Escanaba senior Ben Sands attempts to make a play against DePere on Feb. 6, 2026 at Hannahville ice and Turf Complex in Wells. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Escanaba hockey found themselves on the womg side of the scoreboard here Friday night as they fell 8-5 to DePere

The Eskymos got off to a fast start as senior Graham Johnson scored in the first minute of the game off assists by Owen LaBonte and Nolan Bink to put the Eskymos up 1-0.

DePere tied the game on a goal by freshman Palmer Anderson, but the Eskymos responded with a pair of goals as Johnson found the back of the net with 14:33 to go in the second period off the assist by Nick Martinson to put Escanaba up 2-1and moments later senior Ben Sands scored on assists by Johnson and Martinson to extend the Eskymos lead to 3-1.

“I don’t think we were playing all that great tonight,” Eskymos coach Andy Johnson said. “We had some moments in the second period where we were playing good hockey but we didn’t sustain it throughout the game.”

DePere cut the deficit to one as senior Max Greenya scored off the assist by Dayne Walfe and then with 1:14 to go in the second period Anderson found the back of the net for the second time to tie the game at three.

“We have to get back to our game,” Andy Johnson said. “We have to keep the puck moving and getting pucks deep every single time and take care of our defensive zone.”

Escanaba senior Owen LaBonte scored a power play goal with 1:03 remaining in the second period to put the Eskymos up 4-3 after two periods of play.

The third period was dominated by DePere as they netted five goals in 15 shots on goal to earn the victory. Greenya added two goals in the third period for a hat trick and senior Landen Smith also had a pair of goals and junior captain William Birkholz also had a goal during the third period.

The Eskymos return to action Friday as they travel to Calumet puck drops at 6 p.m.