Chippewa Falls, WI | 12/30/23 | Jacqueline Hixssen
The Anchorage Wolverines are leaving Chippewa with two more wins, four more points and a placement higher in the Midwest Division.
With a 7-2 win over the Chippewa Steel, the Anchorage Wolverines now sit with 36 points towards league standings, and are currently placed in fourth.
The Wolverines gained an early lead, similar to last night’s contest. Bryce Monrean found the back of the net, putting the first point on the board nine minutes into the contest.
Anton Astashevich, forward for Chippewa, tied the game 2:05 into the second. The point was Astashevich’s first goal since November and second on the season.
Romulus Riego de Dios secured the game winning goal for Anchorage in the 13th minute of the second frame, also tallying his first goal since being traded to the Anchorage Wolverines in mid November.
At 18:03 in the second, Bryce Monrean connected with Fedya Nikolayenya who found Oliver Salo and lit the lamp for the Wolverines’ third goal of the night.
A mere 28 seconds later, the trio linked again, this time from Salo to Monrean to Nikolayenya who found the back of the net making the score 4-1.
Monrean made another goal possible four and a half minutes into the final period when he moved the puck to Camden Shasby who connected with Trent Powell and broadened the Wolverines gap 5-1.
Gavin Middendorf attempted to prompt a comeback for Chippewa, scoring 50 seconds after Powell’s goal, ultimately being the final time Chippewa sank a puck in the contest.
After Beerman made a miraculous save on a 2 v 1 breakaway, Nikolayenya returned the odd man rush with his second goal of the night. The University of Alaska-Fairbanks commit now leads Anchorage in goals with 13 on the season.
With just under three minutes left in the game, Brock Devlin and Salo found Cole Christian for the Wolverines’ seventh of the night, Christian’s second point of the contest, and his 12th goal of the season.
The Anchorage Wolverines hold onto a two-game win streak ahead of next weekend’s battle against number one in the Midwest Division, the Minnesota Wilderness.
The Wilderness fell 5-1 tonight against the Janesville Jets, their lone goal coming from former Anchorage Wolverines player Joe Cesario.
Next week’s matches will take place in Minnesota with a 4:15pm AKST puck drop on Friday and Saturday afternoon.
To watch, stream on NAHLtv or head to Matanuska Brewing Co. for a Wolverines watch party.
