Chalk up another complete win for the Manistique Emeralds Varsity Hockey team. The Emeralds returned home after a grueling road trip that saw them travel nearly 1,000 miles and play three games in less than four days and beat the Cadillac Vikings in front of another packed house at the Little Bear West Arena in Manistique on Saturday. The program also honored the Varsity Hockey parents in a special ceremony before the puck was dropped.
Cadillac came in trying to spoil the party and get revenge for a loss to the Emeralds one week prior.
Things got off to a disappointing start for the hometown team and fans when the Vikings scored early in the contest to take a 1-0 lead. Goaltender Alex Noble made the initial save, but the puck was deflected straight up in the air, landing in front of the net before taking a big bounce. The Vikings played the hop perfectly, poking the puck in for the early lead.
That was all the motivation the Emeralds needed; they responded by completely controlling Cadillac in every phase of the game. The effort, intensity, puck possession, and eventually the goals came in a dominant 5-1 win.
Carsyn Hinkson sniped home a game-tying goal late in the first period on an assist from Carter Deatsman to tie the game up after one period of play. The shots on goal also showed an even matchup, with Manistique holding a slim 8-7 advantage.
Things changed drastically in the second period, when the Emeralds played perhaps their best stretch of hockey in any game this season. Gavin Nutkins got the team in front 2-1 with his latest goal of the season, line mate Connor Carlson scored on a beautiful set up from Captain Zach Burton later in the period to make it a two goal game, and the Emeralds outshot the Vikings 16-2 in the period.
The momentum carried over into the third, where the Emeralds secured a season sweep, adding another 13 shots and a pair of goals from Matthew Rahilly and Stephen Allen. Allen and Nutkins also added assists during the game to give them each other multipoint performance. After the early fluke goal, nobody got by Noble, who totaled 15 saves in the win.
The final shot tally was 37-16 in favor of the Emeralds, who will celebrate their senior class in the home finale Saturday against Petoskey.
