Krutina, Bourdeau Rally Eskymos Past Miners, 7-5

NEGAUNEE---The Escanaba High School hockey team dug itself a 5-2 hole Tuesday night but the Eskymos scored five straight goals to escape with a 7-5 win at the frosty Negaunee Ice Arena.

Spencer Bourdeau scored his second goal of the game to tie it 4:31 into the third period, then Kyle Krutina scored the go-ahead goal with 6:55 left.

Less than a minute later, Krutina completed his hat trick and the Eskymos killed off a late Negaunee power play to secure the win.

Negaunee’s Jack Matthias scored three straight goals in the first period, two of them unassisted marquers after Escanaba turnovers. Escanaba goaltender Bryce Buchbinder was pulled after allowing four goals on eight shots, and the Eskymos trailed 4-2.

The Miners scored a power play goal early in the second period off Eskymo goalie Trevor Denome as Ander Sorensen slid one home.

But the Eskymos got that goal back on a nice play by Braden Reinhart, as Ayden Mylander tipped it home to make it a 5-3 game.

The Eskymos climbed to within one late in the second period when Krutina scored his first goal of the night, with Ethan Silverstone and Joey Jacobsen drawing assists.

In the third period, the Eskymos blitzed Negaunee goaltender Nolan Cowin with 14 shots, and finally put three by him.

Escanaba outshot Negaunee, 42-27, with Corwin making 35 saves.

Denome stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced to earn the win.

Silverstone had a three-assist playmaker on the night. Jacobsen and Mylander both had a pair of assists. Karson Krutina had a goal and an assist for the Eskymos, who beat the Miners for the second time this season in a high-scoring game. Escanaba won the first matchup, 6-5.

The U.P. hockey community is continuing to support the Johnson family who lost two family members in car accident in St. Ignace on Friday and seriously injured another.

Proceeds from admission and 50/50 ticket sales from the game went to the family.

"Me personally, I coached Jake last year in hockey so it really hits close to home with me," said Dale Hopper, Negaunee Miners Head Coach, told Local Three News. "But, as a community we needed to step up and help out the Johnson family."

A moment of silence was held before the game. Tonight's total donation for the family was around $1,800, according to Local Three News.

Escanaba (8-9-0) was scheduled to travel to Kingsford Thursday night but that game has been postponed.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Missy Reinhart, videos taken by Micky LaMarch, and to hear interviews with Kyle Krutina, Spencer Bourdeau, and Devin Fisher.