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Pair of shorthanded goals propel Wildcats to win over Sault

News Photo by Jonny Zawacki Alpena defenseman Evan Kraenzlein (5) fires a shot on goal during the first period of a hockey game against Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday at Northern Lights Arena.

It’s not often that a hockey team spends so much time in the penalty box, yet comes away with the win. 

Despite flirting with danger much of Tuesday, the Alpena High hockey team skated away with a 3-2 victory over Sault Ste. Marie behind a pair of shorthanded goals.

The Wildcats (2-7-1) opened the scoring with one of those shorthanded goals with 41 seconds left in the first period. Anden Marceau got control of a rebound after a pair of shots from Blaise Keller and Jack Steinke were turned away by Blue Devils goalie Tristan Foregrave, but the third time was the charm as Marceau put the puck in the back of the net to give Alpena the lead.

“We were able to hang on. I thought we were lucky to lead after the first period, they (Sault) had three or four picks that were inches past the post so we lucked out on that,” Alpena coach Chris Limback said. “Both teams had chances and it was just a good hard fought hockey game today.”

The Blue Devils (2-4) wasted no time tying the game 24 seconds into the second period. Aaron Kogan sent a shot wide of the net that took a hard bounce off the boards and the puck ended up on the waiting stick of Jack Swan who happened to be in the right place at the right time.

The Wildcats regained the lead with 9:52 left in the second period, despite being shorthanded again.

Keller blocked a shot at the just inside the Alpena blue line, gained control of the puck, took it the length of the ice and fired a wrist shot over Foregrave’s glove to put the Wildcats back in front.

Less than two minutes later, Alpena extended its lead when the Wildcats crashed the net. James Kuhl came away with the puck and sent a wrister top shelf for the goal on an assist from Eli Gosselin and Alpena held a 3-1 lead after two periods.

Alpena killed off another penalty to begin the third period and pressured the Blue Devils early.

The Wildcats had a pair of great scoring opportunities early in the period, but a Ben Nowak breakaway hit the crossbar and Marceau hit the post.

Sault got a gift of a goal with 5:27 left in the third when Joey Engle got control of a puck and sent a shot toward the net that got redirected off of an Alpena stick and past Collin Lightfoot who was on the receiving end of allowing another unfortunate goal.

The Wildcats had another pair of golden scoring chances in the final minutes of the contest: Marceau hit the post and Brody Thompson was stopped by Foregrave on a breakaway.

Fortunately for the Wildcats, an insurance goal wasn’t needed as they blocked shots and refused to allow the tying goal despite the Blue Devils pulling their goalie in the final minute.

“I thought our penalty kill was real strong. Our kids really picked it up and started skating and that’s what we need out of them in order to be successful,” Limback said. “We hustled, skated and played hard and that’s what led to the opportunities we were able to take advantage of and fortunately in the end we were able to hang on for a good win.”

The Wildcats will return to their home ice on Friday when they play the Traverse City Bay Reps at 6 p.m.

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