Austin Hemmingson | Daily Press Escanaba’s Ethan Silverstone looks for an opening to pass while being defended by Sault Ste. Marie’s Alex French during Friday’s game at Wells. Silverstone finished with a hat trick and a playmaker in Esky’s 9-1 win.

WELLS — Escanaba senior forward Ethan Silverstone recorded a hat trick and playmaker and classmate Kyle Krutina added a hat trick here Friday night as the Eskymos skated to a 9-1 hockey victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils.

Krutina scored from the doorstep just 23 seconds into the contest and Silverstone added power-play goals from the low slot and inside the right circle for a 3-0 cushion late in the first period.

The Eskymos cashed in on 5-of-6 power plays. The Blue Devils were 0-for-2.

“Our power play looked good,” said Esky coach Matt Hughes. “We got a couple opportunities and capitalized. This is a good win for us. We were running three lines and got our 10th forward and fifth and sixth defensemen in the game. Everybody played and contributed.”

Esky (2-2) added four goals in the second stanza, including its fourth power-play tally late from the low slot by junior forward Nick Kolich in the midst of three defenders for a 7-0 advantage.

The game ended by the mercy rule midway through the third frame and Krutina completed his hat trick from the doorstep on a pass from Silverstone, enabling him to achieve playmaker status.

Silverstone concluded his hat trick from the doorstep late in the second period.

“Ethan made a very unselfish play on the last goal,” said Hughes. “It was good to see that. With two lines we knew they were a little light, but our guys came to play.”

Senior defenseman Luke Labre also finished with a playmaker, accomplishing that on Silverstone’s third goal. He also got a helper on sophomore forward Karson Krutina’s goal from the left face-off circle midway through the second.

Earlier in the second, Karson Krutina’s shot from the left circle got redirected off Labre’s skate for a four-goal cushion.

“Karson and Luke connected well,” said Hughes.

The young Blue Devils (0-5) got on the board for the first time this season on junior Nick Gerry’s unassisted tally from point-blank range 70 seconds into the third period.

“Our guys were excited and Nick was smiling from ear-to-ear when he scored that goal,” said Sault coach Rick Mackie. “In the locker room, we told the guys to just go out and have fun and try to win the third period. I’ll give our guys credit for playing hard all night. They didn’t quit.”

Sault, comprised mainly of underclassmen, was outshot 29-13.

“Our defensive zone was all right, but we made a lot of young mistakes,” said Mackie. “We had some lazy penalties.”

Esky senior goaltender Trevor Denome collected 12 saves and Sault freshman Triston Forgrave had 20.

The teams finish their two-game set today at 1 at the Hannahville Ice & Turf Complex.

Sault Ste. Marie 0 0 1 — 1

Escanaba 3 4 2 — 9

First period

E — Kyle Krutina (Silverstone, E. Bourdeau), :37

E — Silverstone (Kyle Krutina, Labre), power play, 12:34

E — Silverstone (Reinhart), power play, 13:04

Second period

E — Labre (Karson Krutina), 2:54

E — Karson Krutina (Labre), 4:35

E — Silverstone (Labre), 9:29

E — Kolich (Labre, J. LaMarch), power play 14:23

Third period

S — Gerry (unassisted), 1:10

E — Kyle Krutina (Silverstone), power play, 6:30

E — Kyle Krutina (Silverstone), power play, 8:54

Shots on goal: Escanaba 29, Sault Ste. Marie 13

Power plays — Escanaba 5-6, Sault Ste. Marie 0-2

Penalty minutes — Escanaba 2-4, Sault Ste. Marie 6-12.