WELLS----This was not a hockey game for the faint of heart.
The Escanaba Eskymos faced the Negaunee Miners in an MHSAA regional tournament game Tuesday night, and the Miners players seemed to hit everything that moved during those 51 minutes of play.
It was a strategy that the Eskymo coaches did not approve of, but the boys overcame the adversity to post a 3-0 win at the Wells Sports Complex.
"It was unfortunate to see the game go like that," Escanaba Head Coach Matt Hughes said. "It was sad to see it come down to so-called "goon hockey". But a win is a win, and we'll take it and move on. This one is over, and we will move on."
Hughes objected to several hits which he thought were not clean ones.
Most notably was a knee-to-knee about seven minutes into the game where Negaunee's Ryan Ely collided with Escanaba's leading scorer, Levi Wunder. After the hit, Wunder rolled around the ice in obvious pain. No penalty was called, and Wunder did not play the rest of the game.
"You hate to lose a player like Levi Wunder," Hughes said. "He is such an important asset to this team. But, some other guys stepped up when they got the opportunity."
It was unknown after the game how severe Wunder's injury was.
The play that injured Wunder was not the only knee-to-knee hit that happened in the game. Eskymo freshman Chris LeMire was on the wrong end of two such hits, and walked out of the arena with a heavy limp Tuesday night.
There were numerous penalities called both ways. Negaunee missed on all three power plays, while the Eskymos, without their 68-point scorer on the ice, went 0-for-7.
"Our defensemen logged a lot of ice time," Hughes said. "It's hard to get into a flow when there's so many penalties."
Escanaba took a 1-0 lead 10:34 into the game when the team's third line scored. Nick Aird got it to Dylan Gauthier, who passed to Hunter LaMarch for the one-timer.
"That line was our best line tonight," Hughes said. "It's really good to see the youngsters step up and buy into the system. And realize that what we're teaching actually works."
LaMarch was picked as the game's #1 star.
Twenty seconds after that goal, sophomore Calvin Pinar ripped one past Negaunee goaltender Tyler Riutta, off a pass from behind the net from captain Derek Chaillier.
Escanaba's third goal was started by the team's smallest guy...again.
Sophomore Jack Williams earned a game star in the team's regular season finale against Kingsford, and got the #2 star this time.
In the second period, Williams checked Ely into the boards, forcing the puck free.
A 2-on-1 ensued, with Steve Wood getting the puck and passing to T.J. Myrick, who roofed it int0 the top shelf for a 3-0 Eskymo lead.
"Jack made a great play," Hughes said. "He does exactly what we ask of him. He makes hockey plays, moves his feet, and helps set up his teammates. We rewarded him with some time on the power play, and had him play with our top line for a while."
Escanaba outshot Negaunee, 44-12.
Riutta made 41 saves for the Miners and got the game's #3 star. Eskymo senior Nick LeMire earned the shutout in net. Negaunee finished its season with a 3-20-0 record.
Escanaba (16-7-3) will host the Marquette Redmen (12-10-4) in the regional semifinals Thursday night in Wells. Marquette beat Kingsford, 5-0, Tuesday. Game time is 7:00, and it 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 more photos taken by Mary Gauthier, and more videos taken by Mike Dagenais.
The Escanaba Eskymos faced the Negaunee Miners in an MHSAA regional tournament game Tuesday night, and the Miners players seemed to hit everything that moved during those 51 minutes of play.
"It was unfortunate to see the game go like that," Escanaba Head Coach Matt Hughes said. "It was sad to see it come down to so-called "goon hockey". But a win is a win, and we'll take it and move on. This one is over, and we will move on."
Hughes objected to several hits which he thought were not clean ones.
Most notably was a knee-to-knee about seven minutes into the game where Negaunee's Ryan Ely collided with Escanaba's leading scorer, Levi Wunder. After the hit, Wunder rolled around the ice in obvious pain. No penalty was called, and Wunder did not play the rest of the game.
Levi Wunder Hurt In Knee-to-Knee
It was unknown after the game how severe Wunder's injury was.
The play that injured Wunder was not the only knee-to-knee hit that happened in the game. Eskymo freshman Chris LeMire was on the wrong end of two such hits, and walked out of the arena with a heavy limp Tuesday night.
"Our defensemen logged a lot of ice time," Hughes said. "It's hard to get into a flow when there's so many penalties."
Escanaba took a 1-0 lead 10:34 into the game when the team's third line scored. Nick Aird got it to Dylan Gauthier, who passed to Hunter LaMarch for the one-timer.
"That line was our best line tonight," Hughes said. "It's really good to see the youngsters step up and buy into the system. And realize that what we're teaching actually works."
LaMarch was picked as the game's #1 star.
Hunter LaMarch goal makes it 1-0.
Escanaba's third goal was started by the team's smallest guy...again.
Sophomore Jack Williams earned a game star in the team's regular season finale against Kingsford, and got the #2 star this time.
A 2-on-1 ensued, with Steve Wood getting the puck and passing to T.J. Myrick, who roofed it int0 the top shelf for a 3-0 Eskymo lead.
"Jack made a great play," Hughes said. "He does exactly what we ask of him. He makes hockey plays, moves his feet, and helps set up his teammates. We rewarded him with some time on the power play, and had him play with our top line for a while."
Escanaba outshot Negaunee, 44-12.
Riutta made 41 saves for the Miners and got the game's #3 star. Eskymo senior Nick LeMire earned the shutout in net. Negaunee finished its season with a 3-20-0 record.
Escanaba (16-7-3) will host the Marquette Redmen (12-10-4) in the regional semifinals Thursday night in Wells. Marquette beat Kingsford, 5-0, Tuesday. Game time is 7:00, and it 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 more photos taken by Mary Gauthier, and more videos taken by Mike Dagenais.
