Eskymos Journey Downstate For Hockey Semifinal

CHELSEA, Mich.---The Escanaba High School hockey team traveled south to the Motor City on Wednesday to get ready for Thursday afternoon's Division Two state semifinal game against the Livonia Stevenson Spartans.

Escanaba advanced to its first-ever Final Four with a 7-3 win over Traverse City Central Tuesday night in Gaylord.

The team drove the three hours to Chelsea for a practice inside the Arctic Coliseum before finishing the trip to the Detroit suburb of Plymouth.

Escanaba Coach Matt Hughes says his team is enjoying the rewards of hard work.

"It's been great," Hughes said after Wednesday's hour-long practice in Chelsea. "It's kind of surreal to think that, four months ago, you wouldn't be in this position. The kids have been playing such great hockey that they've given themselves this opportunity."

"This is unbelivable to be able to get this far with this kind of a team," Escanaba assistant captain Calvin Pinar said. "We're a young team. A lot of juniors, a lot of freshmen. But we've been able to work very well together, and just keep winning and winning."

Playing at Compuware Arena, home of the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers, is a big deal for the Eskymo players.

"I'm super-excited," said Eskymo captain Levi Wunder, who's 91 points is the second-most of any Michigan high school player this season. "It's been a dream these past three years to get down to Compuware Arena, and we've finally done it. I'm ready to get the job done."

Escanaba's opponent is Livonia Stevenson, which has been highly-ranked all season and has a 19-5-5 record entering Thursday's semifinal.

"They have a few guys that can score," Hughes said. "It looks like from the stats on their web site that they play a pretty defensive style hockey. They have a good goaltender with a low goals-against average. So, it should be a good test for us."

The second semifinal pits Birmingham Brother Rice against Grosse Pointe South.

You can catch the broadcast of the Escanaba-Livonia Stevenson game Thursday on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Face-off is set for 5:00, and the pre-game show will air at about 4:40.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from Wednesday evening's practice.

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