Eskymos Finish Regular Season With 6-3 Victory

WELLS----The Escanaba High School hockey team made sure that its final home game of the 2012-'13 season was a successful one Thursday night.

And now, any future success will have to happen on the road. The Eskymos turned back the Kingsford Flivvers, 6-3, before a lively crowd Thursday night at the Wells Sports Complex. Escanaba finishes the regular season with an 11-1 record on home ice.

Escanaba's Jeff Lyle (11) and Kingsford's Marcus Andrews (9) along the boards.

Escanaba's four seniors (Jake Eastin, Nick Vandermissen, Brianna Belanger, and Ben Lasecki) played their final high school game on Wells Sports Complex ice.

"I'm gonna miss it a lot," Vandermissen said about playing on home ice. "I don't what I'm gonna do. It was fun, I just wish there were a few less penalties."

"I felt OK, but it was kind of sad that it is our last game here," Belanger said. "I'm glad that we're doing so good and that we're going to move on."

"It's difficult (being a girl on a boys team) but it's also a lot of fun, she added. "The guys have made it really enjoyable."

This game had just about everything in it, including a t0n of penalties. Kingsford spent a good chunk of the early part of the game in the box, and Escanaba spent virtually all of the third penalty shorthanded...including three times being down 5-on-3.

Jake Eastin scores for the Eskymos.

Kingsford scored a goal when Escanaba goaltender Nick LeMire went out near the blue line to get a loose puck and missed it, giving Reid Pietilla an easy shorthanded goal.

And at the other end of the ice, Vandermissen scored a goal when he tried to make a pass from behind the net and the puck found its way past Kingsford goalie Wes Paupore.

Yes, it was a crazy game, one that saw the Eskymos get whistled for three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. In all, there were 14 penalties called.

Eskymo senior Ben Lasecki (4) mixes it up with Kingsford goalie Wes Paupore.

"We were on the retaliation end of it," Eastin said. "They were chirping, we were chirping, the ref sees us, and we're gone! Lots of 5-on-3's tonight. It's tough. I took a puck off the ankle from Teddy (Pietila) down there. A big knot on it, I think."

Vandermissen scored twice in the game to run his season total to 27. Eastin scored once, and also has 27 goals. Eastin also had a pair of assists, giving him a total of 56 points on the season.

Sophomore Levi Wunder had a goal and three assists, giving him 42 goals and 35 points for a school-record-shattering 77 points.

Escanaba led, 3-2, after the first period, outshooting Kingsford, 16-5.

The Eskymos scored three times in the second period to lead, 6-2, and then Escanaba held on in the third period as the Flivvers had numerous plays. Kingsford was 1-for-8 on the power play while the Eskymos were 3 out of 4 with the man advantage.

Hunter LaMarch scores for the Eskymos.

LeMire stopped 18 of 21 shots to earn his 17th win in net for the Eskymos. That is tied for the most amongst all high school goaltenders in the State of Michigan.

Kingsford's goaltender, Paupore, stopped 32 of 38 shots in a losing effort. The Flivvers fell to 9-13-1 on the season, with a make-up game at Hancock Saturday afternoon.

It was a different scene on the Eskymo bench as Head Coach Tim McCarthy was ill and had to leave the rink. With head assistant coach John Keepers also absent, it left John Hendrickson and volunteer assistants Matt Hughes and Bryce Groleau in charge.

Jake Eastin (6) splits the Flivver defense.

Escanaba improved to 22-3 on the season, the best record in school history. The boys clinched a share of their first-ever Great Lakes Hockey Conference championship with the win.

Escanaba had to settle for the tied title when Calumet rallied to beat Marquette, 5-2, as Brendan Jacques scored four times to help the Copper Kings pull out the win.

Still, the kids themselves can't believe they've had this much success.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Eastin said. "It's been a great year with a great, great group of guys. It's an honor to be the captain of this team and play with these guys. It was emotional before the game, and before the third period. But, I'm happy."

Levi Wunder goal.

With the regular season now behind them, the Eskymos prepare for the MHSAA Division Two Regional Tournament. There are seven teams in the regional, split into two pre-regional brackets.

Escanaba travels to Negaunee next Tuesday night for its first playoff contest. Game time is 7:00. The Eskymos-Miners playoff game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the 'ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS' box to see photos and videos, and listen to audio highlights and interviews. Thanks to Lisa Dagenais for the photos, and Mike Dagenais for the videos!

Game 25: Escanaba Eskymos 6, Kingsford Flivvers 3

KINGSFORD 2 0 1----3
ESCANABAI 3 3 0----6

First Period
KNG 1-0: R. Pietila (unassisted) 2:31 SHG
ESC 1-1: Vandermissen 26 (Eastin, Wunder) 4:01
ESC 2-1: Vandermissen 27 (Eastin) 6:21 PPG
ESC 3-1: LaMarch 3 (Pinar, Chaillier) 13:33
KNG 2-3: Larson (R. Pietila, T. Pietila) 15:07

Second Period
ESC 4-2: Eastin 27 (Myrick, Wunder) 1:23
ESC 5-2: Lasecki 15 (Chaillier, Wunder) 5:52 PPG
ESC 6-2: Wunder 42 (Lasecki) 10:24 PPG

Third Period
KNG 3-6: R. Pietila (Szabo) 13:32 PPG

Escanaba Penalties (9/18): Lasecki 2 unsportsmanlike; Ritter 2 roughing; Lyle 2 tripping; Wunder 2 unsportsmanlike; McCarthy 2 interference; Vandermissen 2 tripping; Chaillier 2 head contact; Chaillier 2 unsportsmanlike; Lasecki 2 cross-checking.

Kingsford Penalties (5/10): Rock 2 delay of game; T. Pietila 2 holding; Tuchowski 2 tripping; Larson 2 head contact; T. Pietila 2 cross-checking.

Power Plays: Escanaba 3/4; Kingsford 1/8.
Shots on Goal: Escanaba 16-12-10=38; Kingsford 5-10-6=21.
Three Stars: 1. Eastin, ESC; 2. Vandermissen, ESC; 3. Belanger, ESC.

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