Click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Owen LaBonte and Coach Andy Johnson
ALPENA---The Escanaba High School hockey team barely broke a sweat Friday evening in defeating the Toledo St. John's Titans, 8-0, at Alpena's Northern Lights Arena.
The Eskymos scored twice in the first three minutes of the game, added three more goals in the first period, and then put the running clock in motion with three more goals in the second period. Owen LaBonte, Hank Sholten, and Graham Johnson all had two goals, while Nolan Nink and Gunnar LaMarche added one goal apiece.
“We came ready to play,” Eskymo Coach Andy Johnson said. “We told the boys that we just wanted to do the small things really good tonight. It's kind of been our MO all season. We skated really hard, forechecked really hard. Took away every chance they had to get through the neutral zone. We got pucks deep again and we didn't really give them any life at all.”
Indeed, it looked like the Eskymos were on a power play the entire game, as the Titans rarely got ahold of the puck. They were credited with only two shots on goal against Eskymo goaltender Cully Hayes, who may have had the easiest shutout of his career.
St. John's (0-10-2 overall) got 17 saves from goaltender Reid Parton.
“We just knew we needed to stick to how we wanted to play,” LaBonte said. “Just play our game, just get pucks deep, and don't create any bad habits, and get ready for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow” is a Saturday afternoon showdown between the 9-4-0 and state-ranked Eskymos, and the 10-3-0 and state-ranked Alpena Wildcats.
“Obviously, they've got a good team and I think we do, too,” LaBonte said. “It'll just be a gritty game, and a lot of (good) competition. Whoever works the hardest is going to come out with a win tomorrow.”
Game time on Saturday is set for 4:30. It will be broadcast live on FM-93.5, AM-600, and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
