|
Eskymo Hockey Ends Season With Awards Banquet
 ESCANABA---The Escanaba High School hockey team put the wraps on the 2017-18 season with its awards banquet Monday night at the House of Ludington. The Eskymos finished with an 8-19-0 season record, which concluded with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Kingsford in the regional semifinal.  Senior forward Blaine Reinhart was named the Most Valuable Player, after playing for three years on the Eskymo team. Reinhart was also the team's nominee for the national Hobey Baker Character and Leadership award. Senior defenseman Hayden Haslow, a four-year player, was voted the Defensive Player of the Year. Another four-year player, senior goaltender Brodie Goddard, won the team's "little I" award for having a team-first, myself-last attitude. Senior Aaron Young (pictured at left), a forward this year after being a back-up goaltender last year, was given the MikeyD Character Award. Sophomore forward Grant Wickham, who led the team with 29 points, was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Wickham was also Escanaba's only selection to the Great Lakes Hockey Conference All-Conference team, getting honorable mention.  Escanaba Coach Matt Hughes praised his team for its play this season, despite the overall record, noting that 11 of the 21 guys were playing varsity hockey for the first time. The Eskymos played in one of the toughest conferences in the state, battling Hancock, Houghton, and Calumet, all of whom were ranked in the top ten in Division Three all season long. In addition, Marquette and Kingsford were ranked in Division Two. The evening included a "thank you" to all of the Eskymos' supporters and sponsors, and wrapped up with short speeches from all five of the Eskymo seniors. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos, and a video of Reinhart being named the Eskymo Most Valuable Player.  |
