Wilderness' win streak hits 10

The Minnesota Wilderness completed a second consecutive weekend sweep of a home-and-home series, extending their winning streak to 10 games in the process last weekend.

In the first North American Hockey League game played on Minnesota’s Iron Range, Nick Erickson, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, made 33 saves and posted his second shutout in as many starts this season for a 2-0 win over the Chippewa Steel on Saturday at Iron Trails Motor Event Center.

The winning streak tied a franchise record, set in 2013-14, and set a new mark with 11 straight contests without a regulation loss. It also completes Minnesota’s October schedule with an 8-0 record, the first time ever the Wilderness finished an entire month undefeated, a team news release said.

Joe Cesario and Ashton Dahms scored single goals Saturday night to lead the Wilderness offensively.

On Friday, Oct. 27, Adam Prokop turned aside 25 shots to lead Minnesota to its ninth consecutive victory, 4-0, over the Chippewa Steel. Offensively, the power play drove the Wilderness effort, with the squad scoring three goals with the man-advantage on four chances. It was the fourth straight contest in which the Wilderness connected on multiple power play goals.

The Wilderness has a chance to set a new franchise winning streak record Friday night, when it begins a two-game series against St. Cloud. This will be another home-and-home set with the first game in St. Cloud, while the Wilderness will host the Norsemen in Cloquet at Northwoods Credit Union Arena, Saturday night.