News Photo by Jonny Zawacki Alpena’s Anden Marceau (10) chases a puck to the net while being followed by Escanaba’s Gunner Bourdeau (19) during the first period of the Alpena Wildcat Holiday Showcase at Northern Lights Arena on Wednesday.

ALPENA — After the Alpena High hockey team had the first game of its Holiday Showcase canceled, the Wildcats returned to the ice.

Despite a sluggish afternoon, Alpena was able to skate away with a 3-2 victory after shutting out the Eskymos 2-0 in a shootout.

An early third period power play goal by Matt Thompson tied the score at 2-2 and despite a back-and-forth final period, regulation wasn’t enough time for the Wildcats and Eskymos and a shootout was needed to settle the score.

Alpena (7-4) goalie Aidan Schultz stoned the Eskymos (6-6) cold in the shootout, stopping all four shots and made 42 total saves in the win.

Anden Marceau scored on Alpena’s first shootout opportunity and Trent Fraser showed off his slick hands with a dandy of a second goal in the shootout to lift the Wildcats to their third straight victory.

“Escanaba is a good team and they worked hard. I thought we started slow and were on our heels most of the game and thankfully for (Aidan) Schultz because he was incredible,” Alpena coach Ben Henry said. “I thought we were good in the third, we battled back and the shootout was fun.”

The Eskymos controlled the first two periods and outplayed the Wildcats, but only held a one-goal lead after each of the first two periods as Schultz kept Alpena in the game.

Escanaba opened the scoring with 58 seconds left in the first period when Alex Schwalbach snuck a puck past Schultz after the puck was dumped into the corner and Schwalbach found a hole between Schultz and the post.

The Eskymos continued to control the game into the second period and found chances, but were unable to extend the lead, thanks to the play of Schultz.

Alpena tied the game with 4:12 left in the second when Marceau received a pass from Thompson and skated the puck into the Eskymo zone and let a blistering shot rip from the top of the circle over the glove of Escanaba net minder Dylan Zeimke to tie the game 1-1.

The Eskymos responded, wasting no time regaining the lead after Karson Krutina corralled a loose puck in the high slot and fired a wrist shot past Schultz to give Escanaba a 2-1 lead after two periods.

“It’s always tough to go on a break, especially when you’re trending in the right direction, but we have to understand that and stay prepared,” Henry said. “We were definitely tired and gassed, but we need to continue playing hard and find a way. Fortunately, we’re talented enough and a win is a win so hopefully moving forward we will play more a complete style of hockey.”

The Wildcats play their first game of the new year on Tuesday when they host Cheboygan.