Eskymos, Redmen Earn Wins At Hockey Showcase

TRAVERSE CITY---Two Upper Peninsula high school hockey teams picked up victories Friday at the North/South Hockey Showcase in Traverse City.

Escanaba beat Bay City Central, 4-2, while Marquette blanked Macomb Dakota, 5-0.

The Eskymos struck first against Bay City Central, and very quickly.

Levi Wunder scored an unassisted goal just 14 seconds into the game as he deked the goaltender and scored on the short side. But the Eskymos couldn't pounce on the Wolves, and it was still just a 1-0 game entering the second period.

The Wolves took advantage of a power play chance as Tyler David beat Escanaba goaltender Jack Valentine on the back-door plat 4:32 into the second period.

The Eskymos regained the lead with a power play goal of their own late in the period, as defenseman Paul Carne got it to Garth Wickham for the top-shelf goal.

Garth Wickham scores power play goal

The third period saw very little five-on-five hockey, as the Wolves had two straight power plays to start the period. As the second power play was coming to an end, Kyle Van Ochten scored on another back-door play, and the game was tied at 2-2 with 10:31 to go. But Escanaba's third line worked hard on the next shift and drew a penalty, and it only took a few seconds for the Eskymos to cash in.

Nick Aird won the faceoff and Wunder ripped it top-shelf for his second goal, making it 3-2 with 9:55 left in the contest. And then, less than three minutes later, Wunder completed his hat trick with his prettiest goal of the evening, also on the power play.

Levi Wunder power play goal makes it 4-2

Wunder fought off two Wolves players along the boards, skated behind the net, and scored on a wrap-around to make it 4-2.

The game was far from over, however, as the Eskymos had several penalties called against them over the game's final minutes. There were two five-on-three power plays for the Wolves, but the Eskymos killed them off. Valentine was strong in net, controlling his rebounds, and making a huge pad save on a back-door play.

Escanaba outshot Bay City Central, 29-19, and the Eskymos improved to 10-2-1 on the season. The Wolves' record fell to 5-5-0 with the loss.

MARQUETTE CRUISES---Earlier at Centre Ice Arena, the Marquete Redmen beat the Macomb Dakota Cougars, 5-0.

The game was scoreless after one period, but the Redmen scored four goals in the second period and another late in the third period to get the win. Luke Schwemin scored a hat trick and goaltender Jon Beckman got the shutout in net for the Redmen. Marquette is now 10-4-0. Macomb Dakota fell to 2-11-0.

SATURDAY'S GAMES---This ten-team tornament wraps up with five more games on Saturday. Marquette will face downstate powerhouse Utica Eisenhower at 2:15. Escanaba will take on Macomb Dakota at 12:15. That Escanaba game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Other teams at this tournament include Traverse City Central, Traverse City West, Bay Area Reps, Livonia Stevenson, and Portage Central.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the games, plus listen to radio highlights.

Thanks Mary Gauthier for the help with the camera!