Eskymos Outlast Macomb; Earn Sweep At Showcase

TRAVERSE CITY---The Escanaba Eskymos were a battered and bruised hockey team as they boarded their charter bus and headed home Saturday from the North/South Showcase at the Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City.

The Eskymos emerged with a 4-2 win over Macomb Dakota on Saturday, after posting a win by the same score Friday night over Bay City Central. But Saturday's game against the Cougars was different than Friday's contest, as the Eskymos had to face an aggressive Dakota team that was not afraid to use its sticks to try to gain an advantage.

When the game was over, many Escanaba players spoke of being slashed, hooked, and it appeared to happen all afternoon long.

"I thought it was broken for a second the one time I got slashed," said Eskymo captain Levi Wunder, sporting a swelled-up wrist with a large contusion. "I belive that I am a pretty respectful hockey player, all around. And that was...you just never like to see that. You've got respect for the other team."

Levi Wunder post game interview

"But, our team played well. It was a tough game, and we pulled through."

Wunder, a shoe-in for a spot on the All-State first team, and a candidate for the state's Mr. Hockey award, scored two power play goals to give him 29 goals and 56 points in 14 games.

He chose his words carefully, but his coach was angry about what went on.

"He (Wunder) was getting hacked every shift," Escanaba Coach Matt Hughes said. "That seemed to go unnoticed by the guys wearing the stripes.

"We had to fight through it. It's not the last time teams are going to play him like that, and he knows that. He was able to keep his temper, keep his composure, and play on."

Escanaba lost assistant captain Charlie Zuidema in the first period as he was checked from behind into the end boards, leading to a five-minute major penalty against Macomb Dakota.

"He'll be all right," Hughes said. "We kept him out as a precaution. We didn't want to throw him out there where he could get hurt even more." But the usually reserved Hughes was just getting started on what happened.

"Between the hooking and the slashing, they didn't call anything," said Hughes. "It's frustrating as a coach. We tell these kids to play fair, play safe. But you've got one kid for the opposing team who's running around slashing your captain the entire game. And the referees look the other way. It's kind of irritating as a coach."

Levi Wunder snipes home a power play goal

Wunder scored his 28th goal of the season at 7:39 of the first period, with Chris LeMire assisting.

Escanaba outshot Macomb Dakota, 13-0, to start the game, but the Cougars tied the game a minute after Wunder's goal on their first shot.

That's when Alec Porzondek was behind the goal, and threw one in front of the net into the blue paint. The puck bounced off of goaltender Jack Valentine, and into the net.

But then Zuidema got run into the boards, giving the Eskymos a long power play. Wunder cashed in when he roofed a shot past goaltender Daniel Johns. Escanaba led, 2-1, after the first period, outshooting the Cougars, 21-3, in the period.

The Cougars (2-12-0) came out hard in the second period, getting nine of the first 12 shots, and tying the game on a power play goal during a scramble at the 4:42 mark.

The game stayed tied until defenseman Matt Casey scored his first goal of the season with 2:09 left in the period.

Paul Carne drew the lone assist on the goal.

"It was just a scuffle on the far wall and Paul got the puck," Casey said. "I just called for it, and he gave me a nice pass. There was a beautiful screen in front by Gavin Schwalbach, and I just shot it (slapshot) and it went in. It felt really, really nice. I didn't think it wnt in at first, but everyone was cheering and I was like 'oh, I got a goal!'"

Matt Casey scores Eskymo goal

"That was a beautiful goal," Hughes said. "A big shot from the point, and he went top shelf with it. It was a very hard shot, and that was good to see him do that."

Calvin Pinar's goal early in the third period on the power play closed the scoring. The Eskymos had three power play goals for the second straight game at the Showcase.

Escanaba outshot Macomb Dakota, 38-20, in the contest.

"This feels good," Wunder said. "It's the first time in my three years that we swept the Showcase. It's great to get these tight 'W's' because come March, those are the types of games that we're going to be in, and we'll need to pull through."

MARQUETTE WINS AGAIN---The Marquette Redmen also won on Saturday at the North/South Hockey Showcase.

The Redmen beat the Utica Eisenhower Eagles, 3-0. Marquette did not allow a goal in either of the games that it played in Traverse City.

Freshman defenseman Justin Moyle scored the game's first goal on the power play at the 5:53 mark of the opening period. It stayed 1-0 until the third period.

Jacob Patterson scored midway through the period to make it 2-0. And then moments later, Jake Phillips scored on the power play, and it was a 3-0 game.

Marquette goaltender Brendan Higbie made it stand up, stopping all 31 shots that he faced. Marquette was outshot, 31-19, but still won the game.

BIG BATTLE COMING TUESDAY---The Escanaba Eskymos (11-2-1) and Marquette Redmen (11-4-0) will face each other on Tuesday in Escanaba. The Eskymos beat the Redmen, 4-1, on Dec. 2 in Marquette. Since then, the Redmen have won nine out of ten games, and they've not given up very many goals. Game time is 7:00. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.