WELLS---The Escanaba Eskymos were on a high after beating the Calumet Copper Kings in overtime Friday night. But the boys left the Wells Sports Complex a disappointed bunch after losing to the Hancock Bulldogs, 4-2, Saturday afternoon.
The Eskymos came from behind twice to tie the game, but the Bulldogs took advantage of some turnovers to get the final two goals of the contest, sweeping the season series.
"Unfortunately, we didn't play a full game and didn't play full 17-minute periods," Escanaba Hockey Coach Matt Hughes said. "There was a lack of effort on our part at times, as far as battling for pucks on the wall, or winning races to pucks that I thought we could get to.
"You know, those '50/50' pucks. But you've got to give them credit. They're a fast team, a hard-working team."
There were no goals in the first period. In the second period, Zach Ahola scored at the 4:15 mark to put the Bulldogs in front.
Things got worse for the Eskymos when Hayden Haslow went in the penalty box, however, Escanaba tied the game while shorthanded.
Hancock freshman goaltender Dawson Kero missplayed the puck, and that eventually led to a pretty goal by Levi Wunder, who ripped one off the crossbar and into the net.
That tied the game at 1-1, but the Bulldogs regained the lead as the Eskymos turned the puck over several times while trying to clear the defensive zone. Larry Fallon scored the Hancock goal with 6:48 left in the second period to make it a 2-1 game.
Seconds later, Wunder went in on a breakaway, but Kero stopped his low shot. Wunder got his recenge less than a minute later as he won a one-on-one battle along the boards and made a smart pass to Charlie Zuidema for the tap-in goal, tying the game at 2-2.
But the Eskymos broke down defensively just one minute later as Devyn LaCourt skated around an Eskymo defenseman and flipped one, top-shelf, past goaltender Jack Valentine, giving Hancock a 3-2 lead after two periods of play.
Escanaba had its chances in the third period, with two power play opportunities. The first was uneventful, and the second was a disaster.
The Eskymos turned the puck over in front of their own net and Hunter Kero cashed in with a shorthanded goal.
That goal pretty much ended any possible Eskymo comeback, even though there was still 4:43 left on the clock.
The shots on goal ended up tied at 24-24.
"Once again, we lost the defensive battle on the boards in our defensive zone," Hughes said. "We started scrambling and running around, and couldn't recover. Whenever that happens, usually the outcome is a goal in the back of your net. Jack made some great saves, but I think he'd like to have the second and third goals back."
Wunder had a goal and an assist to finish the regular season with 79 points.
Escanaba finished the regular season with a 14-10-1 record, after starting the season with an 11-2-1 mark. Now, it's time to get ready for the playoffs, which begin with a pre-regional game on Tuesday, March 3, against the Negaunee Miners. That means a week with no games. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?
"I don't know, we'll see," Hughes said. "I'd rather get going right away, but this does give us a chance to recover a little bit. Tighten things up that we need to work on."
The Escanaba-Negaunee playoff game will be played at the Wells Sports Complex on March 3 at 7:00. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos from the game, and to listen to radio interviews.
The Eskymos came from behind twice to tie the game, but the Bulldogs took advantage of some turnovers to get the final two goals of the contest, sweeping the season series.
"You know, those '50/50' pucks. But you've got to give them credit. They're a fast team, a hard-working team."
There were no goals in the first period. In the second period, Zach Ahola scored at the 4:15 mark to put the Bulldogs in front.
Things got worse for the Eskymos when Hayden Haslow went in the penalty box, however, Escanaba tied the game while shorthanded.
Hancock freshman goaltender Dawson Kero missplayed the puck, and that eventually led to a pretty goal by Levi Wunder, who ripped one off the crossbar and into the net.
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Seconds later, Wunder went in on a breakaway, but Kero stopped his low shot. Wunder got his recenge less than a minute later as he won a one-on-one battle along the boards and made a smart pass to Charlie Zuidema for the tap-in goal, tying the game at 2-2.
Escanaba had its chances in the third period, with two power play opportunities. The first was uneventful, and the second was a disaster.
The Eskymos turned the puck over in front of their own net and Hunter Kero cashed in with a shorthanded goal.
That goal pretty much ended any possible Eskymo comeback, even though there was still 4:43 left on the clock.
The shots on goal ended up tied at 24-24.
"Once again, we lost the defensive battle on the boards in our defensive zone," Hughes said. "We started scrambling and running around, and couldn't recover. Whenever that happens, usually the outcome is a goal in the back of your net. Jack made some great saves, but I think he'd like to have the second and third goals back."
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Escanaba finished the regular season with a 14-10-1 record, after starting the season with an 11-2-1 mark. Now, it's time to get ready for the playoffs, which begin with a pre-regional game on Tuesday, March 3, against the Negaunee Miners. That means a week with no games. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?
"I don't know, we'll see," Hughes said. "I'd rather get going right away, but this does give us a chance to recover a little bit. Tighten things up that we need to work on."
The Escanaba-Negaunee playoff game will be played at the Wells Sports Complex on March 3 at 7:00. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos from the game, and to listen to radio interviews.
