TRAVERSE CITY---The Escanaba High School hockey team played two tough opponents this weekend at the North/South Showcase in Traverse City, and came home with a split.

The Eskymos turned back 11th-ranked Clarkston, 4-1, on Saturday, after dropping a 5-2 decision to second-ranked Hartland on Friday. The split against the Division One teams improved the Division Three Eskymos record to 9-6-0 on the season.

On Saturday, goaltender Cully Hayes was incredible in net, stopping 57 of the 58 saves that the Clarkston Wolves threw his way. The Eskymos took a 2-0 lead after the first period, and put the game away with two more goals in the third period.

Freshman Griffin Johnson scored three of the Eskymo goals for his first varsity hat trick. His older brother, Graham Johnson, had three assists for a playmaker, raising his team-leading point total to 38 in 15 games. Nolan Bink had two assists, and Owen LaBonte added a goal for the Eskymos in their biggest win of the season.

Clarkston fell to 7-7-1 on the season.

On Friday, the Eskymos battled hard against the Hartland Eagles, who are now 13-1-0 on the season. After a scoreless first period, there were five goals in the second period (three of them by Hartland), and Hayes kept his team in the game entering the third period. The Eskymos, however, ran out of gas in the third period, as they were outshot, 35-18, by the Eagles.

Nick Martinson had both of Escanaba's goals, Hayes made 30 saves, and Ben Sands had two assists. Nolan Brown had 16 saves for Hartland.

Escanaba returns to conference play Tuesday night at home against the Kingsford Flivvers. Kingsford (6-8-0) won two games at this weekend's tournament in Traverse City, beating both Saginaw Heritage and the Genesee Generals out of Flint.

Tuesday's game starts at 7:00 ET and will be broadcast live on FM-93.5, AM-600, and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.