Five Goal Explosion Helps Houghton Beat Eskymos

Click the thumbnails to see photos, videos taken by Bill & Micky LaMarch. Also click the AUDIO buttons to hear player spotlight interviews with Karson Krutina and Trevor Streichert, and comments from both coaches.

WELLS---The Houghton High School hockey team scored five unanswered goals Tuesday night to break a 3-3 tie and beat the Escanaba Eskymos, 8-3, at the Wells Sports Complex.

The loss came on Eskymo Senior Night, when Escanaba captain Nick Kolich and assistant captain Spencer Bourdeau were honored in pre-game ceremonies, along with newcomer seniors Brayden Roberts and Kadon Hayes.

Bourdeau came through on his biggest night of his career, scoring two goals and adding an assist. But he suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury late in the game when he was smashed into the end boards on what resulted in a five-minute boarding penalty to the Gremlims.

"It's all we needed is for another guy to go down," Escanaba Coach Matt Hughes said, sarcastically, after the game. "We've already got Btrayden (Martineau) out. Gunner (Bourdeau) was out. Kadon Hayes was out. Hopefully, it's nothing major. Because we need him. The way he's been playing, getting better as the days and weeks go on. It's unfortunate that it had to happen, but hopefully, he's okay."

Bourdeau was already playing through a painful elbow injury, and said after the game that he will have his knee checked on Wednesday. He lay on the ice for several minutes after being hit into the wall as OSF trainer Jerin Gunidon attended to him.

Earlier, Bourdeau set the tone with perhaps his best game in an Eskymo uniform. He scored twice in the first period, both times set up by Karson Krutina.

That second goal, with 1:14 left in the first period, came when Bourdeau was all alone in front of the net and Krutina made a sweet pass from behind the net. Bourdeau also had an assist on Krutina's goal earlier in the period.

Escanaba had only four shots on goal, but were in a 3-3 tie. But the Eskymos gave up an unassisted goal to Brandon Norkol with 32 seconds left in the period. a goal that goaltdener Bryce Buchbinder and the Eskymo coaches swore was knocked in with a high stick.

The refs gathered at center ice to discuss it, and allowed the goal to stand.

"Our bench was definitely claiming high stick," Hughes said. "Who knows? We'll look at the video and see what the truth is. It seemed like throughout the game, whenever we would get a goal, we weren't able to sustain enough pressure to get the next one."

The game was Escanaba's fifth home game out of its first seven contests. It was played before a socially-distant crowd of family members, although a few EHS students also found their way into the stands. The Eskymo pep band was also there for the first time this season.

The Gremlins (5-1-1) stormed the Eskymo net for most of the night, and ended up with a 40-12 advantage in shots on goal. But Bryce Buchbinder was solid in net, making 32 saves.

"He made some key saves at moments during the game when it could have really got out of hand early," Hughes said. "A 3-1 (game) turns into a 4-1, 5-1, 6-1, if some of those saves aren't made. Then who knows what the outcome is after that. He played a good game. He was out with an injury for a couple of weeks and wasn't even alloowed to be out on the ice or even take shots. He played good in the second period up in Calumet, and he played good t0night, so this is going to be good for his confidence as a player."

Landon Stevens opened the scoring for Houghton at the 3:12 mark before Bourdeau tied it for Escanaba just 25 seconds later. Tedd Halonen banged one in off the right post at the 4:50 mark to put Houghton up 2-1, but Krutina ripped one home to tie the game on the power play three minutes later. The Gremlins regained a 3-2 lead on a Halonen rebound goal, before Bourdeau tied it back up less than a minute later.

The Eskymos would not score again, as the Gremlins put the game away with three second period goals, capped by Sully Rajala's shorthanded marquer.

Bourdeau was selcted the game's #2 star. with Houghton's Nathan Erva (one goal, three assists) getting the first star and Halonen getting the third star.

"It's one his better games for sure," Hughes said. "It was Senior Night at home, and you could tell in the locker room before the game that he was focused. And it paid off. He had a good game."

Now, the Eskymos are hoping they have another chance to see Bourdeau have an even better game as the season moves on.

Escanaba (1-6) will travel to Marquette for a Friday night 7 p.m. game, and then a rematch with Houghton at Dee Stadium Saturday at 1:00. Both games will broadcast on WCHT-FM (93.5) and WCHT-AM (600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.