Gremlins, Huskies Hockey Seasons End with Losses – Sunday Sports Wrap

High School

The Houghton High School hockey team’s season ended with a 4-1 loss to Detroit Country Day in the state championship game yesterday in Plymouth. Seth Francois got the Gremlins off to an optimistic start with a goal in the opening minute, but Country Day goalie Sam Evola, last year’s Michigan “Mr. Hockey,” stopped every shot he faced after that. Country Day tied the game late in the first period, took the lead late in the second, and added an insurance goal early in the third, and a late empty-netter. Jimmy Pietila made 23 saves in net for Houghton. The Gremlins finish the season with a fine record of 23-6-1.

Finlandia

The Finlandia University softball and baseball teams begin their Florida spring break schedules yesterday.

The softball team lost 7-1 to Lebanon Valley College, 8-0 to the University of Northwestern. The Lions face Salve Regina University, and Washington and Jefferson College today.

The baseball team lost 10-4 to Vassar College yesterday, then edged Baruch College 6-5. In that second game, Brandon Teichman drove in three runs with a first-inning double. The Lions will play a doubleheader against the Coast Guard Academy today.

WCHA Hockey

The Michigan Tech hockey season ended with a 6-2 loss at Bowling Green State University last night. The Falcons swept the Western Collegiate Hockey Association semifinal series two games to none. Jake Lucchini scored both Huskies’ goals. Tech finishes the season with a record of 14-20-4.

The Northern Michigan University hockey squad advanced to the WCHA semifinals by defeating Alaska-Anchorage 4-3. The Wildcat will host Bowling Green in one tournament semifinal next week. Lake Superior State will skate at Minnesota State in the other semifinal series.

GLIAC Basketball

The Michigan Tech women’s basketball team bowed out of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament yesterday, with a 77-61 loss to Ashland University. Cassidy Trotter led the Huskies with a career-best 21 points. The Huskies wind up with a record of 21-9, and will wait to find out if they’ve been invited to the NCAA Tournament. Tech was rated eighth in last week’s regional poll. The top eight teams from the region are included in the tournament field.

The Northern Michigan women’s team stunned top-seeded Grand Valley State University 47-38 yesterday to advance to the GLIAC tournament championship. The Wildcats will face Ashland for the title today.

The Northern Michigan University men’s team lost 88-77 to top-seeded Davenport University in the GLIAC tournament semifinals in Grand Rapids yesterday. Davenport and Grand Valley will play for the title this afternoon.

GLHL

The score of last night’s game between the Portage Lake Pioneers and the Fox Cities Ice Dogs was not reported.

NHL

The Detroit Red Wings fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 last evening. Thomas Vanek and Anthony Mantha scored for the Wings. Detroit will visit the Florida Panthers today. Pregame coverage begins at 4:40 on 99.3 The Lift.

NBA

The Detroit Pistons will host the Chicago Bulls this afternoon. Pregame coverage starts at 11:35 on 99.3 The Lift.

MLB

The Detroit Tigers lost to the Atlanta Braves 6-4 yesterday in Grapefruit League play. Starter Michael Fulmer allowed two runs over three innings. The Tigers face the New York Yankees this afternoon. Listen for Tigers baseball again this season on 99.3 The Lift.

Half of the Milwaukee Brewers pounded the Oakland Athletics 11-2 in Cactus League action yesterday. Keston Hiura, Trent Grisham and Nate Orf homered as the Crew scored seven times in the sixth inning. The other half of the Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Angels 5-1. Eric Thames homered, and Josh Tomlin pitched five scoreless innings. The Brewers will face the Chicago Cubs this afternoon.

Great Bear Chase

A record field of more than 800 competitors enjoyed perfect cross country skiing conditions at the Great Bear Chase yesterday on the Swedetown Trails.

In the freestyle events, Nikolai Anikin of Duluth took the 50k title, finishing a scant 2.6 seconds ahead of Craig Cardinal from Northfield, Minnesota. Ali Towle from Watertown, Minnesota, was the top women’s finisher. In the 25k, Drake Hacker of Sussex, Wisconsin, finished first. Sam Hanson of Stillwater, Minnesota placed second, with Olivia Dreger of Marathon, Wisconsin, the top women’s finisher. Daniel Pederson of Milwaukee won the 10k, with Grant Fredrickson of Hancock second. Madeline Koltun of Stillwater, Minnesota was the top women’s finisher.

In the classic events, David Chamberlain from Minneapolis win the 50k, finishing just 3.5 seconds better than Josh Doebbart of Saint Paul. Elspeth Ronnander of Saint Paul was the top women’s finisher. Lars Dewall of Lakeland, Minnesota won the 25k, with Logan Jenson of Bemidji, Minnesota second. Jane Straka of Nashota, Wisconsin, was the first woman to finish, with Joan Ruundman of Hancock second. Stephen Eles of Houghton took the 10k title, with Andrew Pillifant of Ishpeming second, and Eleanor Bennett of Wausau the top woman.

Brian Gregg of Minneapolis won the 50k skiathlon. Daniel Streinz of Marquette finished second, and Deedra Irwin of Pulaski, Wisconsin, won the women’s division.

See full Great Bear Chase results here.

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