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CLOQUET — Five months after closing out last season against one another, the Minnesota Wilderness and Springfield Jr. Blues will meet again this weekend to open the 2025-26 North American Hockey League season.
The teams face off Friday at 7:15 p.m. at Northwoods Credit Union Arena, with a rematch set for Saturday at the same time. Both games will be streamed on NAHLtv.com.
Minnesota finished fifth in the Midwest Division a year ago with a 30-25-4 record, while Springfield landed in sixth at 27-27-5. Neither club qualified for the Robertson Cup playoffs. The Jr. Blues edged the Wilderness in the season series, 4-3-1, though Minnesota swept the final two games April 12-13 by scores of 5-2 and 3-1.
Both teams return a strong core of veterans. The Wilderness returns 12 players from last season, while Springfield has 10 back on its roster.
Elsewhere in the Midwest Division this weekend, Kenai River visits Chippewa and Janesville travels to Wisconsin. Anchorage and Fairbanks are idle.