Calumet, Houghton Advance in Hockey Tourney – Wednesday Sports Wrap

High School

In the opening round of the high school hockey playoffs last night…
• Calumet scored five goals in the first period, and cruised past Jeffers 10-2. The game ended midway through the third period because of the mercy rule. Dean Loukus had a hat trick plus two assists. Nathan Sturos had two goals and two assists. Caden Lehto scored twice, and Jackson Rilei, Zach Larson and Carson Kariniemi each found the net once. Tom Erkkila had three assists for the Copper Kings. Caden Hillstrom and Brock Holombo scored for the Jets. Aksel Loukus got the win in goal, as Calumet outshot Jeffers 41-8.
• Houghton eliminated Hancock 5-1. Brandon Norkol gave the Gremlins an early lead with a first period power play goal. Tedd Halonen added a score in the second period, but Hancock kept it close with a Mason Mikesch power play tally. Houghton pulled away with three goals in the third period, one from Sully Rajala, and the final two from Dane Johnson. Jimmy Pietila earned the win in net, as the Gremlins outshot the Bulldogs 34-21.

Calumet and Houghton will play for the regional title Saturday at 1:00 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Our coverage will begin around 12:35 on KBear 102.3 and KBear102.com.

In girls basketball last night…
• Calumet defeated Baraga 75-42. Elli Djerf scored 21, and became just the third Calumet girls player in history to reach the 1,000 career point mark. Marybeth Halonen added 18 for the Copper Kings. Rylie Koskinen scored 14 for the Vikings.
• The L’Anse game against Ontonagon was canceled.
• The Ewen-Trout Creek game against Wakefield-Marenisco was canceled.

In boys play last evening…
• Ontonagon fell to Bessemer 59-22.
• The Houghton game against Ishpeming was canceled – the Hematites are in COVID-19 protocol.
• The Hancock game against Chassell was canceled – the Bulldogs are in COVID-19 protocol.
• The Ewen-Trout Creek game against Wakefield-Marenisco was canceled.

On the boys schedule tonight…
• Ewen-Trout Creek will face Jeffers in a game that will be played at the SDC. Our coverage will begin around 6:40 on KBear 102.3 and KBear102.com.

On the girls schedule tonight…
• Dollar Bay-Tamarack City plays at Ontonagon.

Houghton Alpine skier Reed Heathman has been named to the Division Two boys all-state first teams for both slalom and giant slalom. Ashley Lehmann from the Gremlins was named to the Division Two girls first team for giant slalom, and Keegan Leonard was placed on the second team for girls slalom. See all of the Division Two honorees here.

College Basketball

The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team dropped a 65-62 heartbreaker to Truman State in the NCAA Division II regional title game last night. The Huskies trailed by 10 at halftime, but mounted a furious comeback in the second half. Tech took a one-point lead with 13 seconds remaining, but Cade McNight of the Bulldogs sank a two pointer with five seconds to go. After an errant Tech inbound pass, Truman’s Hunter Strait made two free throws to seal the win. Owen White led the Huskies with 19 points.

College Softball

The Finlandia University softball team begins its season today at the Dome Tournament in Plymouth, Minnesota. They’re facing Bethany Lutheran and Gustavus Adolphus this morning.

College Soccer

The Finlandia University men’s soccer team has added a new recruit. Alex Mendoza played five seasons for Walkerville High School, downstate in Oceana County.

NHL

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 last night. Adam Erne scored two early goals, Robby Fabri netted the game-winner, and Filip Hronek added a late empty-netter. Jonathan Bernier made 35 saves.

The Wings host the Dallas Stars tomorrow. Coverage begins at 7:15 on 99.3 The Lift.

NBA

The Detroit Pistons entertain the Toronto Raptors tonight. Coverage will begin at 6:35 on 99.3 The Lift.

MLB

The Detroit Tigers dropped a 7-4 decision to the New York Yankees in Grapefruit League play yesterday. Michael Fulmer struggled, giving up three runs on four hits over two innings. Renato Núñez, Jacoby Jones and Akil Baddoo homered.

The Tigers play the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon. Tarik Skubal is scheduled to start for Detroit.

Tigers minor league assignments yesterday included Christin Stewart, who started in left field the past two seasons, but had been demoted last summer, and had struggled this spring.

In Cactus League action, the Milwaukee Brewers downed the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2 yesterday. Josh Lindblom pitched into the fourth inning, and gave up just two hits. Kolton Wong and Luis Urias his back-to-back homers to start the game. Luke Maile and Zach Green also homered.

The Brewers have today off.

Milwaukee made Travis Shaw’s return official yesterday, adding the third baseman to the 40-man roster, after signing him to a minor-league deal earlier this year.

NFL

The Detroit Lions continued their roster rebuild yesterday, cutting backup quarterback Chase Daniel and defensive tackle Danny Shelton. Meanwhile, there are reports that Detroit is ready to sign former Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams, and are close to trading for Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Michael Brockers.

Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has announced his retirement after 14 seasons.

The Chicago Bears have signed veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, who played eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, before spending last year with the Dallas Cowboys.

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