BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Escanaba senior Devin Barton slides on the ice after scoring the tying goal past Kingsford goaltender Wes Paupore Saturday afternoon. (Sam Barton photo)

Eskymos Score Four Times In Third Period; Win 6-2

WELLS---The Escanaba Eskymos scored four goals in a span of 4:24 midway through the third period to snap a 2-2 tie and post a 6-2 victory over the Kingsford Flivvers Saturday at the Wells Sports Complex.

Devin Barton scored two goals and added an assist as the Eskymos won the championship of the Dick Johnsen Memorial Tournament. It was the third tournament championship of the season for the Eskymos.

"Kingsford came out and competed hard," Eskymo Coach Tim McCarthy said. "I give them a ton of credit for that. We had to make some changes and we really had to earn this one."

Unlike recent Eskymo games, this one was filled with penalties. There were 21 minor penalties called between the two teams, and the Flivvers were the ones in the box early in the game. The Eskymos had three power plays in the first period, and they made good on the third one when senior defenseman John LeMire scored from between the circles.

"I was right in front of the net, and the puck just came to me," LeMire said. "So, I just shot it in!"

"Johnny was real active out there," McCarthy said. "He's a kid who worked hard all summer. He knows it's his last year, and he's been working hard every shift."

The Eskymos outshot the Flivvers, 17-6, in the first period, but Kingsford's sophomore goaltender, Wes Paupore, kept his team in the game. And then early in the second period, Kingsford gained control of the game with two goals a minute apart.

First, Ted Pietila sniped one past goaltender Nick LeMire. Then Matt Willman scored at the 2:36 mark, and with the momentum switching to Kingsford, McCarthy brought Austin Young into the net.

"We were outshooting them, but, you get a couple of goals and that gets their adrenaline flowing," McCarthy said. "Sometimes that's the boost that you need, and Kingsford made a great effort on it. We had to make some changes, and our guys responded quite well."

The Eskymos had two more power plays, but could not score. Then late in the period, Barton had an open net and he scored while falling down.

"It was just a lot of hard work," Barton said. "It was the team doing what we do all the time, passing the puck around and getting into a spot where we had an opportunity to score. I just finished it."

<<<Barton (12) with the puck at center ice Saturday, along with Steve Wood (7).

That tied the game entering the third period, and it stayed tied until six minutes into the period when Ryan LaMarch ripped a high shot into the net for his fourth goal of the season, giving Escanaba a 3-2 lead.

Then the floodgates opened for the Eskymos. Two minutes after LaMarch scored, he set up captain Dan Williams for a tap-in goal to make it 4-2. Just over a minute later, Bryce Wolf scored on a backhander, set up nicely by Barton. And then 58 seconds later, Barton scored again. Four goals in just over four minutes. It was 6-2.

"Jake (Eastin) passed it through two guys," Barton said. "He looked at me and I realized I was in a position where I couldn't get the puck. So, I moved off a little bit to my right and he managed to get it through. Then I got a shot in, stick-side, low."

"Devin was everywhere, all over the ice," McCarthy said. "He came to play. I mean, just the intensity that he brings to the game, with his speed. He's gotta be one of the fastest skaters in the U.P."

Several Eskymo players had multi-point games. Besides Barton's two goals and assist, LaMarch had a goal and an assist, Wolf had a goal and a helper, and Jake Eastin and Cody Cousineau both had two assists.

<<<There were lots of penalties in this game, including one here on Flivver Sam Sexton.

Young gets the win in net, stopping all 13 shots in relief of Nick LeMire, who had seven saves. Kingsford's Paupore made 37 saves on 43 shots.

In other U.P. games on Saturday, Marquette lost to Grosse Pointe North, 6-1, and Alpena surprised Sault Ste. Marie, 5-2, in the Soo. Negaunee lost to Grand Blanc, 6-4; and Jeffers blanked L'Anse, 8-0.

Escanaba (7-3-0) travels to the Soo next weekend for a four-team showcase event. The Eskymos will face the Canton Chiefs from suburban Detroit on Friday. Game time is 7:00, and you can listen to it live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and rrnsports.com.

CLICK HERE  to visit the Canton's High School hockey page.

The Eskymos will then face Plymouth (also from suburban Detroit) Saturday at 5:00. CLICK HERE  to visit Plymouth's hockey web site.

The Escanaba Eskymos celebrate John LeMire's goal. (Sam Barton photo)

WATCH ESKYMOS VS FLIVVERS VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
(All Videos taken by Luke Anthony)
CLICK HERE  to see Devin Barton score a goal while falling down.
CLICK HERE  to see Ryan LaMarch score the game-winning goal.
CLICK HERE  to see Dan Williams score to make the score 4-2.
CLICK HERE  to see Bryce Wolf score a goal on his backhand.
CLICK HERE  to see Devin Barton score his second goal of the game.