This weekend, the WarHawks hosted the St Louis Jr Blues for their out of division games. The Blues came to Willmar as the #1 ranked team in their division. Both games were incredibly close, losing the first by one (and an empty netter) and winning the second by one. Fans definitely got their money’s worth.
Friday night came and you didn’t really know what to expect and neither did the Blues. From the outside looking in, the WarHawks were a 3-8 team in 5th place in the West Division. Should be an easy weekend for them. But what they didn’t realize was that almost every game the WarHawks had lost were by one goal and it was against West Division teams. Arguably the best division in the NA3HL. The Blues found this out in a hurry. The Jr Blues got on the board just a little over three minutes into the game. And again with just three minutes left in the 1st. Like I said, easy right? They forgot one important fact, don’t leave Mason Wanka uncovered. The boys brought the puck into the offensive zone, down two goals and time running out. Woods gathers the puck on the near side corner and finds Holtz out by the blue line for an outlet pass. Holtz fires high glove side and wouldn’t you know, Wanka snuck in behind the defender all by himself waiting for a rebound. Wanka pulls the rebound out with his backhand and chips one in to get the boys on the board. In his words “see puck, put puck in back of net.” It was also teddy bear toss Friday night. After Wanka’s goal, the stuffed animals went flying! 1-2 going into the 2nd.
2nd period the Blues gave the boys 3 man advantages taking the most penalties but 3 pipes later, score didn’t change for the good guys. Blues were able to capitalize on a loose puck late in the 2nd to give them a two goal lead.
3rd period was riddled with opportunities but neither team were able to find the back of the net. That is until E. Domagala gets pinned behind the net and with his free arm, pushed the puck to Callaghan with his stick. Callaghan finds Vaculik in the slot and he passes to Gabe Adams who one times it to get back within one with only 1:25 left in the game. Coach Payton pulls his goalie and fifty seconds felt like a year. Eventually, the Blues shot the puck from the opposite goal line to get an empty net. Sam Moen saw 39 shots, saving 36, with a 92% save percentage.
Saturday was a rematch with the Blues and the crowd felt like it doubled for the game. Surprising even the WarHawks front office being that this is an out of division team. There were two birthday parties and the Luverne hockey team came as well. The barn was buzzing.
The game starts and tragedy strikes. The Blues found a loose puck no one saw and were able to tap it in just thirteen seconds into the game. Six minutes later, they had a great screen and another one hits the back of the net. And to make things worse, the Blues find another loose puck and score. Not the start anyone wanted. The Blues are about to find out just how hard it is to find a win in the West Division.
Before the 2nd period started, Coach Payton went into the locker room and gave a fiery speech. Apparently it worked. Keep reading, it’s worth it. 2nd period, the WarHawks were on a mission and they introduced the Blues to the boards and ice. It got very physical. Five total penalties for the period. Seven minutes into the 2nd, Vaculik grabs a loose puck in the neutral zone and backhand sauces it to Maddux Domagala. Maddux splits the D and beats the Blue’s tendy high blocker side. There’s life in the team after all! Four minutes later, Wanka brings the puck into the offensive zone by the near side boards. Wanka makes a drop pass to Amon who shoots from the top of the circle. The puck pops out to the high slot where Carson Wendorff comes in flying. WIth a huge slap shot, bests the Blues tendy high glove side. Just a minute later, Wendorff makes a zone entry by the far boards, looses it and regains possession a second later. From the bottom of the circle, makes a pass to Callaghan who is waiting backdoor. Callaghan’s shot sneaks under the tendies 5 hole and sits in his crease uncovered. That’s when Carson Wendorff crashes the net and bumps it in for his second goal in a minute (that’s gotta be an NA3HL record). Now it’s a game. Three unanswered goals in the 2nd period. Who will score next and win it?
3rd period starts tied 3-3. Be honest, you didn’t expect that after the 1st period. No one did. A little under three minutes in, Callaghan makes a zone entry by the near side boards, skating the puck behind the net all the way around to the top of the slot and fires at the net. That’s where Elliot Domagala was screening. Domagala finds the loose puck and as he’s falling, shoots and scores! The WarHawks now have the lead for the first time and they kept it. What felt like an eternity and 900 Blues penalties, the boys walked away with a win. Jacob Brumm saw 22 shots, saving 19, with an 86% save percentage.
Boys are back on home ice this Friday to take on the Mason City Toros. The Toros are going to be out for revenge as the WarHawks are one of only two teams that have beaten them (twice) this season. Get your tickets here:
