The Wolverines’ Tyler Hennen came up clutch Saturday night. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
For more than three hours Saturday night, two hockey teams comprised of young adults sped up and down an ice rink, going after one another all while limiting much freedom to maneuver or time to think.
A shorthanded breakaway here, and a singularly successful power-play chance there. Those moments pushed Game 2 of the North American Hockey League Midwest Division semifinals between the Anchorage Wolverines and Minnesota Wilderness to a tension-filled overtime session.
Three minutes and 49 seconds into that first extra period, Tyler Hennen suddenly found sought-after space. With one shot from the low, right circle, he became yet another Anchorage OT hero in the franchise’s ever-growing postseason sample size.
Hennen scored his second goal in as many nights and 17th in 60 games this season to send the overflowing Ben Boeke Arena crowd of 963 into hysterics. The 19-year-old converted captain Bryce Monrean’s centering feed from behind the net to lift the Wolverines to a captivating 2-1 victory and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series.
“Right away when the play started I saw Bryce streaking down the (right-wing) wall,” said Hennen, who lists Hallock, Minn., as his hometown. “I threw it wide and just went to the net. That’s when I saw so much open ice and knew (Monrean) would find me.
“There wasn’t much of that kind of space the whole game.”
In their third year of existence, the Wolverines (41-14-7) won a division title and qualified for the NAHL’s Robertson Cup playoffs for the second time. Saturday’s scintillating win improved Anchorage’s limited postseason record to 10-2 and marked its fourth overtime playoff victory.
17th of the season for Tyler Hennen was a big one!#RobertsonCup pic.twitter.com/q79Fmu5uTZ
— NAHL (@NAHLHockey) April 21, 2024
Current UAA forward Matt Johnson, Colton Friesen and Jackson Reineke tallied 2022 OT winners when the Wolverines finished runner-up in Junior A Tier II league’s playoffs. Once Hennen etched his name in history, he kind of lost his mind.
As the Boeke faithful celebrated, so did Hennen. He beelined from the slot area in front of Minnesota goalie Adam Prokop (31 saves) to the blue line of the attacking zone. As he launched himself high and chest-bumped the plexigrass, he grabbed the top of the partition with gloved hands as teammates piled on his back.
“This goal is probably No. 1 in my life,” Hennen said. “I kind of blacked out right away, didn’t know what celly to do. I went to the crowd, jumped up and grabbed the glass.”
Monrean’s assist was his team-leading 42nd of the season and second point of the series. He critiqued himself harshly in the postgame, admitting he was having an awful time of it. That is, until he found an open Hennen.
“I was playing terribly the whole game, just getting nothing going,” said Monrean, an Anchorage kid and one of five Alaskans in uniform for the Wolverines on Saturday. “Henny said he was trying to get that puck to me. Somehow, I got it behind the net and was able to find him.”
Romulus Riego De Dios sets up in front of the net. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
Minnesota’s Joe Cesaro scored on a short-handed break at 1:08 of the third. The goal for the Wilderness (30-27-5) ended Anchorage goalie Liam Beerman’s series shutout streak at 101:08. Beerman made 33 saves in Friday’s Game 1 4-0 victory. He totaled 32 stops in Game 2.
Wolverines’ forward Cole Christian pumped in his second playoff goal and 22nd overall at 6:18. Anchorage went 1 for 5 on the power play.
Both the Wolverines and Wilderness get a few days off to decompress. The series shifts to Cloquet, Minn. for Game 3 on Friday. Because of economics, geography and NAHL mandate, Anchorage hosted the series’ first two games and would’ve played Sunday at Boeke if it had lost Game 2.
Now first-year coach Nick Walters and the Wolverines must win once in Minnesota, either in Game 3 or in an eventual Game 4 or 5. A semifinal series win would mean they’d advance to the Midwest Divisions finals, which won’t start until at least May 2.
On May 13, 2022, the team won its only playoff road game at Minnesota, 5-1.
“I don’t know how to feel, this my first playoff experience,” said Walters, a 2006 Chugiak High graduate. “I do know we simply have to get ready for Friday, no matter where it’s at.
“If you want to be a championship team, you have to win on the road.”
Anchorage bench boss Nick Walters of Eagle River. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
ONE-TIMERS
- Walters received some postgame love from none other than Anchorage’s Justin Johnson, affectionately known as “The Governor” because he’s a popular friend and knows just about everyone. Last week, the former UAA and Alaska Aces winger celebrated the greatest of 10-year anniversaries. Johnson played multiple NHL games with the New York Islanders and stunned the entire puck universe in his memorable April 13, 2014, heavyweight bout with former enforcer John Scott.
- Aberdeen (S.D.) Wings defenseman Drew Mackie of Anchorage registered a goal Saturday in his squad’s 3-2 NAHL playoff win over Bismarck. The series is tied 1-1.
- Former Wolverines goalie and Anchorage product Raythan Robbins was in attendance Saturday. He helped lead the Wolverines to the 2022 Robertson Cup runner-up finish, including a 39-save performance in the 5-1 win in Game 4 of the Midwest Division finals at Minnesota. Robbins recently finished his freshman season at NCAA Division I Bemidji St. He posted a 1-2-0 record in limited action.
Jack Darby maneuvers around a defenseman. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs
Division Semifinals (Best of 5)
Midwest Division
Anchorage Wolverines vs. Minnesota Wilderness (ANC leads 2-0)
Game 2 – Anchorage 2, Minnesota 1 OT
Game 3 – April 26 @ MIN, 4:15 p.m. AKDT
Wisconsin Windigo vs. Janesville Jets (WIS leads 2-0)
Game 2 – Wisconsin 2, Janesville 0
Game 3 – April 26 @ JAN, 4:05 p.m.
Central Division
Minot Minotauros vs. Austin Bruins (MNT leads 2-0)
Game 2 – Minot 3, Austin 1
Game 3 – April 26 @ AUS, 4:05 p.m.
Bismarck Bobcats vs. Aberdeen Wings (Series tied 1-1)
Game 2 – Aberdeen 3, Bismarck 2 0T
Game 3 – April 26 @ ABE, 4:15 p.m.
East Division
Maryland Black Bears vs. New Jersey Titans (MYD leads 2-0)
Game 2 – Maryland 3, New Jersey 2 OT
Game 3 – April 26 @ NJ, 3:30 p.m.
Maine Nordiques vs. Rochester Jr. Americans (MNE leads 2-0)
Game 2 – Maine 5, Rochester 2
Game 3 – April 26 @ ROC, 3 p.m.
South Division
Lone Star Brahmas vs. New Mexico Ice Wolves (LON leads series 2-0)
Game 2 – Lone Star 2, New Mexico 0
Game 3 – April 23 @ NM, 4:30 p.m.
Shreveport Mudbugs vs. El Paso Rhinos (Series tied 1-1)
Game 2 – El Paso 3, Shreveport 2 4OT
Game 3 – April 26 @ ELP, 5 p.m.