CHEBOYGAN — After ending 2016 on a hot streak, the Alpena hockey team suffered a tough 3-2 loss against Cheboygan in its first game of the new year on Wednesday night.

The Wildcats opened the scoring in the first period as Lars MacArthur found the back of the net on an assist from Nick Esch at 8:25 in the period.

Cheboygan tied the game late in the period as both teams went into the first intermission deadlocked at one goal apiece.

Three minutes into the second period, Esch lit the lamp on an assist from MacArthur to put the Wildcats back on top.

Cheboygan answered late in the period and tied the game up after two periods of play.

The Chiefs took its first lead of the night midway through the third period and they never gave up the lead as Alpena missed a few opportunities throughout the game, but were unable to tie the game.

“It was one of those games where we dominated the offensive zone, but the Cheboygan goalie was fantastic tonight and made some real big saves,” Alpena coach Pete Doubek said.

The Wildcats fall to 7-3-1 and will be back in action when they travel to Sault Ste. Marie on Friday for a showcase. Alpena will play eighth ranked Plymouth on Friday night before playing Grosse Pointe North on Saturday.

SAGINAW — The Alpena Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams struggled on the road Wednesday night as both teams were defeated by Delta Community College.

The ACC men lost to the Pioneers by a final score of 112-68.

Trenton LaVergne led the way for Alpena scoring a team high 19 points, while Greg Burton added 18 in the losing effort.

“The guys started off playing well early, but as the night went on just got overmatched,” ACC coach Bobby Allen said. “The guys need to just start working on playing together and trusting each other while working on some things during practice.”

The ACC women fell to the Pioneers by a score of 78-58.

The Lumberjacks were led by Anne Archambeau who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Kendra Cole chipped in with 12 points in the loss.

“The girls played hard all night and we actually held a lead late, but we were unable to hold onto that lead and Delta went on a run and we had trouble stopping them,” Allen said. “I thought we moved the ball well and did a lot of other things well, we just need to continue working hard in practice to improve.”

The ACC men’s and women’s team fall to 0-5 on the year with the losses.