MERCY!!! Eskymos Roll Into Regional Finals, 8-0

MARQUETTE---There have been countless times over the past 25 years when the Escanaba High School hockey team walked out of Marquette's Lakeview Arena on the short end of the scoreboard. And quite a few times by the mercy rule.

But Thursday night, the shoe was on the other foot, as the Eskymos routed the Marquette Redmen, 8-0, in the MHSAA Division Two regional semifinal.

Escanaba's Steve Wood (7) and Marquette's Forest Folker (24) go for the puck.

The game ended on the mercy rule when Nick Vandermissen scored with 20.1 seconds left in the third period.

"We told the kids to go out there with a purpose, and they did," Eskymo Coach Tim McCarthy said. "They put the puck in the net early. We won every period. The pressure that we put on them all night, and the special teams came up big again tonight."

"It was great," Vandermissen said of that eighth goal. "I just loved it."

"This was just incredible, to mercy them, it's unheard-of for our program," Wunder said. "They have a history of mercying us, so it's kind of nice.

"A great win to get!"

The win moves the Eskymos (24-3) into Saturday's regional final against Saginaw Heritage. The Hawks are 22-5, after beating Midland, 3-2, in the other D-2 semifinal.

On Thursday, the Eskymos jumped on the Redmen right from the opening faceoff.

Levi Wunder scores to make it 1-0.

The Redmen took a penalty 54 seconds into the game, and it didn't take long for Levi Wunder to cash in.

The sophomore winger was set up nicely by Jake Eastin for the power play goal that put Escanaba into the lead just 1:30 into the game.

"We wanted to start off quick and get one right away," Wunder said. "We kind of got them back on their feet, and kept them back on their feet (heels).

Esky's Ben Lasecki (4) and Marquette's Ryan Hanson (3) along the boards.

Moments later, the Redmen turned the puck over in their own zone. Steve Wood got the puck and ripped it past Marquette goalie Evan Kyle, short side. It was a 2-0 game.

"That one really pumped us up," McCarthy said. "When Stevie got that one, it exploded on the bench. It was just a great effort."

The Eskymos weren't done there. Vandermissen found Wunder streaking up the ice with a perfect pass, and Wunder made no mistake for his 50th goal of the season.

"I'm passing really well for some reason and I don't know why," Vandermissen smiled. "Jake (Eastin) called me 'Mr. Magic' on the bench. So, I'm going with that."

And the lead grew to 4-0 when Marquette was on the power play, but the puck was in the Redman zone. Kyle came out of his net to play the puck near the wall, but Ben Lasecki got the puck off his skate. He made a perfect pass to Eastin between the circles for a shorthanded goal. It was Eastin's 29th goal of the season.

Steve Wood Scores (2-0)

Over the course of the final two periods, the Eskymos spent a lot of time in the penalty box. Eastin got 12 minutes of penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct when he protested a blown icing call.

LeMire even got a penalty for tripping, but the Eskymo goalie more than made up for that with ten solid saves in the second period alone.

Nick LeMire (35) gets ready as Quintin McCarthy (20) and Steve Wood (7) defend.

"I saw every puck, I guess, and made the stops," LeMire said. "I'm so excited that I don't know what to say. This feels great. We beat them two years in a row. It's awesome!"

Vandermissen scored a top-shelf goal to make it 5-0, then T.J. Myrick tallied in the third period off a pass from Wunder. It looked like the Redmen might escape the fate of being mercied as the clock wound down, but the Eskymos kept swarming the net.

Wunder completed his hat trick with a power play goal with 2:06 left, and then Vandermissen closed the scoring (and the game) with 20.1 seconds left.

Wunder says the win was extra-special because of his connections to Marquette. He played for the Marquette AAA Electricians hockey team, and took classes at Marquette Senior High School last year.

Nick Vandermissen ends the game on mercy rule.

"A lot of them (Redmen players) are my buddies and it's great to play against them," Wunder said. "I know a lot of people up here, so it's great to come here and get a win. It's a great atmosphere, and a great place to play."

Escanaba outshot Marquette, but only by 27-24. Eastin had a playmaker of assists to go along with his goal, and defenseman Derek Chaillier had a pair of assists.

Eskymo Levi Wunder (21) shoots on Mqt goalie Evan Kyle as Justin Cain (8) defends.

"The kids just played fantastic," McCarthy said. "When you play against Marquette, they're always a very tough team. They have a lot of tradition here. Our kids just put the pressure on. I didn't see anybody slack off all night. Lots of pressure."

