WELLS---There is no Levi Wunder t0 score three points per game anymore. And so, the Escanaba Eskymos have to find different ways to win hockey games this season.
The boys are doing just that, using strong defense and goaltending, along with timely goal-scoring, and the combination has led to a four-game winning streak.
The Eskymos got a first period goal from Charlie Zuidema and then played defense the rest of the way, beating the Houghton Gremlins, 1-0, Saturday night in Wells.
Goaltender Jack Valentine stopped all 22 shots he faced, ans the Eskymos killed off five Houghton power plays. They also held on defensively in the game's final 1:25 when Houghton pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker.
"I thought overall, the team did very well defensively when we needed to," Escanaba Hockey Coach Matt Hughes said. "We were able to put sticks into lanes, especially in that last 1:25."
"The kids really came together as a group, kind of similiar to what we needed to do against Marquette. The kids won draws on face-offs and knocked pucks out of the zone. Just being real smart with their plays."
In that final sequense, Dylan Gauthier and Paul Carne both stopped scoring chances.
"It was a very smart play by Dylan, and onviously, Paul Carne made a smart play too," Hughes said. "I think he played a good game all night as well. He (Carne) kept it simple, nothing flashy, and made a lot of plays. He's a hard hat and boots type of guy."
"Honestly, it was just, get the puck away from the net," said Carne, who was picked the game's #2 star. "There was very little time left, so we were just trying to get it away from where they could score."
Valentine was strong in net again for the Eskymos, especially in the second period, when the Gremlins seemed to have a jump and outshot Escanaba, 11-4.
"That was some good, hard competition that period," said Valentine, the game's #1 star for the second straight contest. "Our defense did a good job keeping the shots to the outside, and I was able to make the saves, I guess."
One save, in particular, on a shorthanded situation, impressed Valentine's coach.
"Once again, he came up big," Hughes said. "They put some pressure on us for a couple shifts and we had a couple defensive breakdowns and he helped us out big time. He had that one toe save in the second period. It was a beautiful save."
"One of those ones you could see from the bench going in (the net), but Jack stuck his toe out and made a beautiful save. Hats off to him."
"I didn't really see that until the last minute," Valentine said. "I got my leg out and it just nicked my toe. I was really lucky on that one."
The only goal of the game came with less than four minutes to play in the first period. Zuidema, who had missed the net with a high shot moments earlier, made no mistake this time, sending a wrister past sophomore goaltender William Stier.
"I got the puck right at the hash marks," said Zuidema, who was picked the game's #3 star. "I chipped it past the 'D' and I was lucky enough to get the pass. I skated down and saw Hunter (LaMarch) chugging his way along down the middle. I figured that if Igot a shot, I could either get a rebound, or even put in the net."
Gauthier and Calvin Pinar drew the assists on the goal.
It was a matchup between two teams that made deep playoff runs to Compuware Arena last spring. But these two teams are different this year, with Houghton missing All-State goalie Marcus Glass and Escanaba graduating All-Stater Wunder.
So, Escanaba improved to 4-1 after the season-opening loss in Alpena. Houghton, which tied Traverse City Central Friday night, fell to 1-3-1 on the season.
Escanaba will try to keep its winning streak going Monday night in Negaunee.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Mary Gauthier, and to listen to radio interviews.
The boys are doing just that, using strong defense and goaltending, along with timely goal-scoring, and the combination has led to a four-game winning streak.
Goaltender Jack Valentine stopped all 22 shots he faced, ans the Eskymos killed off five Houghton power plays. They also held on defensively in the game's final 1:25 when Houghton pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker.
"I thought overall, the team did very well defensively when we needed to," Escanaba Hockey Coach Matt Hughes said. "We were able to put sticks into lanes, especially in that last 1:25."
"The kids really came together as a group, kind of similiar to what we needed to do against Marquette. The kids won draws on face-offs and knocked pucks out of the zone. Just being real smart with their plays."
Big Hits Calvin Pinar
"It was a very smart play by Dylan, and onviously, Paul Carne made a smart play too," Hughes said. "I think he played a good game all night as well. He (Carne) kept it simple, nothing flashy, and made a lot of plays. He's a hard hat and boots type of guy."
Valentine was strong in net again for the Eskymos, especially in the second period, when the Gremlins seemed to have a jump and outshot Escanaba, 11-4.
"That was some good, hard competition that period," said Valentine, the game's #1 star for the second straight contest. "Our defense did a good job keeping the shots to the outside, and I was able to make the saves, I guess."
One save, in particular, on a shorthanded situation, impressed Valentine's coach.
"Once again, he came up big," Hughes said. "They put some pressure on us for a couple shifts and we had a couple defensive breakdowns and he helped us out big time. He had that one toe save in the second period. It was a beautiful save."
Charlie Zuidema scores only goal.
"I didn't really see that until the last minute," Valentine said. "I got my leg out and it just nicked my toe. I was really lucky on that one."
The only goal of the game came with less than four minutes to play in the first period. Zuidema, who had missed the net with a high shot moments earlier, made no mistake this time, sending a wrister past sophomore goaltender William Stier.
Gauthier and Calvin Pinar drew the assists on the goal.
It was a matchup between two teams that made deep playoff runs to Compuware Arena last spring. But these two teams are different this year, with Houghton missing All-State goalie Marcus Glass and Escanaba graduating All-Stater Wunder.
So, Escanaba improved to 4-1 after the season-opening loss in Alpena. Houghton, which tied Traverse City Central Friday night, fell to 1-3-1 on the season.
Escanaba will try to keep its winning streak going Monday night in Negaunee.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Mary Gauthier, and to listen to radio interviews.
