Manistique drops hockey decision to Blue Devils
MANISTIQUE — What more could they have done?
Despite finishing with a 54-21 shots on goal advantage, the Manistique Emeralds dropped a 3-1 hockey decision to the Gaylord Blue Devils here Saturday afternoon.
Other than a power play goal in the first period, the Emeralds couldn’t get the puck past senior goaltender Finn Kelly in the Little Bear West Arena.
“That’s all part of hockey,” Emeralds’ first-year coach Mike Evink said. “As a player and coach I’ve been on both sides of that. The Gaylord goalie did heck of a job. We didn’t have any puck luck today. We’re pretty happy with our offensive effort today. As coaches it’s our job to get them ready. We have a good goalie also.”
Kelly helped the Blue Devils (1-10) earn their first victory this season by stopping 53 shots in this non-conference contest. Manistique junior goaltender Jackson Goudreau had 18 saves.
After coming up empty on three power plays, senior defenseman Matt Rahilly provided the Emeralds with their goal from inside the left faceoff circe 13:27 into the game.
The Blue Devils got the equalizer at 15:59 on freshman Griffin McKerchie’s tough angle shot from the right side.
There was no scoring in the second stanza, although the Emeralds survived a turnover in their zone and flurry of shots near the end of the period.
“That absolutely gave us momentum,” Gaylord coach Tim Hanley said. “The first-period goal was a big one and in third we kind of figured out how to get the puck in. This is a big win for us.”
Senior Grady Smith hit the go-ahead goal from the doorstep midway through the third period and classmate Eric Olsen provided the insurance goal from point-blank range on a power play 9:25 into the final stanza.
Manistique (1-7-1) kept the pressure on the Blue Devils throughout the third period, outshooting them 29-7.
Kelly, however, proved equal to the challenge.
“Every game he comes ready to play, and he did a great job for us today,” Hanley said.
The Emeralds face Lansing Capital CIty Friday and Bay City Tri-Valley Saturday at Alpena. The Blue Devils are idle until Jan. 10-11 when they visit Cadlillac for a pair of games.
“We have two tough games coming up at Alpena,” Evink said. “We’ll get the guys ready and make sure they’re in the right places.”
Gaylord 1 0 2 — 3
Manistique 1 0 0 — 1
Scoring plays:
First period
M — Rahilly (Deatsman, Schroeder), 13:23 (power play)
G — McKerchie (Smith), 15:59
Third period
G — Smith (Olsen), 7:16
G — Olsen (Smith, Ford), 9:25 (power play)
Shots on goal: Manistique 54, Gaylord 21
Goaltender saves: Manistique (Goudreau 18), Gaylord (Kelly 53)