CALUMET----The jinx is finally over.
After losing year after year after year in the Calumet Armory, the Escanaba Eskymos finally walked out of this ancient arena with a victory Friday night.
Levi Wunder scored a pair of goals to lead the Eskymos to a 4-1 win over the Copper Kings, the program's first win inside the Armory (now called the Colosseum) since 1999.
"A sweep over Calumet on the year," Eskymo Coach Matt Hughes said. "Not bad! It wasn't pretty, but it was good. I'm proud of the kids. It's that time of the year where you just have to find ways to win. It was an all-around good effort."
Derek Chaillier added a goal and an assist, and Dan Ritter also tallied for the Eskymos.
The first period was a scorless stalemate, and Hughes wasn't overly-pleased with what he saw.
So, he had a few words with the boys during the intermission break.
"I told the kids that the last time the program beat Calumet in the Armory was in '99, and I told them that I played in that game," Hughes said. "I kind of aged myself a little bit. It's been a long time coming. The kids overcame some adversity at times."
"He let us know that it's been way too long since we've won in this building," Wunder said. "I think it pumped the guys up, and I think it showed on the ice."
"We didn't have the best first period," Chaillier said. "He (Hughes) came in there and we talked it over. It gave us a little boost. It feels great to win in this place. I kind of like playing here, it's a nice environment."
The Eskymos came out on fire to start the second period. Wunder scored just 32 seconds into the period, and then Ritter roofed a rebound off of a T.J. Myrick shot just 59 seconds later. That made it a 2-0 game, but Calumet did not back down.
Robert Erkkila and Tyler Loukus came down on a two-on-one, and Loukus was able to beat Eskymo goaltender Nick LeMire to make it 2-1 with 7:08 left in the second period.
The turning point came late in the second period when Wunder got a pass from Steve Wood, and rifled it home to make it a 3-1 game with 1:08 left in the period.
"I was frustrated in the first period because the bounces weren't really coming our team's way," said Wunder, who was picked the game's #1 star. "Good feed from Steve Wood, and I just kind of ripped 'er far-side. I had a similiar chance in the first period off the pipe."
Wunder now has 35 goals and 27 assists for 62 points in 23 games played.
On the ensuing shift, Wunder put in some tough seconds behind the net and a frustrated Erkkila sent Wunder into the boards.
The boarding penalty gave Escanaba a power play, and then early in the third period, Chaillier tallied to make it a 4-1 game.
"The guy tried icing it and he put it right on my tape," said Chaillier, who was picked the game's #2 star. "I stepped up, the goalie was kind of out of position, and I saw the whole side of the net open. So, I just fired 'er."
Escanaba outshot Calumet, 33-27, including 12-4 in the third period. Sophomore goaltender Tyler Hubbard made 29 saves for Calumet (6-17-1).
LeMire stopped 26 shots for the Eskymos, who improve to 14-6-3.
"I love playing up here," Wunder said. "There's a lot of history up in this rink."
There was also a bizarre moment in the game when a Calumet fan came onto the Eskymo bench and started to yell at the coaches.
The man was ejected from the rink.
Escanaba returns to action Saturday afternoon in Hancock. The game starts at 1:00, and 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 taken by Rick Aird and Tracy Pinar, and videos taken by Aird and Joe Pinar. You can also listen to radio highlights and interviews.
After losing year after year after year in the Calumet Armory, the Escanaba Eskymos finally walked out of this ancient arena with a victory Friday night.
Levi Wunder scored a pair of goals to lead the Eskymos to a 4-1 win over the Copper Kings, the program's first win inside the Armory (now called the Colosseum) since 1999.
T.J. Myrick comes for a loose puck.
Derek Chaillier added a goal and an assist, and Dan Ritter also tallied for the Eskymos.
The first period was a scorless stalemate, and Hughes wasn't overly-pleased with what he saw.
So, he had a few words with the boys during the intermission break.
"I told the kids that the last time the program beat Calumet in the Armory was in '99, and I told them that I played in that game," Hughes said. "I kind of aged myself a little bit. It's been a long time coming. The kids overcame some adversity at times."
Dan Ritter Goal makes it 2-0
"We didn't have the best first period," Chaillier said. "He (Hughes) came in there and we talked it over. It gave us a little boost. It feels great to win in this place. I kind of like playing here, it's a nice environment."
Derek Chaillier (10) gets off a shot.
Robert Erkkila and Tyler Loukus came down on a two-on-one, and Loukus was able to beat Eskymo goaltender Nick LeMire to make it 2-1 with 7:08 left in the second period.
The turning point came late in the second period when Wunder got a pass from Steve Wood, and rifled it home to make it a 3-1 game with 1:08 left in the period.
"I was frustrated in the first period because the bounces weren't really coming our team's way," said Wunder, who was picked the game's #1 star. "Good feed from Steve Wood, and I just kind of ripped 'er far-side. I had a similiar chance in the first period off the pipe."
Wunder now has 35 goals and 27 assists for 62 points in 23 games played.
Derek Chaillier goal makes it 4-1
The boarding penalty gave Escanaba a power play, and then early in the third period, Chaillier tallied to make it a 4-1 game.
"The guy tried icing it and he put it right on my tape," said Chaillier, who was picked the game's #2 star. "I stepped up, the goalie was kind of out of position, and I saw the whole side of the net open. So, I just fired 'er."
Hunter LaMarch (16) chases a loose puck.
LeMire stopped 26 shots for the Eskymos, who improve to 14-6-3.
"I love playing up here," Wunder said. "There's a lot of history up in this rink."
There was also a bizarre moment in the game when a Calumet fan came onto the Eskymo bench and started to yell at the coaches.
The man was ejected from the rink.
Escanaba returns to action Saturday afternoon in Hancock. The game starts at 1:00, and 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 taken by Rick Aird and Tracy Pinar, and videos taken by Aird and Joe Pinar. You can also listen to radio highlights and interviews.
Escanaba goaltender Nick LeMire (35) watches as teammate Steve Wood (7) back checks and Calumet's Tyler Loukus (10) waits for a pass during Friday night's game in the Armory. (Tracy Pinar photo)
