LeMire Shorthanded Goal Helps Esky Beat Jeffers

WELLS---Chris LeMire scored a shorthanded goal late in the third period to lead the Escanaba Eskymos beat the Painesdale-Jeffers Jets, 4-3, Saturday at the Hannahville Ice & Turf. It was the first goal of the season for the senior alternate captain, and it saved the Eskymos from losing another home game after leading for most of the contest.

Escanaba built a 3-0 lead on first period goals by Grant Wickham and Colton Hayes, and on an early second period goal by Hayden Haslow.

But momentum in the game turned when LeMire was called for a five-minute major boarding penalty moments later.

With LeMire in the box, the Jets got on the board as Tyler Lowney sped through the neutral zone and beat goaltender Brodie Goddard to the far-side post.

With the Eskymos still fuming for what they thought was a bad call on LeMire, they didn't play well on defense and gave up two more goals late in the period. Brendan Middleton, who led Lake Linden-Hubbell's football team to an undefeated regular season, was left wide open in the slot. He ripped one home to cut the Jeffers deficit to 3-2.

Then less than two minutes later, Stephen Suhonen raced up the left wing and cruised into the Eskymo zone. He faked a back-hand shot, then did shoot a back-hander, and scored into the upper portion of the net. That tied the game at 3-3.

In the third period, the Eskymos were shorthanded two more times, with the second one coming on a bench minor penalty against Coach Matt Hughes.

Hughes was outraged when the Jets were not called for a penalty when Haslow was hit hard in the neutral zone, a play that Hughes felt was similiar to the earlier play that landed LeMire in the box.

As fate would have it, however, it was LeMire who made the game's biggest play, leading to Escanaba's second shorthanded goal of the contest. The senior alternate captain stole the puck at center ice, made a move, and skated into the Jeffers zone as teammate Parker LaMarch caught up to his left. LeMire passed to LaMarch, then got it back.

He slid it past Jeffers goaltender Noah Nettell with 3:58 left. The Eskymos held on from there to avoid losing a home game for the fourth time this season after holding a lead.

Escanaba improved to 3-6-0 on the season. Jeffers' record fell to 5-4-1.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to listen to replays of LeMire and Wickham goals and interviews with Reace Hubert, LeMire, Gavin Schwalbach, and Hughes. Also, see photos and video highlights taken by Sandi Young.