News Photo by Jonny Zawacki Alpena’s Tanner Orban (left) celebrates with his Wildcat teammates after scoring a goal in the third period of a Big North Conference hockey game against Gaylord on Wednesday at Northern Lights Arena. Orban netted a pair of goals in Alpena’s 4-1 victory over the Blue Devils.

The continued growth and improvement from the Alpena High hockey team was on full display Wednesday.

Despite Alpena being shorthanded and missing eight players, the Wildcats (4-10-2, 1-2 BNC) proved just how much they have improved as a team by defeating Big North Conference rival Gaylord (8-4, 2-3 BNC) by a score of 4-1 at Northern Lights Arena to earn their first conference win of the year and earn their third victory in the last four games.

The Wildcats were sluggish in the first period as the Blue Devils took it to the home team throughout much of the opening period, but Colin Lightfoot got the start in net for Alpena and kept his team in the game after making some big saves to help the Wildcats kill of a pair of penalties and keep the contest scoreless after one period.

Alpena came out in the second and played the way they are capable and continued their strong play the final two periods and it eventually led to a big victory.

“I thought as the game went on we got stronger. We had a couple chances and capitalized,” Alpena coach Chris Limback said. “I was happy to get through the first period 0-0. I didn’t think we played very well. We came out early in the second, got a quick goal and we’re obviously a team that plays better when we get the lead and we were able to do that tonight.”

The Wildcats opened the scoring midway through the second period on a goal from Jaden Marchlewski who shoved home a rebound on an assist from Blaise Keller and Evan Kraenzlein.

Much like how the first period was controlled by Gaylord, Alpena dominated the second period.

Despite the Blue Devils killing off back-to-back penalties, Alpena was able to keep the puck in its opponents end and gain confidence late in the period.

Gaylord had a great opportunity to tie the game with 1:06 left in the second when Sam Gorno received a pass and moved in one-on-one against Lightfoot, but sent a wrister off the crossbar and into the netting as the Wildcats held a one goal lead after two periods.

“I thought we got stronger as the game went on. I thought Colin (Lightfoot) played great tonight and our veterans played well and it doesn’t matter what sport it is, you’re only as strong as your veterans and experience, those guys have to carry us and they have to play great,” Limback said. “We still have so much more talent in us and that’s what we’re going to continue to work on to try and get out of them, but each of our kids have more left in them and it’s just going to be whether or not we can pull that out of them. Tonight was a great win against a team that we’re going to see in districts down the road, so it gives our young kids a chance to see them and we know we can beat them.”

The Wildcats gained momentum quickly in the final period as Anden Marceau intercepted a pass in front of the Gaylord net and beat net minder Austin Sitz on the glove side to give Alpena a 2-0 lead just 11 seconds into the third.

Gaylord cut the lead back to one just over a minute later after taking advantage of a power play opportunity as Vaughn Voss was able to sneak the puck past Lightfoot on an assist from Gorno and Gabe Kleinsorge.

The small boost of momentum did not rattle the Wildcats as the rest of the period and contest belonged to the green and white as they closed out the game strong.

Alpena reclaimed its two goal advantage with 6:47 left in the period when the Wildcats cashed in on a power play opportunity of their own as Tanner Orban found the back of the net on an assist from Kraenzlein and Brett Ciupka.

Alpena put the game away with 2:35 left in regulation on a beauty of a second goal from Orban as he picked the smallest of corners above Sitz’s left shoulder and sent his water bottle flying on a helper from Brody Thompson.

“We’re improving a lot. We’re beginning to think and process when they’re out there and you can see we are improving,” Limback said. “February is right around the corner. We don’t have the time anymore and we have to make each day count and every day we have to work to get better. The kids need to rest, take care of their bodies, continue to work on things in practice and be ready for Friday to see if we can get the sweep.”

The Wildcats will return to the ice Friday when they travel to Gaylord to take on these same Blue Devils.