Escanaba was 2-for-2 on the power play. Marquette went 0-for-6 with the extra man.

And so now, it's on to the regional championship game for the third time in four years for the Eskymos.

Escanaba lost to Grand Traverse Bay in 2010, and lost in overtime to Traverse City Central last March.

This time, the opponent is Saginaw Heritage. Vandermissen is the only member of the team to play in all three of those regional finals. So, will the third time be the charm?

"It has to be!" Vandermissen said. "It's going to be a good game."

Game time is 1:00 at the Otsego County Sportplex. It will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Lisa Dagenais, videos taken by Mike Dagenais, plus audio highlights.

Game 27: Escanaba Eskymos 8, Marquette Redmen 0

ESCANABAH 4 1 3----8
MARQUETTE 0 0 0----0

First Period
ESC 1-0: Wunder 49 (Eastin) 1:30 PPG
ESC 2-0: Wood 7 (unassisted) 3:45
ESC 3-0: Wunder 50 (Vandermissen, Chaillier) 11:29
ESC 4-0: Eastin 29 (Lasecki) 13:08 SHG

Second Period
ESC 5-0: Vandermissen 28 (unassisted) 8:15

Third Period
ESC 6-0: Myrick 9 (Wunder, Ritter) 9:37
ESC 7-0: Wunder 51 (Chaillier, Eastin) 14:54 PPG
ESC 8-0: Vandermissen 29 (Eastin) 16:39

Escanaba Penalties (8/24): Wood 2 interference; LaMarch 2 cross-checking; LeMire 2 tripping; Eastin 2 unsportsmanlike; Eastin 10 misconduct; McCarthy 2 high sticking; Wunder 2 slashing; LaMarch 2 roughing.

Marquette Penalties (3/6): Hanson 2 hooking; Swajanen 2 roughing; Jackson 2 tripping.

Shots On Goal: Escanaba 7-7-13=27; Marquette 6-10-8=24.
Power Plays: Escanaba 2/2; Marquette 0/6.
Three Stars: 1. Vandermissen, ESC; 2. LeMire, ESC; 3. Wunder, ESC.

Eskymo freshman Dylan Gauthier watches the game in Marquette Thursday. (Lisa Dagenais photos)

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

11/27	7:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	7 - 5 (W)	1-0

12/5	7:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	1 - 3 (L)	1-1

12/7	7:30 PM	at Macomb Dakota	0 - 8 (L)	1-2

12/8	12:45 PM	at Utica Eisenhower	4 - 1 (W)	2-2

12/14	8:15 PM	Tomahawk, Wis.	9 - 1 (W)	3-2

12/15	2:15 PM	L'Anse Purple Hornets	9 - 1 (W)	4-2

12/18	7:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	9 - 0 (W)	5-2

12/28	8:15 PM	Monroe, Wis.	9 - 1 (W)	6-2

12/29	2:00 PM	Painesdale-Jeffers Jets	9 - 1 (W)	7-2

1/4	6:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	9 - 0 (W)	8-2

1/5	1:30 PM	at Grand Blanc Bobcats	9 - 1 (W)	9-2

1/8	7:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	4 - 3 (W)	10-2

1/12	6:00 PM	at Calumet Copper Kings	2 - 5 (L)	10-3

1/15	7:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	3 - 1 (W)	11-3

1/26	7:00 PM	at Cheboygan Chiefs	8 - 0 (W)	12-3

2/1	7:00 PM	Alpena Wildcats	9 - 2 (W)	13-3

2/2	1:00 PM	Alpena Wildcats	6 - 4 (W)	14-3

2/7	8:00 PM	at Hartland Eagles	4 - 2 (W)	15-3

2/8	6:00 PM	at Rochester United	1 - 0 (W)	16-3

2/9	12:30 PM	at Chelsea Bulldogs	6 - 5 (W)	17-3

2/12	7:00 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	7 - 5 (W)	18-3

2/15	7:00 PM	Calumet Copper Kings	7 - 3 (W)	19-3

2/16	1:00 PM	Hancock Bulldogs	4 - 3 (W)	20-3

2/18	7:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	8 - 0 (W)	21-3

2/21	7:00 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	6 - 3 (W)	22-3

2/26	7:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	8 - 0 (W)	23-3

2/28	7:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	8 - 0 (W)	24-3

3/2	1:00 PM	Saginaw Heritage Hawks	1 - 2 (L)	24-4