It didn’t take long for Alpena to strike. Just over two minutes into the match, Reed Leeck found the back of the net to give the Wildcats an early lead. Momentum quickly snowballed as Kaiser extended the advantage with a goal at the 29:24 mark, followed by Reece Dragiewicz adding a third with 19:20 left in the half.

Alpena continued to press forward, controlling possession and keeping the Blue Devils on their heels. With 5:35 remaining in the half, Lucas Thomson connected off an assist from Kaiser, sending the Wildcats into halftime with a commanding 4-0 lead.

While Alpena’s offense thrived, the physicality of the game was also evident. Mason Burns received a yellow card for tripping late in the first half, and Jacob Krey picked up another caution midway through the second. The Blue Devils also saw yellow after a pushing foul as frustrations grew.

The second half belonged once again to the Wildcats’ attack. Kaiser notched his second goal at the 13:10 mark, and less than a minute later, Joseph LaCross added his name to the scoresheet. Kaiser then sealed his hat trick with 9:27 left in the half, finishing off an assist from Jackson Birmingham.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena's Jackson Birmingham controls the ball in Tuesday's game against the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils.

With the mercy rule looming, Birmingham capped off the night by scoring with just six seconds left, ending the game at 8-0.

Alpena’s performance showcased its offensive depth, with five different players contributing goals and crisp ball movement keeping Sault St. Marie on the defensive throughout.

The Wildcats will return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 2, when they travel to Traverse City to face Traverse City West. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.