Escanaba freshman Nick Martinson (right) battles along the board with senior Cale Carter during practice on Nov. 15, 2024 at the Wells Sports Complex. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

IRON MOUNTAIN – The Kingsford hockey team dropped its season opener Tuesday evening, in a contest that the group would no sooner love to forget.

Kingsford was mercy-ruled by Escanaba in embarrassing fashion, 9-0 in two periods on home ice.

“I was expecting a battle, a tight game,” Flivvers head coach Greg Wadge said. “We didn’t do anything that we’ve been doing in practice. I had 16 guys out there who didn’t want the puck.

“We coughed it up like 25 times in the neutral zone. We didn’t generate any offense. We didn’t enter the zone the way we wanted. It was not good from beginning to end. I take the blame for that performance. I obviously didn’t have them ready.”

Juniors Graham Johnson, Carson Hughes and senior Cale Carter each netted two goals for the Eskymos, who outshot the Flivvers 24-7. Junior goaltender Cully Hayes had the shutout for Escanaba, even though he was barely challenged.

Junior goalie Nate Scullon suffered the loss for Kingsford, allowing five goals on 13 shots. Freshman newcomer Alex Hemgren was overwhelmed as well, stopping just seven of the 11 shots fired his way.