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Eskymo Hockey Starts Slow; Finishes Strong, 9-1
 CLICK HERE to see all Upper Peninsula hockey scores and schedules. CLICK HERE to see Escanaba Eskymo team/individual statistics. WELLS----When Ben Lasecki took a penalty seven seconds into Saturday's game against the L'Anse Purple Hornets, Escanaba hockey coach Tim McCarthy was not happy. And when the Hornets cashed in on a power play goal, he was really displeased. But McCarthy's team regrouped quickly and went on to roll over the Hornets, 9-1, in the championship game of the Gil Versailles Memorial Tournament. 
Happy Birthday, Charlie Zuidema (15)!
"That was about the worst start in a game that we've had so far," McCarthy said. "Normally, we're a lot quicker on that. You should never take anyone for granted. They got a goal on us right away, and that was just mindset. "Sometimes, I wish the kids wouldn't watch the teams play before so they have no idea who they're playing against." But things quickly got better for the Eskymos. Defenseman Derek Chaillier made a pretty play, taking the puck from along the far boards, skating in, making a move, and scoring the tying goal at the 6:41 mark of the period. Then, on another power play, Escanaba got a goal from Wunder on a wraparound at the 10:36 mark to make it a 2-1 game. Wunder scored again off a pretty pass from Nick Vandermissen before the period ended, and Escanaba led, 3-1. McCarthy felt better. "We shut them down, kept the shots down, and kept the puck in their end," he said. "The guys did their jobs." 
Freshman Dylan Gauthier (2) is in close.
"Nice passing," McCarthy said. "We got a little sloppy in the first period, but all of a sudden, in the second period, we made the passes. They're good at it. Don't get greedy. Use your teammates. And they did that." The floodgates opened from there, as Wunder completed his hat trick as L'Anse goaltender Jason Rank left a juicy rebound right in front of the net. Rank was lifted in favor of sophomore goalie Michael Turunen, but things didn't get better for L'Anse. Wunder scored his fourth goal of the game at the 12:40 mark on the power play, and then Jake Eastin tapped one in along the post to make it 8-1. And then the biggest cheer of the game went to first-year junior Dominic Aos, who saw the puck in the Hornet zone and he took advantage with his first Eskymo goal, making it 9-1. "I was just, 'go for it'," Aos smiled. "Just gotta put it in!" 
Jeff Lyle (11) plays defense on Saturday.
"They all stepped up, and in games like this, you're able to play everybody," McCarthy said. "You roll the lines and do what you can. You get a little greedy at times, and they made a few runs at us, but we caught up to them." Wunder had four goals and two assists. Chaillier had two goals and two assists. Eastin had a goal and two helpers. Vandermissen had a goal and two assists. Escanaba (4-2) continues the homestand with a conference game against the Negaunee Miners Tuesday night. Faceoff is 7:00. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see photos and videos from the game, and listen to audio highlights. Thanks to Lisa Dagenais for the photos and Mike Dagenais for the videos.
Escanaba Goaltender Nick LeMire reaches for a shot during Saturday's game. (Lisa Dagenais photos)
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| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
11/27 |
7:00 PM |
at Marquette Redmen
|
7 - 5 (W)
|
1-0
|
12/5 |
7:00 PM |
Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils
|
1 - 3 (L)
|
1-1
|
12/7 |
7:30 PM |
at Macomb Dakota
|
0 - 8 (L)
|
1-2
|
12/8 |
12:45 PM |
at Utica Eisenhower
|
4 - 1 (W)
|
2-2
|
12/14 |
8:15 PM |
Tomahawk, Wis.
|
9 - 1 (W)
|
3-2
|
12/15 |
2:15 PM |
L'Anse Purple Hornets
|
9 - 1 (W)
|
4-2
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12/18 |
7:00 PM |
Negaunee Miners
|
9 - 0 (W)
|
5-2
|
12/28 |
8:15 PM |
Monroe, Wis.
|
9 - 1 (W)
|
6-2
|
12/29 |
2:00 PM |
Painesdale-Jeffers Jets
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9 - 1 (W)
|
7-2
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1/4 |
6:00 PM |
at Negaunee Miners
|
9 - 0 (W)
|
8-2
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1/5 |
1:30 PM |
at Grand Blanc Bobcats
|
9 - 1 (W)
|
9-2
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1/8 |
7:00 PM |
at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils
|
4 - 3 (W)
|
10-2
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1/12 |
6:00 PM |
at Calumet Copper Kings
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2 - 5 (L)
|
10-3
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1/15 |
7:00 PM |
Marquette Redmen
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3 - 1 (W)
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11-3
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1/26 |
7:00 PM |
at Cheboygan Chiefs
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8 - 0 (W)
|
12-3
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2/1 |
7:00 PM |
Alpena Wildcats
|
9 - 2 (W)
|
13-3
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2/2 |
1:00 PM |
Alpena Wildcats
|
6 - 4 (W)
|
14-3
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2/7 |
8:00 PM |
at Hartland Eagles
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4 - 2 (W)
|
15-3
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2/8 |
6:00 PM |
at Rochester United
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1 - 0 (W)
|
16-3
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2/9 |
12:30 PM |
at Chelsea Bulldogs
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6 - 5 (W)
|
17-3
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2/12 |
7:00 PM |
at Kingsford Flivvers
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7 - 5 (W)
|
18-3
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2/15 |
7:00 PM |
Calumet Copper Kings
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7 - 3 (W)
|
19-3
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2/16 |
1:00 PM |
Hancock Bulldogs
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4 - 3 (W)
|
20-3
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2/18 |
7:00 PM |
at Negaunee Miners
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8 - 0 (W)
|
21-3
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2/21 |
7:00 PM |
Kingsford Flivvers
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6 - 3 (W)
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22-3
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2/26 |
7:00 PM |
at Negaunee Miners
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8 - 0 (W)
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23-3
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2/28 |
7:00 PM |
at Marquette Redmen
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8 - 0 (W)
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24-3
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3/2 |
1:00 PM |
Saginaw Heritage Hawks
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1 - 2 (L)
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24-4
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