Escanaba Eskymos Celebrate Great Hockey Season

ESCANABA---The Escanaba High School hockey team celebrated one of its most successful seasons in school history with its annual post-season banquet at the Highland Golf Club.

The Eskymos won 20 games and took their first regional title in eight years.

The team's Most Valuable Player was the team's captain, Sawyer LaMarch, a four-year player who scored 50 goals in his career. LaMarch cleaned up on awards, not only getting the MVP, but also the prestigious Ovid Provo award, as well as the team's Academic Award.

This season, LaMarch finished with 50 points (18 goals and 32 assists).

His cousin, Brayden Martineau, was picked the Offensive Player of the Year. He was the team's seond-leading scorer, despite a late-season knee injury that sidelined him for several games. He had 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points. Martineau was also given the "Mikey D Character" award for his positive attitude.

The Defensive Player of the Year was senior Gunner Bourdeau, who logged, by far, the most minutes of any defenseman this season. And junior Brett Labre, who split time as a defenseman and forward this season, was given the "Little I" award for his selfless play.

The Eskymo of Tomorrow award was given to freshman Nolan Bink, who scored 20 goals and had 18 assists (for 38 points) in his rookie season.

The Eskymos finished their season with a 20-8-0 record, beating Kingsford and Sault Ste. Marie to earn a Division Three regional championship. They lost to Houghton in the state quarterfinal.