Adam Hinch Daily Press Escanaba freshman Griffin Johnson comes from behind the net looking to make a pass against Mona Shores on Jan. 3, 2024 at the Wells Sports Complex.

ESCANABA — A weekend doubleheader was filled with mixed results for Escanaba hockey as it defeated Mona Shores 5-4 on Friday and fell 5-3 to Grand Rapids Christian on Saturday.

The Eskymos got on the board first as junior Ben Sands found the back of the net off the assists by Davin Mattonen and Nick Martinson with 14:39 to go in the first period.

With 6:58 to go in the first period, the Eskymos found the back of the net again as junior Graham Johnson scored off the assist by Nolan Bink and the Eskymos led 2-0.

With 13:10 to go in the second period, Cale Carter took the pass from Ben Sands and found the back of the net to extend the Eskymos lead to 3-0. Eskymos junior Owen Labonte followed it up with a goal of his own of assists by Keegan Braun and Graham Johnson to give the Eskymos a 4-0 lead.

“We have had a good amount of confidence coming into tonight,” Labonte said. “A win like this over a good team even just keeps us building on that confidence.

With 11:07 to go in the third period, Keegan Braun picked up a 5:00 major for charging that led to three power play goals for Mona Shores to cut the deficit to 4-3.

“Penalties like that in the offensive zone are not what we want,” Eskymos coach Andy Johnson said. “We were playing good hockey up til that point and that penalty kind off killed our mojo.”

Nolan Bink scored on a empty net as Mona Shores pulled their goalie for an extra attacker on the ice.

Mona Shores added on a goal with :32 to go in the game as Escanaba holds on for the win.

Grand Rapids Christian got on the board first on Saturday as sophomore Cashan Laufer scored a power play goal after the roughing penalty on Braun to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

It took less than :20 for the Eskymos to respond as Johnson took the puck to net and past the goalie for the unassisted goal to tie the game at one all.

“They kind off just tried to get the puck out of the zone and I picked it up came down goalie was a little out of position and I made him pay for that one.”

With 6:24 to go in the first period Joshua Hooper found the back of the net to put the Eagles back in front 2-1.

With 4:36 to go in the second period Nolan Bink scored off the assist by Graham Johnson to tie the game at two.

Cam Laufer found the back of the net with :42 to go in the second period to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead. The Eagles added on to it as Drew Bierlein scored with 15:37 to go in the game to extend the lead to 4-2.

Graham Johnson would add another goal for Escanaba but could not close the gap.