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Escanaba sweeps doubleheader hockey match with Kingsford

IRON MOUNTAIN — In a Great Lakes Hockey Conference matchup Saturday, Kingsford scored two third-period goals but it was the visiting Escanaba Eskymo icers who prevailed 5-4 at Mountain View Ice Arena in Iron Mountain.

The Flivvers got on the scoreboard first with an unassisted goal from Hunter Fortner. Less than a minute later, Gabe Lafreniere scored for the home team to put them ahead 2-0. The Eskymos’ two first-period goals came from Ayden Mylander and, with under 30 seconds left, Nick Kolich scored his first of two in the game.

“Our play in the first period was good until the last couple of minutes,” Kingsford head coach Greg Wadge said.

The second period was the difference. Escanaba’s Gunner Bourdeau tallied two goals, with Kolich’s second goal coming between Bourdeau’s goals. Escanaba took a 5-2 lead into the second intermission.

“The latter part of the first period and throughout the whole second period, we played badly and it showed,” Wadge added. “We skated hard and played hard in the final period. Our compete level was very good in the final period, and our defense stepped up as well.”

Iron Mountain students David Juul and Beau Kralovec tallied the goals for the Flivvers in the final period. Kingsford goalie Isaiah Anderson had 25 saves.

In game one of the doubleheader Saturday morning, it was Escanaba who powered past Kingsford 7-1. Gunner Bourdeau and Jayger LaMarch each scored two goals for the Eskymos. Nick Kolich recorded two assists as did teammate Sawyer LaMarch.

Escanaba’s Spencer Bourdeau, Karson Kurtina and Brayden Martineau tallied lamp-lighters in the contest.

Also recording assists for Escanaba were Trevor Streichert, Brayden Roberts, Kurtina, Spencer Bourdeau, Braden Sundquist and Kadon Hayes.

The lone Kingsford goal was scored by Hunter Fortner, with Carter Kreski and Beau Kralovec credited with helpers.

“We came out flat and played poorly the whole game,” Wadge said. “I think it may have been the worst entire game we played all season.”

Wadge noted that the Flivvers allowed 19 shots on goalie Isaiah Anderson in the first period alone.

The Flivvers finished the regular season at 3-11 (3-11 GLHC). Escanaba, who won a seventh game in a row, after starting the season 1-9, wrapped up the regular season at 8-9.

The teams play one another on Thursday in an MHSAA Division 2 regional semifinal at Mountain View Ice Arena. Opening face-off will be at 5 p.m. Central, with the winner to advance to the regional championship game on Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern time at the winner of Thursday’s Negaunee at Marquette semifinal matchup.

Escanaba 2 3 0 — 5

Kingsford 2 0 2 — 4

1st Period:

K– Hunter Fortner (Unassisted), 0:35, 1-0

K– Gabe Lafreniere (Dan Maki), 1:10, 2-0

E– Ayden Mylander (Gunner Bourdeau), 13:11, 2-1

E– Nick Kolich (Spencer Bourdeau), 16:31, 2-2

2nd Period:

E– Gunner Bourdeau (Spencer Bourdeau), 7:05, 3-2

E– Kolich (Spencer Bourdeau, Karson Krutina), 7:20. 4-2

E– Gunner Bourdeau (Trevor Streichert), 12:44, 5-2

3rd Period:

K– David Juul (Fortner, Carter Kreski), 3:56, 5-3

K– Beau Kralovec (Kreski, Jack Perpich), 12:50, 5-4

Early game

Kingsford 0 0 1 — 1

Escanaba 4 2 1 — 7

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