Kingsford (12-14-0), which shocked Marquette 2-1 in their only regular season matchup, received a first period goal by sophomore Casey Clisch to answer two tallies by the Sentinels (18-7-3), but the hosts busted through in period two to put the game out of reach. Marquette outshot Kingsford 29-7 and advanced to tonight’s regional final against Friday night’s winner between Escanaba and Sault Ste. Marie.

“We just had a ton of turnovers and they capitalized,” Flivvers head coach Greg Wadge said. “I thought we worked hard, but we turned the puck over too many times and against a team like that, you can’t do it.”

Junior Seth Sandstrom opened the scoring with 12:46 to go in the first, getting assists from junior Colton Hartz and senior Jack Pond. The lead grew to 2-0 at 6:58 with an unassisted score by junior Eli Gustafson.

The Flivvers answered a minute later when senior Jake Deuter carried the puck in on the right side and slid a pass over to Clisch who was streaking through the left circle. Clisch flipped the puck high on the far side to beat Marquette senior goalie Parker Nevenhoven over his left shoulder. The goal was Clisch’s 20th of the season, which led the Flivvers. Deuter’s assist was his fifth, giving him a total of 15 points in his final season with the Maize and Blue.

Casey Clisch, junior Seth Greenleaf and senior Jacob Deuter celebrate Clisch’s first period goal.

Junior Caleb Aho (9:44), senior Trey Savola (7:43) and senior Carter Beerling (5:06) all scored in the second period to give Marquette command. Savola’s tally was a shorthanded breakaway.

Sophomore goalie Alex Hemgren entered the game in place of senior Nate Scullon after the fifth goal and managed to stop the bleeding. Scullon, who was masterful in the upset win during the regular season, took the loss but still finished his final campaign with Kingsford with a respectable 9-7-0 record.

Despite their season coming to a close in disappointing fashion, the Flivvers had plenty to be proud of this year. In addition to their upset over Marquette, the Flivvers posted the most wins since the 2017-18 state quarterfinal squad went 19-7-1. They also collected the program’s first playoff win since that same season.

“Overall from the beginning of the season until now, I’m just super proud,” Wadge said. “They overachieved for sure. Just a great group of kids.”

Wadge shared high praise for his departing seniors, captain Will Murvich, Deuter (who was an alternate captain), Scullon and Cam Stratton.

“Fantastic,” he said. “JD (Deuter) was different player and person this year, a great leader. Murv was fantastic. All of them. But those two were exceptional. Both of those guys embraced that leadership role and it was just a super enjoyable and fun season.”