For the first 4:52 Saturday, the Minnesota Warriors played like an elite level team, racking up a quick 3-0 lead on the MUPVHC before the game had even settled in. However, the Yoopers found themselves and chipped away at the lead before skating away with an 8-5 win.

“It feels good,” said MUPVHC co-captain Jon French. “It feels really good. It was a tough game. They’re a great team. They typically play in the elite league. They had the one guy that played pro over in Germany, and we were like, ‘Oh, s***, what are we in for?'”

However, once forward T.J. Maleport scored his first of the night, while the MUPVHC was on a first-period power play, the locals got things going.

French said that a lot of the first period came down to the fact that the MUPVHC had to sort themselves out first before they could figure out what Minnesota was doing effectively.

Michigan UP Veterans Hockey Club forward Mike Seratti makes a play on a puck along the boards during a game against the Minnesota Warriors Hockey Club Saturday as part of Northern Lights Hockey Night at Dee Stadium. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

“When you get out there and you’re playing, it’s like we never really hit our stride,” he said. “We had a lot of guys that wanted to play, and we wanted to give everybody a chance to get out there and play, but it’s hard to get into the groove. It’s hard to get those legs and get into it when you’re out there every four shifts, right? But, we pulled it together. We came together. We skated hard. Adam Kerry was big in net for us, and it was a good time.

“I think we showed them that these guys can play hockey.”

Maleport led the way with a hat trick, but he was just one of many heroes in the contest.

“T.J. Malport, we call him the little Viking, and he is just, he’s got so much energy,” French said. “He’s like a little Energizer bunny. Him bringing his speed and his tenacity, he’s just a pain in the rear. He brings that, and he stirs stuff up. He coughs up pucks, and, yeah, that was huge.”

Forward Mike Seratti buried the second MUPVHC goal at 13:04 of the first period when he netted a wrister from the high slot off a feed from defenseman Trevor Ploe.

Linesman Brady Olson drops the puck as Michigan UP Veterans Hockey Club center Dominick Nettell battles in the first period of a game against the Minnesota Warriors Hockey Club Saturday as part of Northern Lights Hockey Night at Dee Stadium. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

Forward Tony Billich then tied the game at 14:36 when he buried a rebound off a scoring chance from forward Dominic Fredianelli.

Part of the issue for the MUPVHC was simply getting everyone on the same page.

“There’s a few guys, Tony and Dom and T.J. Maleport, quite a few of the guys, can’t come to practice, because they’re too far out of the area,” said French, “and we’ve got coaches that coach travel hockey, so they’re on the road quite a bit. So, even though they know the game, they’re good at the game, it’s hard to kind of jive and catch stride with everybody, for everybody to click.

“The first, probably, period was about that. It was us trying to find what gears go together. We’re in there before (the game) arguing, and trying to figure out who’s on who’s line. It’s like we have so many guys, and say, ‘Guys, we’re missing the National Anthem. We have to go.”

Just nine seconds into the second period, Minnesota was back out in front, 4-3. However, just like their first-period lead, this one did not last either.

World War II veteran James Enrietti steps out to center ice prior to a ceremonial puck drop for a game between the Michigan UP Veterans Hockey Club and the Minnesota Warriors Hockey Club Saturday as part of Northern Lights Hockey Night at Dee Stadium. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

“A lot of us have kids, and a lot of us have been in very tough situations in our lives where we need to be resilient,” French said. “It’s, ‘Hey, that’s fine. They can get a goal. We can get one back just as easy. They score one on us, let’s go get two on them.'”

Maleport scored his second of the night at 13:59 off a back-door pass from Fredianelli to even things again before the end of the middle frame.

“You get knocked down, and you only have to get up one time,” said French. “You only have to get up one time in life, and that’s the next. So, these goals out here that they get against us, that’s all right. We just keep driving, keep pushing, keep playing.”

Defenseman Tom Hyrkas put the MUPVHC up 5-4 5:30 into the third period, giving his team the lead for the first time. While that goal did not stand as the game-winner, it helped set the table for later.

About a minute after Minnesota evened the game at 9:16, defenseman Mitch Mcpherson got a pass in the high slot from forward Chris Luoma, and he buried a wrist shot for the MUPVHC’s sixth goal of the night. The tally stood as the game-winner in the end.

Michigan UP Veterans Hockey Club goaltender Adam Kerry drops to his knees to attempt to make a save during the first period of a game against the Minnesota Warriors Hockey Club Saturday as part of Northern Lights Hockey Night at Dee Stadium. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

Maleport then extended the lead with his hat trick goal at 13:55 when he buried a one-timer off a pass from Seratti, setting up the game’s final few minutes.

Minnesota pulled goaltender Adin Nelson for the game’s final 91 seconds, but Luoma was able to seal the win for the MUPVHC when he buried a shot from center ice into the empty net with 16 seconds left.

PEP BAND STEALS THE SHOW

The Michigan Tech Pep Band performed outside the arena prior to the game, then they stepped inside and performed throughout the night in much the same way they would at Michigan Tech hockey games all season long.

For the MUPVHC, having the Pep Band in the building helped inspire them to play hard for the local crowd.

“They were, I think, our fourth or fifth line tonight,” French said. “They really were. I mean, how can you not sit in the stands, look over and smile and laugh. Next thing you know, as you’re jamming to the beat, your head’s bobbing.

“I’m mesmerized by the music, just jamming away. They were absolutely fantastic.”

CEREMONIAL PUCK DROP

Before the game, 98-year-old World War II veteran Joseph Enrietti dropped the ceremonial puck drop. Enrietti is the last surviving WWII veteran in the Keweenaw. Prior to the contest, he met with players from both teams.

RETURN VISITS IN THE FUTURE

The Minnesota Warriors had such a fun time in the area prior to the contest that they are already planning their next visit to the area.

“They’ve talked to Jeff Jepson, and they want to make this annual thing,” said French. “They said they’ll help raise money.

“They’re like, ‘Hey, we should get a traveling trophy.'”

A CAUSE FOR MANY

The game proceeds went to helping with Equipment Loans of the Keweenaw, who help supply the local sled hockey scene. French mentioned that one of the Minnesota players made the trip specifically to help raise money for sled hockey, as he has a daughter whom he wants to introduce to the sport as she is disabled herself.

“One of their guys that came up, he only has enough money to go on so many trips a year, and he chose this over going to New Jersey for nationals, because his daughter cannot walk,” French said. “So he wanted, because this was for sled hockey, he’s like, ‘I want to go raise money for that.’ He’s trying to get his daughter in the sled hockey and stuff.”