TRAVERSE CITY---The Escanaba Eskymos were clinging to a 5-4 lead over Macomb Dakota throughout the entire third period when goaltender Jack Valentine went down awkwardly while making a save. He spawled out on all fours, and had to leave the game Friday night because of a pulled hamstring with 2:09 left on the clock.
Enter backup Brodie Goddard.
Despite being ice cold, and being given no time to warm up or take practice shots, Goddard held down the fort as the Eskymos held on for a 5-4 victory at the North/South Hockey Showcase at the Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City.
With the Charger net empty for an extra attacker, Goddard made a big save, and then dove to stop the rebound with 21 seconds left in the game.
"I was excited," Goddard said about his predicament. "I saw it coming and I got over and stopped it. I was focused on making the first save, and I wasn't really thinking about the rebound.
"But they got one there, and I guess I stopped it."
Escanaba was able to tie the puck up long enough along the boards after one final faceoff, and Hunter LaMarch got it across the blue line as time expired.
"I told the boys, you need to sacrafice your bodies now," Escanaba Coach Matt Hughes said. "We had 54 seconds to grind this one out."
It was a successful ending to a game that the Eskymos dominated at times, but just couldn't put away. The teams traded goals in the first period, with LaMarch and Chris LeMire scoring for Escanaba, and Ethan Bobowski and Brendan Carney scoring for Dakota.
But Nick Aird's backhanded power play goal made it a 3-2 game after two.
Then early in the second period, the Eskymos got a breakaway goal from Garth Wickham and a power play goal from Parker LaMarch within the first three minutes of the period.
That chased Dakota goaltender Josh Stenzel in favor of Aaron Reardon.
The Eskymos got lazy, and as Hughes put it, "too offensive-minded" late in the period, and the Chargers got back in the game. Carney scored with 1:46 left in the period, and then Reece Buckner scored on a breakaway with 16 seconds left on the clock.
Escanaba had four straight power plays in tyhe third period, but didn't score on any of them. In fact, two of them were neutralized by Eskymo penalties. And so it stayed 5-4, setting up the final heroics by Goddard, who will get the start on Saturday.
Escanaba takes on Grand Haven Saturday at 12:30. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 12:15.
KINGSFORD 3, GRAND HAVEN 2---At the North/South Showcase, Kingsford took a 2-0 lead and held on to beat the Grand Haven Buccaneers, 3-2. The Flivvers got first period goals from Alex Shanks and Jordan Wadge.
And after the Bucs closed it to 2-1, Jordan Stoner scored to put the Flivvers up by two. Goaltender Spike Healy gave up one goal in the third period, but Kingsford held on for the victory.
Kingsford is competing in this showcase for the first time. The Flivvers will face Macomb Dakota on Saturday afternoon at 2:15 ET/1:15 CT.
MARQUETTE 8, PORTAGE CENTRAL 3---Christian Jackson scored the first goal of the game early in the first period and the Marquette Redmen cruised to an 8-3 win over Portage Central at the North/South Showcase in Traverse City. Jake Phillips scored two goals as part of the Redman victory. Marquette faces Bay City Central Saturday.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from all three games involving U.P. teams, and listen to radio replays from the Escanaba-Macomb Dakota game.
Enter backup Brodie Goddard.
With the Charger net empty for an extra attacker, Goddard made a big save, and then dove to stop the rebound with 21 seconds left in the game.
"I was excited," Goddard said about his predicament. "I saw it coming and I got over and stopped it. I was focused on making the first save, and I wasn't really thinking about the rebound.
"But they got one there, and I guess I stopped it."
Escanaba was able to tie the puck up long enough along the boards after one final faceoff, and Hunter LaMarch got it across the blue line as time expired.
"I told the boys, you need to sacrafice your bodies now," Escanaba Coach Matt Hughes said. "We had 54 seconds to grind this one out."
But Nick Aird's backhanded power play goal made it a 3-2 game after two.
Then early in the second period, the Eskymos got a breakaway goal from Garth Wickham and a power play goal from Parker LaMarch within the first three minutes of the period.
That chased Dakota goaltender Josh Stenzel in favor of Aaron Reardon.
The Eskymos got lazy, and as Hughes put it, "too offensive-minded" late in the period, and the Chargers got back in the game. Carney scored with 1:46 left in the period, and then Reece Buckner scored on a breakaway with 16 seconds left on the clock.
Escanaba had four straight power plays in tyhe third period, but didn't score on any of them. In fact, two of them were neutralized by Eskymo penalties. And so it stayed 5-4, setting up the final heroics by Goddard, who will get the start on Saturday.
Escanaba takes on Grand Haven Saturday at 12:30. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 12:15.
And after the Bucs closed it to 2-1, Jordan Stoner scored to put the Flivvers up by two. Goaltender Spike Healy gave up one goal in the third period, but Kingsford held on for the victory.
Kingsford is competing in this showcase for the first time. The Flivvers will face Macomb Dakota on Saturday afternoon at 2:15 ET/1:15 CT.
MARQUETTE 8, PORTAGE CENTRAL 3---Christian Jackson scored the first goal of the game early in the first period and the Marquette Redmen cruised to an 8-3 win over Portage Central at the North/South Showcase in Traverse City. Jake Phillips scored two goals as part of the Redman victory. Marquette faces Bay City Central Saturday.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from all three games involving U.P. teams, and listen to radio replays from the Escanaba-Macomb Dakota game.
