Alpena Rallies To Beat Eskymos In Season Opener

WELLS---Colby Plowman scored 58 seconds into overtime to lift the Alpena Wildcats to a 3-2 win over the Escanaba Eskymos in the hockey season-opener for both teams. Escanaba had a 2-0 lead late in the second period before Alpena rallied to win.

It was a sloppy game, with lots of turnovers and errant passes. Something to be expected with this being each team's first game. And for Escanaba, many of the boys had just one practice entering the game because they were members of the Eskymo football team that advanced to the third round of the state football playoffs last weekend.

But Escanaba got off to a good start, as senior defenseman Paul Carne came in as a trailer and fired one from between the circles to make it a 1-0 game 11:29 into the contest.

Then early in the second period, the Eskymos took advantage of a power play as Parker LaMarch scored into a wide-open net with Chris Sliva and Garth Wickham assisting.

Things turned sour for the Eskymos late in the second period. A bad pinch on defense at the Wildcat blue line led to a two-on-one, and Kyle VanDusen smacked it home for Alpena.

And then, 1:45 later, a bizzare goal tied things up for Alpena as Aaron Nowak scored off a shot that was deflected twice, and into the Escanaba net.

The Eskymos got into penalty trouble early in the third period, with Wickham in the box for hooking and Hayden Haslow sitting for slashing. Escanaba killed off the 5-on-3 power play that spanned 1:46, with goaltender Brodie Goddard making three big saves.

Alpena goaltender Dakota Meyer was strong in net moments later as the Eskymos had a power play with Plowman in the box for hooking. Meyer literally robbed LaMarch twice and Wickham once during a wild 20 seconds in front of the Alpena net.

The Wildcats got a power play with four minutes left as Gavin Schwalbach was called for tripping, but Goddard made two more big saves, and we went to overtime.

The overtime period didn't take long, as the Wildcats fell apart defensively and Plowman ripped it past Goddard to end the game 58 seconds into the extra period.

Escanaba outshot Alpena, 10-4, in the first period. But the Wildcats gradually took control of the game, and they were physical as well.

Alpena outshot Escanaba, however, 16-7, in the third period, and ended up with a 31-25 shots advantage at the end.

The two teams will play again Saturday at 1:00 in Wells. The game can be heard live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 12:45.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Sandi Young, and to listen to a replay of Parker LaMarch's goal, Coach Matt Hughes' post-game comments and Paul Carne's intermission player spotlight interview.