The Minnesota Wilderness are one solid organization. Three straight SIJHL titles is no fluke. Coaching, Recruiting, and planning are all key elements for success. The Wilderness have these elements along with others makes for successful planning.
Currently ranked No. 2 in the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Wilderness boasts a SIJHL-best record of 37-3-0-1 having not lost a game in regulation since Oct. 24.
That marks a string of 26 consecutive contests in which they have gone 25-0-0-1 in that span.
Since joining the SIJHL in 2010 the club, under the guidance of head coach and general manager Rod Aldoff, has registered an impressive overall record of 128-15-4-6.
At the same time, the SIJHL announced its playoff format. Behind the Wilderness all four remaining teams are seperated by a total of only three points. Parity beyond the Wilderness is definitely something the SIJHL has. The remaining playoff positions will be determined by a race to the finish and it should be one that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
A league release regarding playoffs said the following:
All five current member clubs will compete in the postseason with the opening round featuring the No. 4 and 5 seeded squads playing a best-of-three series to see who advances to the semifinals.
That round will be played between March 13-20 with the No. 4 seed having home ice for game 1 and if necessary, a third and deciding game.
The winner of that mini-series will then move on to meet the No. 1 seed, who are the regular season champion Minnesota Wilderness, in a best-of-seven affair.
Meanwhile the other semifinal match-up will feature the No. 2 and 3 overall seeds squaring off in another best-of-seven series.
Both the Wilderness and the second place regular season finisher will hold home ice advantage for games 1 and 2 and, if necessary, games 5 and 7.
