(Theresa Proudfit photo) Kingsford’s Tyler Bengston (14) and Escanaba’s Karson Krutina (9) battle for the puck in the first period Thursday night in an MHSAA regional semifinal game at Mountain View Ice Arena in Iron Mountain. Escanaba defeated the Flivvers 5-1.

IRON MOUNTAIN — A competitive hockey game turned into a four-goal victory for Escanaba as the visitors defeated Kingsford 5-1 Thursday in an MHSAA Division 2 Region 9 semifinal game at Mountain View Ice Arena in Iron Mountain.

The Eskymos’ Sawyer LaMarch and Gunner Bourdeau each scored two goals, and LaMarch added an assist.

LaMarch’s first lamp-lighter came 1:35 into the game on a breakaway. That turned out to be the only goal of the first period as both goalies — Bryce Buchbinder for Escanaba and Isaiah Anderson for the host Flivvers — were making great saves.

“The game was definitely back and forth for the first two periods,” said Escanaba head coach Matt Hughes. “We had to kill off some penalty minutes in the second (period), some of the guys started losing their composure a little. The coaches and I had to reel them in at intermission, to get their minds right going into the third period.”

About the midway point of the first period, Kingsford senior captain Carter Kreski skated around the back of the Flivvers’ net, trying to sneak the puck past Buchbinder in the corner of the net. The Eskymos net-minder made a remarkable save.

“Bryce kicked his right leg out, to keep the puck out of the net. He made a goalie save in desperation,” Hughes said. “He made some great saves for us tonight, especially at some key moments when it was a one-goal game.”

Hughes also credited Anderson for his play between the pipes. “We had four breakaways, and one or two 2-on-1’s and he came up big for them in those instances,” Hughes said.

Both teams scored goals in the second period, with LaMarch lighting the lamp for his second unassisted goal to put the visitors ahead 2-0. It came shortly after a Flivvers power play that, for 37 seconds, was a 5-on-3 advantage with two Eskymos in the penalty box.

With under two minutes remaining in the second period, Gabe LaFreniere scored the Flivvers’ lone goal. Wyatt Scott and David Juul were credited with helpers.

“We played competitively tonight,” said Kingsford head coach Greg Wadge. “I feel badly four our seniors, that our season is over, but for a three-win team, we had a great and respectful group of guys and a great locker room this season.”

In the third period, Escanaba played efficiently while the Flivvers had some untimely penalties.

“We were talking in second intermission, discussing our plan for if we had to pull our goalie late in the game, because it was only a 2-1 advantage for them (Escanaba) at the time,” Wadge said. “They got a couple ugly goals down the stretch and it seemed to turn the tables.”

The Flivvers co-op had five seniors play their last game Thursday evening — Kreski, Jack Perpich, Tyler Bengston, Kobe Gordon and Norway student Evan Anderson.

Kingsford also had four experienced icers join the team late in the season. Net minder Anderson, LaFreniere, Beau Kralovec and Wyatt Scott.

The four incoming players were good additions and the initial roster members responded well, Wadge said.

“Despite the score, I felt going in, that if we played well enough, this game would end as a one-score game, either way. And I still feel that way about the way we played,” Wadge stated. “Escanaba beat us three games in a row, in the last five days, hats off to them.”

The Eskymos will move on to the regional championship game Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. Eastern time at Lakeview Arena in Marquette. Escanaba went 0-3 in the regular season versus Marquette, though Hughes noted that the most recent game between the two teams was a 2-0 result.

Escanaba 1 1 3 — 5

Kingsford 0 1 0 — 1

1st Period

E– Sawyer LaMarch (Unassisted), 1:35, 1-0

2nd Period

E– Sawyer LaMarch (Unassisted), 10:33, 2-0

K– Gabe LaFreniere (Wyatt Scott, David Juul), 15:04, 2-1

3rd Period

E– Gunner Bourdeau (Unassisted), 9:56, 3-1

E– Ayden Mylander (S. LaMarch), 12:44, 4-1

E– Gunner Bourdeau (Spencer Bourdeau), 14:43, 5-1