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Pioneers Sweep Wolverines Again
2024-01-02
CALUMET — Playing their second straight weekend series against the Calumet Wolverines, the Portage Lake Pioneers hockey team earned a second straight sweep of their rivals to the north thanks to a 5-3 win at Dee Stadium Friday night and a 6-2 win at the Calumet Colosseum Saturday.
Calumet led Saturday 2-1 before the Pioneers struck four times in less than 14 minutes to put the game out of reach.
Winger Cale Markham got the run started with a goal at the 4:00 mark. It came 1:48 after Calumet took the lead on a goal by defenseman Jimmy Brey. Markham’s tally was assisted by defensemen Matt Mantta and Riley McKay.
At 6:34, defenseman Matt Marchel gave the Pioneers their first lead of the night. Forwards Austin Mikesch and Wyatt Geshel assisted on the goal.
Defenseman Jamie Laux put the Pioneers up 4-2 at 9:09. Markham and winger Matthew Halonen earned assists. Mikesch then struck with 2:37 left in the period. Winger Brett Hauswirth had the primary assist.
Defenseman Craig Halonen added the Pioneers’ sixth goal at 10:35 of the third.
Calumet had the lead 10:41 into the contest when winger Paul Sturos found the net off a feed from center Brent Loukus.
Hauswirth evened the game at 14:55 when he struck shorthanded. Laux earned an assist on the goal.
Jimmy Pietila made 29 saves to earn the win for the Pioneers. Goaltender Tyler Hubbard stopped 31 for the Wolverines.
On Friday night, Brent Loukus got the Wolverines on the board 7:37 into the game. Winger Scott Loukus and Sturos assisted on the goal.
Portage Lake scored the next two goals. Defenseman Charlie Turner scored the first at 3:09 of the second period. Marchel picked up the second goal at 5:21.
Center Sherman Mowrey evened things for Calumet at 15:42 of the middle frame. Winger Dylan Boberg picked up an assist on the goal.
Markham regained the lead for the Pioneers just 2:08 later with an unassisted tally. Captain Cody Sivonen then pushed the lead to two, 4-2, with a goal 2:37 into the third. Geshel and Turner both assisted on the goal.
Calumet cut that lead in half with a goal from alternate captain Matthew Yeo with 2:47 left in regulation. Boberg and defenseman Lincoln Beiring both earned assists.
Hauswirth put the game out of reach with 33 seconds remaining.
Goaltender Brian Brzezinski stopped 35 Wolverines’ shots to earn the win. Hubbard stopped 34 for Calumet in the loss.
https://www.mininggazette.com/sports/local-sports/2024/01/pioneers-sweep-wolverines-again/