ESCANABA---For the past three seasons, Levi Wunder shattered every Escanaba High School Hockey scoring record on the books. But he has now graduated to play junior hockey in Canada, and the new high school hockey season begins this weekend for an Eskymo team looking for other guys to step up.
And they will have plenty of experience in that effort, as Wunder was the only senior on last year's team that played in the Division Two state semifinals at Compuware Arena in Plymouth. There are eleven seniors this year, plus some experienced juniors as well.
But what about: "Life After Levi"?
"I think we'll be all right," Eskymo Head Coach Matt Hughes said. "I know he was a big contributor to the team, and a big asset, especially offensively, and his leadership roles."
"But we have a great group of seniors this year. A lot of them have been three, four-year hockey players for the Eskymos. And we have 16 upperclassmen out of 21 kids."
"I think we've got a pretty good chance," Eskymo captain Calvin Pinar said. "Levi was a big part of the team last year, but I think we still have everyone coming back. I think we'll be a pretty strong group."
"Our stronger schedule has always been one of my favorite things, to play difficult teams, so we can get better and better as the season goes on."
Pinar is the captain, and the Eskymos will have four alternate captains, including Hunter LaMarch, who came on strong offensively during the team's deep playoff run.
LaMarch was injured during last spring's baseball season, and has been working hard in rehab to get ready for hockey. He will not play this weekend in the season-openers in Alpena.
The other alternate captains are Nick Aird, Charlie Zuidema, and Chris LeMire.
As with most hockey teams, the goaltending position is very important.
Escanaba senior Jack Valentine is back between the pipes for a second season. Valentine struggled early in the season last year, but went on an impressive run in the second half of the season, putting up statistics that were amongst the best in the state.
Escanaba opens its season with two games in Alpena this weekend. The opener is Friday night at 7:00, and it will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Saturday's game from the Northern Lights Arena starts at 1:00 and will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on rrnsports.com.
And they will have plenty of experience in that effort, as Wunder was the only senior on last year's team that played in the Division Two state semifinals at Compuware Arena in Plymouth. There are eleven seniors this year, plus some experienced juniors as well.
"I think we'll be all right," Eskymo Head Coach Matt Hughes said. "I know he was a big contributor to the team, and a big asset, especially offensively, and his leadership roles."
"But we have a great group of seniors this year. A lot of them have been three, four-year hockey players for the Eskymos. And we have 16 upperclassmen out of 21 kids."
"I think we've got a pretty good chance," Eskymo captain Calvin Pinar said. "Levi was a big part of the team last year, but I think we still have everyone coming back. I think we'll be a pretty strong group."
"Our stronger schedule has always been one of my favorite things, to play difficult teams, so we can get better and better as the season goes on."
Pinar is the captain, and the Eskymos will have four alternate captains, including Hunter LaMarch, who came on strong offensively during the team's deep playoff run.
The other alternate captains are Nick Aird, Charlie Zuidema, and Chris LeMire.
As with most hockey teams, the goaltending position is very important.
Escanaba senior Jack Valentine is back between the pipes for a second season. Valentine struggled early in the season last year, but went on an impressive run in the second half of the season, putting up statistics that were amongst the best in the state.
Escanaba opens its season with two games in Alpena this weekend. The opener is Friday night at 7:00, and it will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Saturday's game from the Northern Lights Arena starts at 1:00 and will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on rrnsports.com.
