WELLS---The Hancock Bulldogs scored six goals in the second period and overwhelmed the Escanaba Eskymos, 9-3, Monday night, in the hockey season opener in Wells.
Austin Salani and Chad Nordstrom both had two goals, while Mason Mickesch added a goal and four assists for Hancock, playing its first game under new Coach Scott Mickesch. He replaced longtime coach Dan Rouleau, who retired at the end of last season.
"They move the puck and they support each other well," Escanaba Cocah Matt Hughes said. "We had our chances to make it a closer game than it was. If we get one early in the first period, and tied the game, and maybe put a couple more in, it could have changed the dynamics of the game."
Escanaba had the first great chance three minutes into the game when Karson Krutina and Nick Kolich went in on a 2-on-1. Krutina made the pass past the defenseman, but Kolich didn't get much on the shot, and it went wide of Hancock goalie Brandon Pietila.
Less than a minute later, Salani strolled through the Eskymo defense and beat goaltender Dylan Zimeke for a 1-0 Hancock lead.
The Eskymos tied the game six minutes later, however, as Kolich won an offensive zone faceoff and pushed it past a startled Pietila. But Hancock countered with a face-off win of its own two minutes later, as Todd Anderson won the offensive zone draw and Rudy Bekkala scored.
The killer for Escanaba was in the final minute of the period when Luke Marcotte tipped home a Nordstrom shot with 54 seconds left in the period to make it 3-1, then just 25 seconds into the second period, Calvin Heinonen walked from the corner and beat Ziemke to make it 4-1.
"That was our message in between periods, to go out there and get that (tying) goal in the first minute or two," Hughes said. "It could have been a m0omentum changer for us. But unfortunately, we didn't, and they were the ones that were able to put the puck in the back of the net."
Escanaba climbed to within 4-2 just two minutes into the second period when sophomore Brayden Martineau converted a turnover into his first goal as an Eskymo.
"That was a great goal," Hughes said. "He knocked that puck down, I think he blocked that pass with his shin pad. Came in from the left, took the goalie across the crease, and tucked it away. The first thing he said when he got back to the bench was 'I haven't scored a goal since 2018'. So, he was pretty pumped about that. It's good to see him get on the scoresheet."
But the floodgates opened for Hancock from there., scoring four goals in a span of 2:37 to turn a 4-2 game into an 8-2 game. Nordstrom scored first, followed by Kyle Maki 52 seconds later, then Salani (on another tip) at 8:39, and Nordstrom converted off a sweet goal mouth pass from Mickesch at the 9:10 mark.
Mickesch got his fourth assist on a Calvin Heinonen goal with 23 seconds left in the second period, and the Bulldogs nearly ended it on the mercy rule on a 3-on-1 rush in the final seconds, but Ziemke made the save, allowing the game to continue.
Hughes says he appealed to his team's pride during the second intermission.
"Just go out there and work," Hughes said. "You guys all wanted this and that's all we've been talking about for the past two and a half months. Here's your time to shine. Go out and do it. We've got 16 games in five and a half weeks, so we don't have a whole lot of time to work on things in practices, so we've got to work on it throughout the game."
The Eskymos held the Bulldogs off the scoreboard in the final period, and Sawyer LaMarch cashed in on a 5-on-3 goal with 2:44 left to make it a 9-3 final.
Hancock outshot Escanaba, 30-12, in the win.
The Eskymos' four-game homestand continues witth a game Friday night at 6:00 against Calumet, followed by a 3:00 game Saturday afternoon against Marquette.
THREE STARS: 1. Mikesch, Hancock; 2. Nordstrom, Hancock; 3. Martineau, Escanaba.
Click the VIDEO buttons to see replays of goals by Martineau, Marcotte, and Nordstrom. Click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Matt Hughes, and player spotlight interviews with Nick Kolich and Spencer Bourdeau.
Austin Salani and Chad Nordstrom both had two goals, while Mason Mickesch added a goal and four assists for Hancock, playing its first game under new Coach Scott Mickesch. He replaced longtime coach Dan Rouleau, who retired at the end of last season.
Escanaba had the first great chance three minutes into the game when Karson Krutina and Nick Kolich went in on a 2-on-1. Krutina made the pass past the defenseman, but Kolich didn't get much on the shot, and it went wide of Hancock goalie Brandon Pietila.
Less than a minute later, Salani strolled through the Eskymo defense and beat goaltender Dylan Zimeke for a 1-0 Hancock lead.
The Eskymos tied the game six minutes later, however, as Kolich won an offensive zone faceoff and pushed it past a startled Pietila. But Hancock countered with a face-off win of its own two minutes later, as Todd Anderson won the offensive zone draw and Rudy Bekkala scored.
The killer for Escanaba was in the final minute of the period when Luke Marcotte tipped home a Nordstrom shot with 54 seconds left in the period to make it 3-1, then just 25 seconds into the second period, Calvin Heinonen walked from the corner and beat Ziemke to make it 4-1.
Escanaba climbed to within 4-2 just two minutes into the second period when sophomore Brayden Martineau converted a turnover into his first goal as an Eskymo.
"That was a great goal," Hughes said. "He knocked that puck down, I think he blocked that pass with his shin pad. Came in from the left, took the goalie across the crease, and tucked it away. The first thing he said when he got back to the bench was 'I haven't scored a goal since 2018'. So, he was pretty pumped about that. It's good to see him get on the scoresheet."
But the floodgates opened for Hancock from there., scoring four goals in a span of 2:37 to turn a 4-2 game into an 8-2 game. Nordstrom scored first, followed by Kyle Maki 52 seconds later, then Salani (on another tip) at 8:39, and Nordstrom converted off a sweet goal mouth pass from Mickesch at the 9:10 mark.
Mickesch got his fourth assist on a Calvin Heinonen goal with 23 seconds left in the second period, and the Bulldogs nearly ended it on the mercy rule on a 3-on-1 rush in the final seconds, but Ziemke made the save, allowing the game to continue.
"Just go out there and work," Hughes said. "You guys all wanted this and that's all we've been talking about for the past two and a half months. Here's your time to shine. Go out and do it. We've got 16 games in five and a half weeks, so we don't have a whole lot of time to work on things in practices, so we've got to work on it throughout the game."
The Eskymos held the Bulldogs off the scoreboard in the final period, and Sawyer LaMarch cashed in on a 5-on-3 goal with 2:44 left to make it a 9-3 final.
Hancock outshot Escanaba, 30-12, in the win.
The Eskymos' four-game homestand continues witth a game Friday night at 6:00 against Calumet, followed by a 3:00 game Saturday afternoon against Marquette.
THREE STARS: 1. Mikesch, Hancock; 2. Nordstrom, Hancock; 3. Martineau, Escanaba.
Click the VIDEO buttons to see replays of goals by Martineau, Marcotte, and Nordstrom. Click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Matt Hughes, and player spotlight interviews with Nick Kolich and Spencer Bourdeau.
