WELLS---Nick LeMire stopped 31 shots and Levi Wunder scored two third period goals to lead the Escanaba Eskymos to a 3-0 win over the Hancock Bulldogs Saturday at the Wells Sports Complex. Charlie Zuidema also scored for the Eskymos.
Escanaba got the win despite spending a lot of time in the penalty box.
But with LeMire's help, the Eskymos killed off all six Hancock power plays, including a pair of five-on-three disadvantages. Escanaba outshot Hancock, 39-31.
"We can't lean on Nicky all the time," Eskymo Coach Matt Hughes said. "We've got to make defensive plays, and we've got to put the puck in the net and help him out."
They did, but it took a while. This game was scoreless for the first two periods as the teams took turns heading into the penalty box.
Hancock had three power plays in the first period as the Eskymos took four minor penalties.
Then in the second period, the Eskymos had three power plays.
There were no goals despite Hancock outshooting Escanaba, 12-6, in the first period. And the Eskymos outshot Hancock, 20-5, in the second period, but could not get one by Bulldog senior goaltender William Lucier.
"He played very well," Hughes said. "In the second period, we had a few power plays and he really played well. He squared up to the puck. His positioning was good."
Lucier was picked as the game's #3 star.
But the Eskymos broke through very early in the third period. Wunder made a perfect pass to Zuidema, who made no mistake for his first goal of the season...and the second goal of his career.
It came just 25 seconds into the third period.
"I got it out of our zone off the boards," said Zuidema, who was the game's #2 star. "I carried it up and then busted to the net. Got a pass and I put 'er in. It went five-hole and it trickled in."
"It was a great play," Hughes said. "A very simple hockey play that we work on all the time in practice. It's goot to see Charlie find the back of the net. He works hard."
The Eskymos spent much of the third period in the box. Dan Ritter went off for holding, but the penalty killers were able to keep the Bulldogs off the board. Then, with 11:17 left in the game, it looked like Wunder had made it a 2-0 game with a nifty move that juked Lucier in the goal crease.
Lucier knocked the net off, and the play was halted.
"I did not get an explanation (about why no penalty was called)," Hughes said. "It was a crafty move by their goaltender. It's the old veteran move: knock the net off when you're in trouble. Unfortunately, neither referee saw that happen."
Moments later, Jeff Lyle was penalized for an elbow, and Wunder got a roughing call on the same play. That put the Bulldogs on a 5-on-3 power play for two minutes.
"One of their guys was 'sticking' our goalie and Levi had enough," Hughes said. "He gave the kid a shove. I tried talking to the refs, but you know how that goes."
LeMire made four saves on that power play, keeping it a 1-0 Eskymo lead.
"A five-on-three is a lot of work," said LeMire, who was picked as the #1 star. "But it wasn't just me. It was all of our players. They all got it out (of the zone)."
Late in the period, Nick Aird was given a slashing penalty. But the Bulldogs couldn't take advantage when Wade Hanke also got a slashing call. After a stretch of four-on-four hockey, the Eskymos got a brief power play and Wunder scored to make it 2-0.
Wunder added an empty net goal with 12 seconds left in the game for a 3-0 final.
The loss was the first of the year for Hancock (5-1-1). Escanaba improved to 5-2-0.
Escanaba hosts the Houghton Gremlins next Friday night. Game time is 7:00. It will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Joe Pinar, videos taken by Josh Nelson, and radio replays and interviews from the game.
Escanaba got the win despite spending a lot of time in the penalty box.
But with LeMire's help, the Eskymos killed off all six Hancock power plays, including a pair of five-on-three disadvantages. Escanaba outshot Hancock, 39-31.
They did, but it took a while. This game was scoreless for the first two periods as the teams took turns heading into the penalty box.
Hancock had three power plays in the first period as the Eskymos took four minor penalties.
Then in the second period, the Eskymos had three power plays.
There were no goals despite Hancock outshooting Escanaba, 12-6, in the first period. And the Eskymos outshot Hancock, 20-5, in the second period, but could not get one by Bulldog senior goaltender William Lucier.
"He played very well," Hughes said. "In the second period, we had a few power plays and he really played well. He squared up to the puck. His positioning was good."
Lucier was picked as the game's #3 star.
Charlie Zuidema scores first goal
It came just 25 seconds into the third period.
"I got it out of our zone off the boards," said Zuidema, who was the game's #2 star. "I carried it up and then busted to the net. Got a pass and I put 'er in. It went five-hole and it trickled in."
"It was a great play," Hughes said. "A very simple hockey play that we work on all the time in practice. It's goot to see Charlie find the back of the net. He works hard."
Lucier knocked the net off, and the play was halted.
"I did not get an explanation (about why no penalty was called)," Hughes said. "It was a crafty move by their goaltender. It's the old veteran move: knock the net off when you're in trouble. Unfortunately, neither referee saw that happen."
Moments later, Jeff Lyle was penalized for an elbow, and Wunder got a roughing call on the same play. That put the Bulldogs on a 5-on-3 power play for two minutes.
"One of their guys was 'sticking' our goalie and Levi had enough," Hughes said. "He gave the kid a shove. I tried talking to the refs, but you know how that goes."
Levi Wunder goal makes it 2-0.
"A five-on-three is a lot of work," said LeMire, who was picked as the #1 star. "But it wasn't just me. It was all of our players. They all got it out (of the zone)."
Late in the period, Nick Aird was given a slashing penalty. But the Bulldogs couldn't take advantage when Wade Hanke also got a slashing call. After a stretch of four-on-four hockey, the Eskymos got a brief power play and Wunder scored to make it 2-0.
Wunder added an empty net goal with 12 seconds left in the game for a 3-0 final.
Nick LeMire save, then Levi Wunder scores.
Escanaba hosts the Houghton Gremlins next Friday night. Game time is 7:00. It will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Joe Pinar, videos taken by Josh Nelson, and radio replays and interviews from the game.
