GREEN BAY, Wis. — With the game’s first three goals, Team Copper Country 18U Tier 2 cruised to a 3-1 victory in the opening game of the national tournament over the host team, the Green Bay Bobcats, at the Cornerstone Community Center.

It was not a perfect effort, but Team CC did enough to earn the win.

“Overall, it wasn’t our best game,” coach Micah Stipech said. “We can play a lot better. We had stretches where we played well, especially in the first period.”

Team CC had a strong first period, striking twice in a matter of just over two minutes.

Marquette’s Joe Philips opened the scoring with a tally at 11:38. For the first-year member of Team CC, the goal was a lift not only for the team, but also for Phillips, who has been dealing with a family illness the last couple of weeks.

“We had moved him to a different line,” Stipech said. “He had a different role. For him to get that one, with everything he is going through, is just great.”

Just 2:03 later, Calumet’s Gabe Coppo took advantage of a loose puck after Bobcats’ goaltender Broderick VenDenHeuval stopped a shot from Houghton’s Taavi Rajala, and he knocked it home by crashing the net.

Philips figured in the scoring again in the second period when he assisted on a power-play marker by Hancock’s Alex Nordstrom at 9:47. Kingsford’s Nick Murvich added his second assist of the night on the goal.

After that third goal, Team CC took some bad penalties, including a major, and the Bobcats broke through with a goal at 16:26 of the middle frame.

“It looked like we could blow it all open and we self-destructed,” Stipech said. “We started taking penalties. That is something we addressed before the game.”

From there, Calumet’s Nick Voelker shut the door, keeping his rebounds to a minimum and finishing the night with 17 saves to earn the win.

Team CC is back in action tonight when they face the McKinney North Stars at 9 p.m.