Mikkola helps power Bulldogs past Jets, 3-1
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HANCOCK -- Despite not having played since Saturday, Nov. 19, when they defeated the Manistique Emeralds, 6-1, the Hancock Bulldogs hockey team put an end to the Jeffers Jets' undefeated start to the 2022-23 season with a 3-1 victory Thursday night at the Houghton County Arena.
For the Bulldogs, just getting a chance to play a game again, after missing over a week of action due to a flu outbreak that forced at least 12 different players out of practice for at least a week, was a hugely important feat in many ways. Coach Scott Mikesch felt that his team needed to get in some game reps before they take on Traverse City Central on Saturday.
"We have a big game on Saturday, and we just needed to play," he said. "We have big games loaded up in front of us.
Getting into a little bit of a groove, despite the time off, was very valuable for the Bulldogs (2-1 overall).
"That's two in a row for us," Mikesch said. "What we want to do is just build up from this. I think we can play better, but there were a lot of positive things, for sure. I was happy with the two points."
After the Jets (3-1 overall) defeated the Calumet Copper Kings on Tuesday, Mikesch knew his group was going to have to find a way to match the intensity that the Jets bring every shift.
"You have to match their intensity level, and I thought we did that," he said. "I thought we played really hard. They work super hard, and we knew that was going to happen. So, we had to match their intensity level, and I thought we did that.
"We played a good game, just a good all around game, especially away from the puck."
Junior defenseman Luke Mikkola found a way to solve the Jets' goaltender, Simon Rajala, twice, both times on the power play, the first 9:51 into the contest and the second 15:07 into the second period. Hancock went 3-for-7 on the advantage.
Mikesch likes how well Mikkola plays when tasked with using his body in front of the opposing net on the power play.
"Luke is a real smart player, and he understands where you know where to be in what situations," Mikesch said. "He's shown us that he has a little nose for how to get open in front of the net. That's kind of a gift that he has, and he got two big goals for us."
On the other end of the ice, the Jets struggled to do the things that they have done well to start the season. Without an established forecheck, the Jets struggled to hem the Bulldogs into their end the way they did to Calumet, and that lack of forecheck allowed Hancock chances to draw penalties on the back check.
"We just couldn't establish our forecheck, bottom line," said Jets coach Pat Nettell. "We were three strides behind, so that really hurt us."
Taking seven penalties did not help.
"Penalties obviously killed us because we couldn't get any rhythm, any flow going, no nothing," Nettell said. "Between that, and not establishing our forecheck, it totally showed."
The Bulldogs' third goal was also a power play goal, as freshman defenseman Todd Kilpela crashed the net to Rajala's right and buried a pass from co-captain Calvin Heinonen at 10:28 of the third.
The Jets finally got one back late on a power play of their own, spoiling junior Saku Cunard's shutout attempt with 29.5 seconds remaining in regulation.
Junior center Kailob Bianco set up in the high slot and he wired a wrist shot over Cunard's shoulder for the tally with Rajala pulled to give the Jets a two-man advantage.
Up next
The Jets don't have long to process the loss to the Bulldogs as they travel Friday to face the Escanaba Eskymos at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday, when they host the Trojans at 1 p.m. at the Houghton County Arena.
Scoring
Jeffers 0 0 1 – 1
Hancock 1 1 1 – 3
First period
1, HCH, Luke Mikkola (Bryce Hanner, Todd Kilpela), PP, 9:51.
Second period
2, HCH, Mikkola (Calvin Heinonen), PP, 15:07.
Third period
3, HCH, Todd Kilpela (Heinonen), PP, 10:28; 4, JHS, Kailob Bianco (Benton Rajala), PP, 16;31
Saves – Rajala, JHS: 5-5-3=13; Cunard, HCH: 5-4-9=18
Power plays – JHS: 1/4; HCH: 3/7
Penalties – JHS: 7/14; HCH: 4/8