2546 Fans See Wilderness Win

Dwight Cadwell – NSO

After losing a heart breaker on Friday night to the Aberdeen Wings, the Wilderness responded Saturday night when the Wilderness scored five straight goals after falling behind 1-0, as the Wilderness crushed the Wings by a final score of 5-1 in front of 2546 fans.

On a night where the Wilderness had new corporate sponsor USG,  a record setting attendance for the Wilderness crammed into Northwoods Credit Union as the Wilderness responded with he victory.

With the Wings jumping out in front early in the first period the Wilderness tied the game up late in the first period when Brett Heikkala tied the contest at 1-1, with assists to Janis Jaks and Ryan Anderson. Billy Exell scored the lone second period goal as he scored at 1:20 into the period with assists to Heikkala and Daniel Litchke.

Darian Romanko scored the first of his two third period goals three minutes into the period to give the Wilderness a 3-1 lead. Tyler Cline and Nicholas Lehtimaki had the assists. The Wilderness continued to dominate the contest as they out shot the the Wings as they out shot the Wings 12-3 in the third period and for the game it was 42-12.

The Wilderness out shot the Wings 38-17 Friday night in the 2-0 loss. With a 5-3 advantage it was Ivan Chukarov and Michael Covach setting up Romanko with his second goal of the night as the power play goal put the Wilderness in front 4-1. Janis Jaks scored yet another power play goal 35 seconds later for the 5-1 victory, as Exell and Lehtimaki had the assists.

Ryan Anderson picked up the win in nets for the Wilderness who have won 7 of their last 8 games and are in first place of the Midwest Division with 27-10-4 record and 58 points, three points of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs who are 26-12-3 with 55 points.

The Wilderness are back in action this Wednesday night when they will face the Austin Bruins at the Riverside Arena in Austin Minnesota.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com