It took less than a minute for the excitement of a new season to turn into stunned silence on Saturday inside the Little Bear West Arena in Manistique. Alpena scored on the game’s opening shift, netting a goal on the first shot fired in the new season. The Wildcats carried that momentum all the way through the contest, overwhelming the Emeralds 6-1 to start the 2023-2024 campaign.

Heavy traffic in front of the net allowed Alpena to sneak that first shot past goaltender Alex Noble, and a packed house could hardly believe it was already 1-0 in a matter of seconds. The Wildcats came out with a crisp and aggressive attack, controlling the pace while the Emeralds tried to find their groove.

Once they finally got things going, Manistique actually hung tough and at one point pulled even on shots but couldn’t get one to go. The Wildcats struck again, netting a pair of goals late in the opening period to take a 3-1 lead at the first intermission.

The Emeralds kept coming close, hitting a pair of posts and having another shot slide just wide while trying to complete their comeback. They got their big break late in the second period after Alpena was called for a penalty and a player misconduct. Using the powerplay to their advantage, Austin Hinkson got the team on the board, getting set up by Carsyn Hinkson who fired a shot that was deflected. Carter Deatsman was also awarded an assist, taking Carsyn’s shot and setting up Austin for the first goal of the season. Matthew Rahilly also played a part in the score, sweeping the puck from his knees into an open area for the Emeralds to attack.

The Emeralds tried to keep momentum going in the third period. A key swing saw another powerplay opportunity, but after a quick turnaround, Alpena scored short-handed.

Frustrations peaked after the Emeralds hit the crossbar and the puck fell to the ice, bouncing back toward the goaltender instead of finding its way into the net. Another close call came just short, and penalties began to pile up. The Wildcats left no doubt, scoring back-to-back goals late in the game to claim the 6-1 win.

The Emeralds will spend the Thanksgiving weekend in Big Rapids, playing in the first of several showcase weekends this season. Manistique will play the Bay Area Reps Friday, a game that will determine the matchup for Saturday’s second set of games. Both contests will be broadcast on the M123-FM and Mi Manistique Facebook pages.