The Wildcats earned the opportunity to win their third regional title in four years with a lopsided 7-1 victory over Cheboygan in a Division 3 regional semifinal game on Thursday in Gaylord.

Alpena opened postseason play with a flurry of goals in the opening period and dominated right from the opening whistle.

The Wildcats opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game when Garrett Hamp found a wide open Harrison Kasubowski in front of the net and Kasubowski lit the lamp to get Alpena rolling.

The Wildcats continued to apply pressure and added their second goal two and half minutes later, this time it was Hamp redirecting a shot from Kasubowski that found the back of the net.

News Photo by Jonny Zawacki Alpena’s Harrison Kasubowski controls the puck during the first period of a Division 3 regional semifinal game against Cheboygan at the Otsego County Sports Plex in Gaylord on Thursday.

Midway through the period, Jack Steinke scored Alpena’s third goal, firing a shot over the shoulder of Cheboygan goaltender Scott Pavwoski.

The Wildcats weren’t done scoring as Anden Marceau sent a pass to Easton Schultz who buried a goal from the slot as Alpena took a commanding 4-0 lead into the first intermission after putting together their best period of hockey of the season, outshooting the Chiefs 19-2 in the period.

“Our first period was outstanding and it was fun to watch. All the kids were moving, the passes were good, getting pucks in deep and it was just awesome,” Alpena coach Ben Henry said.

The Wildcats were unable to keep the same pace in the second despite a pair of power play opportunities.

The lone goal in the period came off the stick of Cheboygan’s Alex Clymer who fired a wrist shot from just inside the blue line that found the back of the net, but Alpena still held a comfortable 4-1 lead after two periods.

The Wildcats got back to their scoring ways in the third period and continued peppering Pavwoski with shots as they outshot Cheboygan 48-12 in the contest.

Alpena added three goals in the third to skate away with the convincing victory.

Marceau found the back of the net with 6:33 left on a beautiful one-on-one move past the defender and beat Pavwoski to put the Wildcats back up by four.

Kasubowski netted his second goal of the night with 3:12 remaining to extend the lead to 5-1.

Reid Meinhardt finished off the scoring and capped the Wildcats dominant night by corralling his own rebound with 51 seconds left in regulation as the Wildcats skated away with the 7-1 win.

“I thought everyone worked hard today. The first thing I told the kids was there is nothing like playoff hockey,” Henry said. “One game at a time and we’re looking forward to next week for sure. We’ll find out tomorrow who we play and I’m excited about it and I’m sure the kids are too.”

With the win, Alpena awaits the winner of tomorrow’s regional semifinal matchup between Sault Ste. Marie and Gaylord. The Wildcats will return to the ice with a chance to win their third regional championship in the last four years on Wednesday at 7 pm.