OH, SO CLOSE, AGAIN

Escanaba Eskymo goaltender Austin Young makes a save, but is in trouble as the puck rolls in front of the net. T.J. Myrick (9) covers up, however. At left: Eskymo junior Jake Eastin (6) skates into the Utica Eisenhower zone and scores a goal. (Sam Barton photos)

Eskymos Falter Late

CHELSEA, Mich.---The theme has been pretty much the same one for the Escanaba High School hockey team all season long.

The boys play well enough to hang in there against every opponent, often carrying a lead deep into the game. But a few breakdowns end up costing them dearly, and the Eskymos end up losing games they should win. That's what happened again on Friday, as the Eskymos dropped a 5-3 decision to Utica Eisenhower at the Michigan Public High School Hockey Showcase in downstate Chelsea.

The Eskymos led, 2-1, entering the final period, but gave up two goals twelve seconds apart and two more goals less than two minutes apart and lost a game they could have won. And so with four games left in the hockey season, the Eskymo record is just 10-9-1, when the team was in position to win in all but two of those nine losses.

"Both teams battled good, the puck bounced their way a couple of times, and Austin (goaltender, Young) was screened out a lot," Eskymo Head Coach Tim McCarthy said. "We got a lot of shots on goal, compared to our game yesterday."

Eskymo senior Devin Barton (12) has his stick held by Ryan Jaros (18). >>>>

"They got a lot of shots, too," McCarthy continued. "I thought it was a well played game by both teams. We have one or two letdowns, and they take advantage of it. The kids know they're right there."

Jake Eastin put the Eskymos on the board early for the second straight night, scoring a goal 4:33 into the game. But midway through the second period, Eskymo sophomore Quintin McCarthy tried to clear his zone by flipping an outlet pass up the middle of the ice. The puck hit Eagle Brock Brothers in the chest, and he got the puck to his stick and shot one past Eskymo goaltender Austin Young to tie the game at 1-1.

Escanaba regained the lead less than a minute later when T.J. Myrick jumped on a loose puck and roofed a shot past goaltender Tyler Wakefield. The Eskymos killed off a late Eagle power play and led, 2-1, entering the final 17 minutes of play.

<<<Eskymos celebrate Myrick's goal as Eagle Mike Williemsen skates away.

Both teams had early power play chances in the third period, but did not score. But Eisenhower tied the game five minutes into the period when Brothers was left standing all alone in the right circle. His shot beat a screened-out Young, and then things got worse when the Eagles pounded the puck into the Eskymo zone off the ensuing faceoff.

Just 12 seconds after Brothers' goal, Shane Czarnik ripped one past Young, who was screened out again. All of a sudden, it was 3-2.

But the Eskymos caught a break when the Eagles' leading scorer, Stefan Trentacosta, got a penalty for slashing. Seconds later, Nick Vandermissen scored his team-high 14th goal of the season to tie the game at 3-3 with 4:34 left in the game.

Unfortuately, whatever momentum the goal gave to the visitors died 37 seconds later as Eisenhower took a 4-3 lead on a goal by Dante Assad.

Eskymo Ryan Meintz (21) tries to avoid sliding into teammate Tyler Myrick (2) Friday night. >>>

The Eskymos were desperate to set up a play to lead to a potential tying goal, but sophomore Andrew Boudreau was whistled for elbowing. And the Eagles cashed in as Brothers scored on a rebound with 2:04 left.

Brothers had a hat trick, and was chosen as the game's #1 star. Young made 36 saves as Eisenhower (15-2-2) outshot the Eskymos, 41-35, and was chosen second star in what was an entertaining hockey game.

"It was an enjoyable hockey game," McCarthy said. "Both teams battled hard. Give our guys credit. They stayed on 'em the whole time. We fought 'em right until the end."

(You can hear replays of goals by Myrick and Vandermissen, and a big hit by John LeMire, by clicking the 'UTICA IKE 5, ESCANABA 3' button on the left side of this page. You can also hear Nick LeMire's player spotlight interview by clicking his 2/9 button at left.)