Ice Dogs Prepare for Three Game Weekend

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Fairbanks Ice Dogs had two weekends at home in the month of January. A two game sweep of the Kenai River Brown Bears, and then three consecutive losses to the Wisconsin Windigo at the Dipper.

The Ice Dogs will have their second, three game weekend in three weeks. This time on the road, the weekend will feature two different opponents.

Thursday, Fairbanks will play one game at the Minnesota Wilderness in Cloquet, Minnesota. This game is the fifth and final game between the Ice Dogs and Wilderness in the regular season series. Even though it’s only February, this game will go a long way in the NAHL Midwest Division Standings.

The Dogs and Wilderness each have 49 points on the year, but Minnesota has two games in hand to Fairbanks (Fairbanks: 41 games played, Minnesota: 39). Fairbanks currently holds the tiebreaker in the standings due to regular season win totals.

In the previous four meetings this season, Fairbanks has gone 3-1-0 against the Wilderness. A road sweep to start the season and a split at the Dipper in November. Thursday’s puck drop is set for 4:15 p.m. AKST (7:15 p.m. CST).

After their game in Minnesota concludes, the team will then head to Wisconsin for a normal weekend series in Janesville. This series will also conclude the season series with the Jets.

Janesville won the first two meetings, but Fairbanks has won the last three. Two of the five previous meetings required overtime.

Janesville is also in the top half of the standings trailing the Ice Dogs and Wilderness by a matter of four points (two wins). The difference between Janesville and Minnesota though is the Jets have played the same number of games as the Ice Dogs (41 GP).

Friday and Saturday’s games will start at 4:00 p.m. AKST (7:00 p.m. CST). Following the end of this road trip, Fairbanks will return to Alaska for eight straight Alaska Airlines Club 49 Cup games. Four will be at home, two in Anchorage, and the other two at Kenai River.

Copyright 2023 KTVF. All rights reserved.