The Eskymos (1-0-0), who entered the season ranked No. 6 in Division 3 and feature a solid returning core with eight seniors, were unable to mercy the Flivvers like they did in a 9-0 two-period season opener against a more experienced squad last year. But they displayed a level of speed and aggression that was light years ahead of what the Flivvers (1-1-0) saw in their opener at Manistique last week.   

“We knew coming that they are physical,” Flivvers head coach Greg Wadge said. “We know guys like Graham Johnson and Nolan Bink can but the puck in the net. They’re a really, really good hockey team.”

The Eskymos built a 3-0 lead after one period, tacked on two more in the second and another two in the third, outshooting the Flivvers 40-19, but they couldn’t get an eighth goal to end the game early despite keeping their attack on until the end.

“We have guys who have not seen that level of play before, or that speed or that physicality,” Wadge noted. “We had some guys who stepped up, had some good shifts and we had some other guys who pretty much just disappeared from our first game at Manistique.”

Kingsford senior Will Murvich works the puck toward the net during the first period against Escanaba on Tuesday.

Sophomore goalie Alex Hemgren got the call in net and did the best he could to fend off the relentless Eskymo attack with some respectable stops among his 33 saves – a big improvement from where he was a season ago.

“All things considered, I thought he was solid between the pipes,” Wadge said. 

The Flivvers had a handful of good scoring chances in the game, especially on the top line led by seniors Will Murvich and Jake Deuter – with Deuter clanking one off the pipe in the third in an attempt to bust Esky senior Cully Hayes’ shutout. Hayes led the league in saves a season ago and was second in goals against average among the league’s starting goalies.

“That’s good line if those guys are clicking,” Wadge said.

Tuesday’s contest was scoreless for the first five minutes before senior Hunter Allen got Esky on the board. He added a second goal in the third. Johnson had a goal, and Bink tallied three assists. Seniors Ben Sands and Carson Hughes each scored a goal, and freshmen Henry Sholten and Chase Korpi added tallies. Escanaba scored twice on the power play and had two shorthanded goals.

Through two contests, this year’s Flivvers team seems more committed to moving the puck and playing within the system the coaches are teaching, which should pay dividends as the season progresses.

“These guys are bought in and doing what we’re asking them to do,” Wadge said. “I’m proud of them, especially attitude and culture wise. They’re just a really good group of kids. They want to learn. And they listen. We’ll get better.”

The Flivvers are in action again tonight in Negaunee. A fourth straight road contest awaits at Mosinee, Wis., on Nov. 25 before Kingsford opens its home schedule against Jeffers on Dec. 2.