News File Photo Alpena forward Blaise Keller fights to maintain control of the puck while being pursued by a Cadillac defender during a game at Northern Lights Arena. Keller and the Wildcats overcame a slow start to the season and have won nine of their last 13 games. The Wildcats are hoping to carry that momentum forward tonight as they begin defense of their D-3 regional title.

Resilient.

The one word to illustrate the 2019-2020 Alpena High hockey team.

A year after one of the best seasons in program history, this year’s group of young Wildcats felt compelled to carry on the winning tradition.

The Wildcats found out early on that they weren’t the team from last year and needed to find their identity.

After a frustrating start to the season, in which Alpena lost its first three games before earning a victory over Sault Ste. Marie in its home Fall Showcase, the Wildcats dropped to 1-4, but saw a glimmer of hope when they traveled to Gaylord for a weekend showcase and played perennial hockey juggernauts, Flint Powers and Grand Rapids Catholic Central to a pair of 2-2 ties.

Early season injuries plagued Alpena as Big North Conference play started. As defending Big North Conference champs, the Wildcats were humbled early, dropping a pair of weekend games at Traverse City and in the midst of the injuries and frustration, Alpena lost five in a row, falling to 1-9-2 midway through the season.

That rough stretch proved to be a wake up call for head coach Chris Limback and his Wildcats. Like good teams and coaches do, they figure it out.

That’s exactly what Alpena did in its final 13 games. The Wildcats figured it out.

“We weren’t willing to do the little things early on in the season. We weren’t willing to work and we struggled the first half of the season because of that,” Limback said. “I think the turning point in our season was when we beat Midland Dow who is always a strong hockey team. We beat them and I think then the kids realized what they’re capable of and what it takes to be successful and beat good hockey teams. They realized what is needed to play at that level.”

Despite injuries and illness to key players such as senior Sean Stevens and juniors Mitch Agius, Evan Kraenzlein and Nick Schultz, along with a few midseason departures, the Wildcats have kept at it and improved along the way.

Underclassmen were thrust into action and were needed to pick up for the absence of the experienced upperclassmen. The Wildcats learned on the fly and went on a roll, winning six of their next seven games and finished 9-4 in the final 13 games to finish with a respectable 10-13-2 record.

“We dealt with a lot of injuries this season and you just never knew what the lines were going to look like each game. Due to the injuries we had it gave a lot of guys opportunities and chances to step up and throughout the season I think you saw that a lot of kids took advantage of that and played their ways into bigger roles,” Limback said. “I think because of this, we’re in a good spot heading into Wednesday’s first round playoff matchup and hopefully we can continue to play well like we have in the second part of the season and if we do and we’re willing to work and do those little things, we should find success.”

This Alpena team knows now what it is and what it isn’t.

It is not last years group, but it has the potential to repeat what last year’s team did, beginning tonight when postseason play begins.

Despite a difficult regular season, the Wildcats will still have a target on their back. But they’re ready to embrace another challenge as Alpena looks to defend its district crown at home.

The Wildcats open Division 3 playoff hockey tonight at 6 p.m. against Cheboygan in a first round regional contest at Northern Lights Arena.

The Chiefs won the only meeting between the two teams on the first day of February as Alpena surrendered a lead and fell 4-3 in overtime at Cheboygan.

The Wildcats had just 11 skaters during that game.

“You learn a lot about a team once you see them play and we learned a lot about them (Cheboygan) and I’m sure they learned a lot about us as well,” Limback said. “A lot has changed for both teams since the last time we played and I think we’ve gotten better and I’m sure they’ve improved as well. It’s going to be a nice challenge for us. It’s playoff hockey, the intensity picks up and the emotions are high, we just have to be willing to work and do those little things that are necessary to be successful. Playing in front of a home crowd is going to be so important for us too and I think you’ll see a good crowd because Alpena is such a tremendous hockey town and hopefully we’re able to feed off of that.”

Tonight, Alpena will come in as healthy as it has been all season despite the possibility of still missing a few important bodies.

Alpena will rely on players who have stepped up into key roles this season as freshman Anden Marceau and first year senior Tanner Orban combined to score 33 goals this season. Marceau paced Alpena with 18 goals, while Orban added 15.

Much like last year’s team, Alpena’s most important player may once again stand between the pipes.

Colin Lightfoot spent last year behind all-state net minder Cooper Black and was on the shorter end of sharing time in net with Jimmy Bolanowski when the season began.

After the departure of Bolanowski just over halfway through the season, Lightfoot started the final nine games and went 6-3 with a pair of shutouts during that stretch.

Along with Alpena’s top two goal scorers and capable net minder, returners Blaise Keller, Brett Ciupka, Matt Thompson and Ben Nowak have been important for the Wildcats in the final games of the regular season.

As crucial as the play is for Alpena’s returning players will be during the postseason, the Wildcats will be ready to see how their freshman class responds to the playoff hockey experience. Alpena’s six freshman have made huge strides since the beginning of the season. Marceau, Cam Young, Brody Thompson, Jaden Marchlewski, Ian Lightfoot and Jack Steinke will be in the spotlight for the first time as high school hockey players.

Despite holding a victory over Alpena this year, the Chiefs limped to an 8-16 finish and are losers of three of their last four games entering tonight’s first round matchup.

The winner of tonight’s first round regional matchup will advance to Saturday’s regional semifinal game against Gaylord at 7 p.m.