Escanaba junior Owen LaBonte (blue jersey) attempts to get the puck past senior Alex Schwalbach during practice on Nov. 15, 2024 at the Wells Sports Complex. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

WELLS –To many people, Nov. 15th seems like any other day.

But in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Nov. 15th served as a holiday. It’s opening day of rifle season for hunters.

It’s a magical day where schools close as nearly half of the U.P. makes its way out to the woods in hopes of not going buckless in the year 2024.

But that magical Friday morning for a particular group of young men wasn’t spent in the woods decked out in camo and orange with their shined-up guns strapped over their shoulder. Friday morning saw Escanaba hockey hit the ice for practice with its season opener in Kingsford a measly four days away.

They don’t want to hunt Bambi’s dad. They want to hunt victories on the ice.

“They really want to put the work in,” Esky head coach Andy Johnson said. “They know they have a good group of friends and teammates here. We’re looking forward to a good season.”

The Eskymos finished the 2023-24 campaign at 12-13 in the regular season. Esky knocked off Negaunee 3-1 in its regional opener before falling to Marquette 7-1.

This year’s Esky squad has plenty of familiar faces.

First, there’s a trio of seniors in forward Cale carter and defensemen Alex Schalbach and Davin Mattonen.

“I picked them as freshmen my first year,” Johnson said. “I have a soft spot for those guys.”

The 2024-25 Eskymos also have eight juniors. There’s forwards Hunter Allen, Owen LaBonte, Carson Hughes, Graham Johnson and Keagan Braun . You have defensmen Nolan Bink and Ben Sands. Then there’s the ever reliable goaltender Cully Hayes, now in his third season between the pipes.

The group also has four sophomores in forwards Lincld Bradfield and Brody Levesque to go with defensemen Parker Menard and Morgan Lynch.

This year’s roster also includes a trio of freshmen in forwards Griffin Johnson, Nick Martinson and Gunnar LaMarche.

“We have a well rounded, good group of kids that (assistant coach) Mike (Sands) and I have coached since they were in our initiation program,” Andy Johnson said. “We both have boys on the team. We’ve been looking forward to this season for a while now.”

Esky’s 2024-25 season starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the road against the Flivvers. Then comes the Eskymos’ home opener at 6:30 p.m. Friday against Marquette.

“It’s been a grind for a good two months. We’re looking to start playing some games now,” Andy Johnson said. “We had a scrimmage last week up in Marquette, but scrimmages only get you excited. They’re really looking forward to start playing next week.”

Schedule

11/19: @ Kingsford, 6:30 pm.

11/22: vs Marquette, 6:30 p.m.

11/27: vs Jeffers, 5 p.m.

11/29: @ Traverse City West, 7:30 p.m. (TCW Thanksgiving Invite)

11/30: @ Traverse City Central, 1 p.m. (TCW Thanksgiving Invite)

12/6: @ Calumet, 7 p.m.

12/7 @ Hancock, 1 p.m.

12/13: @ Negaunee, 6:30 p.m.

12/17: @ Manistique, 7 p.m.

12/28: vs Lakewood St Edward (Ohio), 2 p.m.

1/3/25: vs Muskegon Mona Shores, 7 p.m.

1/4/25: vs Grand Rapids Christian, 1 p.m.

1/14/25: vs Kingsford, 7 p.m.

1/17/25: @ Jeffers, 6:30 p.m.

1/28/25: vs Negaunee, 7 p.m.

2/4/25: vs Manistique, 7 p.m.

2/7/25: @ DePere (Wisc.), 8 p.m.

2/11/25: vs Ashwaubenon, 7 p.m.

2/14/25: @ Sault Ste. Marie Showcase vs Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 7 p.m.

2/15/24: @ Sault Ste. Marie Showcase vs Grand Traverse Bay Reps, 3 p.m.