LET'S PLAY TWO: Esky Hockey Sweeps Negaunee

Click the AUDIO buttons to hear comments from Sundquist, Krutina, and Coach Matt Hughes. And hear the radio replay of Krutina's winning goal, and listen ti Gunner Bourdeau and Brayden Martineau player spotlight interviews

WELLS---The Escanaba High School hockey team wrapped up a three-games-in-23-hours span Saturday by posting two wins over the Negaunee Miners, 8-2 and 4-3, at the Hannahville Ice & Turf.

The doubleheader was allowed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association for the first time ever this season because of state coronavirus restrictions that delayed the start of the season by nearly two months.

On Saturday, the Eskymos had to rally to win the second game after Negaunee nearly picked up its second victory of the season behind goaltender Ryan Kerkela.

"Very stressful," Eskymo Coach Matt Hughes said. "Tke kids battled through some adversity, and we were able to grind out a win. It showed some mental toughness, that they were willing to battle back when they either dug themselves a hole, or when things weren't going our way, they really showed that they can battle through some stuff."

Escanaba broke a scoreless tie 20 seconds into the second period when Braden Sundquist scored his first goal as an Eskymo. But the Miners scored the next two goals as Tyler O'Dovero and Easton Palomaki both put pucks past Eskymo goaltender Dylan Ziemke.

Escanaba tied the game in the third period as Ayden Mylander scored off a Sawyer LaMarch shot, but O'Dovero came back with a shorthanded goal to give Negaunee a 3-2 lead.

The Eskymos battled back with two quick goals late in the third period. First, senior Kadon Hayes tied it with 5:40 left, and then seconds later, Karson Krutina scored what would stand up as the game-winning goal, with LaMarch drawing the assist.

"It was an awesome feeling," Krutina said of his go-ahead goal. "After playing all those tough teams (to start the season) it was awesome. Finally winning some games."

"It feels good," Sundquist said. "We played rough for a few shifts out of the game, but we ended up fighting out of it and getting wins. The first and second periods were a little tough. It was getting chippy. But we battled back in the third."

Escanaba ended up outshooting Negaunee, 45-31, with Kerkela stopping 41 shots and Ziemke backstopping 28.  Game stars: 1. Krutina, 2. Sundquist, 3. O'Dovero

GAME ONE---ESKYMOS 8, MINERS 2: Earlier, in the noon game between the two teams, the Eskymos posted an 8-2 win. Krutina tallied a hat trick, and Eskymo captain Nick Kolich had a goal and three assists.

The game started on a bright note as Kobie Petrich scored his first goal of the season, and after the Miners tied it on a goal by Judge Anderson, Kolich broke the tie with a one-timer for his fourth goal of the year. LaMarch had the assist off the fake shot and pass.

Negaunee tied it back up at 2-2 against Eskymo goaltender Bryce Buchbinder, but the Eskymos rolled from there. They scored three straight goals, starting with Krutina's breakaway goal that went over the shoulder of starting goaltender Patrick Klumpp.

Moments later, Hayes took a pass from Kolich and scored from the point to make it 4-2. That prompted the Miners to switch goaltenders, bringing Kerkela in between the pipes.

Krutina scored his second goal of the game to make it 5-2 after one period.

In the second period Clayton Smith took a shot that was redirected home by LaMarch. Krutina then completed his hat trick in the third period when Kolich rang a shot off the goalpost.

Escanaba won two Saturday after being Painesdale-Jeffers, 3-1, Friday night.

The Eskymos, after a 1-9 start, now improves to 4-9 on the season, and will travel to the Copper Country next Wednesday for a rematch against Jeffers. That game will be played in Hancock, and will start at 7 p.m. It will be broadcast on WCHT-FM (93.5), WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600), and rrnsports.com.