Last weekend was a big opportunity for the Minnesota Wilderness to make a move up the standings in the Central Division of the North American Hockey League. The Cloquet-based Wilderness played host to the Brookings Blizzard: a team with just five wins in 35 games played, and a team mired in last place in the division. Instead of a sweep and a chance to solidify their third-place hold in the division, the Wilderness lost both games and now find themselves in the fourth and final playoff spot.

"It was a tough weekend from the wins standpoint," said Wilderness assistant coach Mark Vichorek. "On F...