everett Pietila earned the second assist on the goal, as he worked the puck out to Comstock at the point.

Getting a goal out of the North American Hockey League’s top goal scorer was something the Windigo needed to establish themselves in the contest.

“Our power play has been good all year, and we have a handful of guys on it that have contributed all season,” Hietala said. “Obviously, he’s a big part of it. So to get one early, I think, was a big boost for him and our team.”

The game remained 1-0 in favor of Wisconsin until the 10:48 mark, when Pietila scored his 13th goal of the season.

While he did not get an assist on the goal, center Jacob Jastrzebski helped create the chance with his aggressive forecheck, which turned the puck over. Co-captain Will Schumacher, who returned from an injury he suffered in the series opener, got the puck poked over to Pietila, who made a quick move in close to Jets goaltender Matthew Alberti, and then he buried a backhand past the netminder.

Having Schumacher back was another big boost for the Windigo.

“It was good to get him back in the lineup,” said Hietala. “I think in the second period there, he made a big time shot to put us up, 3-0. He’s a boost. Just having all those guys healthy contributes to our depth and helps us kind of roll four lines.”

In the second period, Schumacher scored a goal of his own to put Wisconsin up 3-0. Jastrzebski got the puck over to Pietila, who carried it into the offensive zone. He then dropped a pass to Schumacher, who buried a shot for his 33rd goal of the season.

The Jets got one back at 13:35, but that was as close as they got. Goaltender Max Beckford stopped all nine shots he saw in the third, and 27 of the 28 he saw in the game.

His calming presence in goal since he was reacquired in December has made a big difference for the Windigo.

“He is a calming influence back there,” said Hietala. “He plays the game very under control. Pucks kind of stick to him, and he definitely gives our team confidence.”

DEPTH MADE A DIFFERENCE

The Windigo got some big contributions from a number of players in the series, including Pietila, who had a goal and two assists in the series clincher. Jastrzebski contributed points throughout the series, and Michigan Tech recruits Ethan DeKay and Quinn Disher also found ways to help out over the course of the three games.

“He (Pietila) was good,” Hietala said. “Jacob Jastrzebski was good.

“I think, if we look at the series as a whole, we kind of got contributions from everybody. So, that’s kind of what we need in playoffs is everybody pulling the rope in the right direction. I’m happy for guys, different guys, to get rewarded each night.”

ANCHORAGE AWAITS

With the series win, the Windigo advance to the Midwest Division championship series against the Anchorage Wolverines. The Wolverines, who won the division title in the regular season, needed four games to eliminate the Minnesota Wilderness, winning the first two games at home, 4-0 and 2-1, then dropping the third game on the road Friday, 4-1, before sealing the series with a 6-2 win on Saturday.

Hietala feels that his team is ready for the challenge the Wolverines present.

“They’ve got a couple of really high-end players,” he said. “They play the game fast, and they’ve got a good offensive team. They can score goals with anybody.”

The two teams saw each other just five times during the regular season, due to the travel necessary to play each other, with the Windigo winning three of the five matchups. But, that means that the two teams are not as well-versed with each other as the Windigo were with the Jets. The last time the two teams met in February, the Windigo won both games at the Eagle River Sports Arena.

“We’re not as familiar with them as we are with most other teams in our division,” Hietala said. “We only happened to play them five times this year. So, Casey (Kirley) and I (have) kind of (been) diving into the video the last couple days and making sure that we’re ready for what they’re going to bring, and making sure we’re dialed into our details, and what it’s going to take to beat them. But, I expect it to be a good series.

“It’ll be a great atmosphere in Anchorage there this weekend. They’ve got a good fan base, so we’re excited for the challenge.”

BRUINS ELIMINATED

Going into Friday, the Austin Bruins trailed in their Central Division series with the Minot Minotauros, 2-0. Things did not get any better Friday night at home at the Riverside Arena.

The Bruins scored first, but could not find a second goal, while the Minotauros scored the game’s next seven goals to seal the series, 7-1.

Copper Country natives Austin Salani and Jackson Rilei both dressed for the Bruins, but neither figured in the scoring.

UP NEXT

The Windigo travel to Anchorage, Alaska, this weekend for Games One and Two. They will return to action the following weekend at home in the Eagle River Sports Arena, playing as many as three games, if necessary, to complete the series from May 10-12.