Wunder Paces Eskymos To Season-Opening Victory

ESCANABA---It didn't take long for Levi Wunder to serve notice that his senior year might just be the best of his three seasons with the Escanaba High School hockey team.

Wunder sniped a shot under the crossbar just 16 seconds into the game, and he later assisted on four other goals as the Eskymos beat the Alpena Wildcats, 7-1, Friday night.

"We've got all these people in here, I wanted to get that atmosphere pumped up," Wunder said. "I knew that he (Alpena goaltender Ben Matteson) was dropping down a lot, and the coaches watch that for us in the warm-ups.

"I came down, he gave me that top corner!"

Wunder had several outstanding plays to create goal opportunities for his teammates as the game went on.

Eskymo Hockey Coach Matt Hughes liked what he saw from his team.

"Everyone got some playing time tonight," Hughes said. "Some sooner, some later. But everyone saw the ice. It was a great win. To start the season out scoring 16 seconds into the game is always a great way to get things rolling."

After Wunder's goal, the Eskymos' second line tallied as Dylan Gauthier scored, with Hunter LaMarch and Nick Aird drawing the assists.

Nick Aird scores goal.

Aird dominated in the faceoff circle.

"We have designed plays (when Aird wins faceoffs) and it's nice," Gauthier said. "Just being able to win the draw back and get a shot off. We just love doing it (going to the net). The communication between each other, and trying to score."

"We had a couple of set plays that we were running,"Aird added. "We've been working on faceoffs all week in practice, so I'm sure that really helped me. Me, Dylan, and Punk (Hunter LaMarch), we just go out there and grind. Keep getting pucks to the net."

Hughes thought that his "second line" played a solid game.

"They won a lot of draws, and they played their positions very well," Hughes said. "They read off of each other on forechecks, and supporting each other in the defensive zone, and in the neutral zone, the offensive zone."

"They didn't score pretty goals, but the ones they did score were nice, hard-working, lunch-pal-type goals."

Alpena closed to within 2-1 on a goal by Nick Esch, but the Eskymos took a 3-1 late in the first period when Wunder set up Chris LeMire for the first of his two goals.

Halfway through the second period, the Eskymos were on a power play when Wunder made a play that led to a goal by Aird.

Levi Wunder goal 16 seconds into game

"I knew Levi was gonna shoot it," Aird said. "He made a great, smart play, and put it off his (goalie's) back pad. I was just there, back-door, to put it away."

Escanaba's lead grew to 5-1 when Wunder (again) worked it deep to Charlie Zuidema, and defenseman Calvin Pinar was there for the top-shelf goal. Wunder, known for his goal-scoring, was all about setting up his teammates during Friday night's game.

"I think I'm seeing the ice a little better this year," said Wunder, the team's only senior and captain. "Not thinking 'pass first', but thinking 'the right play'. Getting four assists tonight, it's anything to help my team win. It's all about 'team first'."

"Levi is a true competitor and I believe that he has really matured as a hockey player and as a person," Hughes said. "If he wants to be a successful hockey player, he's got to use his teammates. And he did that exactly tonight.

"He is the type of player that can see the ice, read the defense, and make many, many plays that many kids can't even see."

The most fun of the night came as the Eskymo lead grew to 6-1.

That's because rookie Parker LaMarch got his first shift as an Eskymo in the second period. He won a faceoff in his defensive zone, and passed to Aird.

Parker LaMarch first-ever Eskymo goal

As the two kids skated into the Alpena zone, Aird passed to LaMarch, and he slammed it home for his first varsity hockey goal.

Everyone in white and orange celebrated that one as if it had been a game-winner.

"I didn't even think he scored that, right away," Gauthier said. "I was like 'who is that'? I didn't even know who that was at first. I was like 'Punk (older brother Hunter LaMarch, who left the game with an injury), you lost your spot!"

Parker LaMarch scores goal.

"We went over some face-off plays," said Aird, who assisted on the LaMarch goal. "I think he scored first shift, first shot. That was pretty awesome. That's pretty special."

The Eskymo captain was extremely happy for the rookie LaMarch.

"To be completely honest, I teared up," Wunder said. "I was on the verge of bawling on the bench. That kid works so hard in practice. It just kind of touched me in a way that I've never felt before. Getting that first goal for him was just awesome."

LeMire closed the scoring in the third period after Wunder set it up with a double toe-drag.

Escanaba outshot Alpena, 36-17, in the game.

Statistically, Wunder had a goal and four assists for five points. LeMire had two goals.

Aird had a goal and two assists. Calvin Pinar had a goal and two assists.

Escanaba and Alpena play again Saturday at 1:00. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by Mike Dagenais, and listen to highlights and interviews.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

11/21	7:00 PM	Alpena Wildcats	7 - 1 (W)	1-0

11/22	1:00 PM	Alpena Wildcats	7 - 0 (W)	2-0

11/25	7:00 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	4 - 2 (W)	3-0

11/29	1:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	3 - 3 (T)	3-0-1

12/2	7:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	4 - 1 (W)	4-0-1

12/8	7:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	9 - 1 (W)	5-0-1

12/13	1:00 PM	at Hancock Bulldogs	3 - 7 (L)	5-1-1

12/19	7:00 PM	at Houghton Gremlins	3 - 6 (L)	5-2-1

12/26	7:00 PM	Painesdale-Jeffers Jets	9 - 3 (W)	6-2-1

12/27	1:00 PM	Painesdale-Jeffers Jets	5 - 1 (W)	7-2-1

1/2	6:00 PM	Cheboygan Chiefs	6 - 2 (W)	8-2-1

1/3	1:00 PM	at Pinckney Pirates	7 - 4 (W)	9-2-1

1/16	8:15 PM	at Bay City Central Wolves	4 - 2 (W)	10-2-1

1/17	12:00 PM	at Macomb Dakota	4 - 2 (W)	11-2-1

1/20	7:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	0 - 2 (L)	11-3-1

1/22	7:00 PM	at Calumet Copper Kings	3 - 4 OT (L)	11-4-1

1/27	7:00 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	5 - 2 (W)	12-4-1

1/30	7:00 PM	Houghton Gremlins	0 - 4 (L)	12-5-1

1/31	1:00 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	0 - 1 OT (L)	12-6-1

2/5	6:00 PM	at Novi High School	3 - 5 (L)	12-7-1

2/6	6:15 PM	at Woodhaven High School	3 - 5 (L)	12-8-1

2/7	2:15 PM	at Berkley-Ferndale United	6 - 3 (W)	13-8-1

2/12	7:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	5 - 6 (L)	13-9-1

2/20	7:00 PM	Calumet Copper Kings	4 - 3 OT (W)	14-9-1

2/21	1:00 PM	Hancock Bulldogs	2 - 4 (L)	14-10-1

3/3	7:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	3 - 0 (W)	15-10-1

3/5	7:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	4 - 2 (W)	16-10-1

3/7	1:00 PM	Bay Area Thunder Hockey	8 - 0 (W)	17-10-1

3/10	7:00 PM	Traverse City Central Trojans	7 - 3 (W)	18-10-1

3/12	5:00 PM	Livonia Stevenson Spartans	2 - 3 (L)	18-11-1