ESCANABA — The Hancock Bulldogs hockey team scored three goals in the first period to help lift the team, and new head coach Scott Mikesch, to their first win of the season on Monday.

The Bulldogs added six more goals in the second period en route to a 9-3 win on the road over the Escanaba Eskymos.

The Bulldogs struck just 4:07 into the contest when Austin Salani found the back of the net. Rudy Bekkala and Luke Marcotte both added tallies at the 11:43 and 16:09 marks, respectively, to turn a 1-1 game into a 3-1 lead for the visitors.

From there, the Bulldogs went to work. Mason Mikesch scored just 25 seconds into the middle frame. He added three assists on the night for a four-point game to lead all players.

After the Eskymos cut the lead to 4-2, Chad Nordstrom, Kyle Maki, Salani, and Nordstrom again all scored within 2:47 of each other to push the lead to 8-2.

Calvin Heinonen scored with just 22 seconds left in the second period to give the Bulldogs a 9-2 lead.

Brandon Pietila made seven saves to earn the win.

Gremlins rout Kingsford, 8-0

HOUGHTON — The Houghton High School hockey team got off to a blazing start to the season with an 8-0 rout of Kingsford on Monday.

The Gremlins (1-0) scored five in the first and three in the second to trigger the mercy rule.

Forwards Camden Markham and Gaborik Carlson both scored twice with an assist. Sully Rajala had an assist. Dane Johnson had a goal and an assist.

Gremlins goalies Jimmy Pietila and Matthew Ryynanen each played a period. Pietila had five saves in the first. Ryynanen stopped all four shots in the second.

The Gremlins played at Jeffers Tuesday night. Coverage will be provided in Thursday’s edition.

— Information compiled by managing editor Daver Karnosky and sports editor Adam Niemi.