Pioneers earn regular season title with win over Deacons
Portage Lake won the Great Lakes Hockey League’s regular season title with a 10-1 victory over DePere on Sunday afternoon at the Dee Stadium in Houghton. The team includes Tyler Bailey, Jonathan Bostwick, Brian Brzezinski, Spencer Donnelly, Josh Farr, Jack Fenton, Wyatt Geshel, Mark Halonen, Craig Halonen, Matthew Halonen, Anthony Harris, Nick Harris, Brett Hauswirth, Zach Hill, Mitchel Kumpula, Devyn LaCourt, James Laux, Matt Mantta, Matt Marchel, Cale Markham, Dawson McKay, Riley McKay, Austin Mikesch, Dominick Nettell, A.J. Petrulis, Jimmy Pietila, Alexander Reville, Ross Rouleau, Cody Sivonen, and Charlie Turner. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)
HOUGHTON — With a 10-1 win over the DePere Deacons on Sunday afternoon at the Dee Stadium, the Portage Lake Pioneers hockey team clinched a 15-2-1 record at home for the first time since 1999. More importantly, they sealed the Great Lakes Hockey League’s regular season title for the first time since 2012-13.
As the regular season champ, the Pioneers head to Fond du Lac for the GLHL Tournament as the No. 1 seed. The race for the Kohlman Cup will take place over the weekend of April 5-7.
While the game itself was lopsided, for the first 20 minutes, it was far from decided. Deacons goaltender Matt Tushaus made 24 saves in the period, making things very difficult for the Pioneers.
Forward Matthew Halonen had a huge game, scoring two goals and adding three assists. Forward Brett Hauswirth also had a strong game, with a goal and three assists.
Forward Jonathan Bostwick broke through at 9:23. Forward Dawson McKay and Matthew Halonen both earned assists on the play.
Portage Lake forward Nick Harris looks for a teammate to pass to during a game against DePere Sunday at the Dee Stadium in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)
The game remained 1-0 until defenseman Ross Rouleau found the net with three seconds left. Forward Zach Hill and Hauswirth both assisted on the goal.
The Pioneers scored six times in the middle frame to put the game out of reach.
The offensive explosion started 1:22 in when Matthew Halonen scored. Forwards Nick Harris and Cale Markham both earned assists. Then, 1:15 later, defenseman Mark Halonen struck. Hauswirth had the lone assist on the goal.
Hauswirth scored at 11:30 off a feed from Hill. Defenseman Riley McKay also picked up an assist.
Matthew Halonen then scored the game’s next two goals 48 seconds apart. His first came at 17:15. His second came at 18:03. Rouleau and Hauswirth picked up assists on the first goal, while Hill and Harris had assists on the second tally.
Forward Wyatt Geshel put the Pioneers up 8-0 when he scored with 28 seconds remaining in the middle frame. Forward Cody Sivonen and defenseman Matt Marchel both assisted on the tally.
The Deacons got one back just 1:36 into the third period, but Markham struck twice in the game’s final 11:46 to seal the win.
His first came at 8:14 and his second with 1:53 left in the game. Harris and Matthew Halonon both assisted on both goals.
Goaltender Jimmy Pietila made 13 saves to earn the win for Portage Lake.
UP NEXT
The Pioneers head to Fond du Lac for the GLHL Tournament on April 5-7. The last time the Pioneers won the Kohlman Cup was in 2015-16.
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