Houghton forward Noah Maillette drives to the net during a 50th annual John MacInnes Holiday Hockey Classic game against Capital City Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Houghton Gremlins hockey team came into the 50th annual John MacInnes Holiday Hockey Classic with a relatively simple goal in mind, win their third straight game for the first time this season. They were in the midst of their second two-win streak that included wins over Hartland and Trenton prior to Saturday night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena against the Capital City Capitals.

Three goals from alternate captain Noah Maillette later, the Gremlins (7-5-1 overall) earned a 5-0 win.

“It was huge,” said Gremlins coach Micah Stipech. “We’ve had trouble with poor starts, and especially, after a successful weekend with a team that’s maturing, I was happy with our start, with our overall game.

“We had to push the pace, and dictate the pace, in this game the way it went. I thought we did that. It’s tough. We had that two-goal lead for a long time and it’s easy to get complacent. So, I was happy we kept our foot on the gas.”

That two-goal lead he was referring to came in the second period. After the Gremlins outshot the Capitals 14-9 in the first period, which was 14-3 until the final minute when they got boxed in their own end, they finally broke through early in the frame when freshman forward Liam Frick carried the puck into the offensive zone, cut to his right across the tops of the circles, and wired a wrist shot over the blocker of Capitals goaltender Shaun Story 2:17 in.

Wanting to keep the pressure on after scoring, the Gremlins did just that, and it led to a delayed penalty against the Capitals. While they had six skaters on the ice, Maillette banged a puck through Story’s legs at 2:29.

Story made the Gremlins earn the win, as he stopped 37, which included 30 in the first two periods. However, once Houghton grabbed the momentum, they were able to create from it.

“The momentum was huge,” Stipech said. “I felt like we’ve been improving on our faceoffs, (and they) were big tonight. I thought we won some big faceoffs. Our ‘D’ (defense) has been maturing, and their retrievals were really good. Our first pass was good, and then we were getting pucks through, where earlier in the year we would not get a puck through, to the net.

“This goalie (Story) is as good as anybody in the state. We knew it was going to come off of a rebound, or a really good Grade ‘A.’ He really made us work for it.”

Houghton continued to pressure the Capitals defense, forcing another penalty. This time, the penalty was called, but the Gremlins could not solve Story a third time.

With captain Connor Arko out due to illness, the Gremlins were looking for someone to step up, and in the third period, that was Maillette. He scored his second of the night at 11:18 on a play where alternate captain Brody Donnelly created a turnover and then got the puck down to him. Maillette’s initial shot was stopped, but his rebound got past Story.

“One of the messages before the game was, ‘Who’s going to step up and fill the shoes?” said Stipech. “Last weekend he (Arko) scored huge goals for us. He’s our captain, and our leading scorer. Who’s going to do it?

“The first group that needs to do it is the seniors, and Noah’s one of them. His goals are just workhorse goals, because he keeps working. He outworks people. It’s nothing flashy, usually. You’re just happy for him, because of how hard he works for his goals.”

Maillette’s third and final goal came with just seven seconds left, when he took a pass from senior forward Jack Sayen and buried a shot in close to Story.

“With Arko out, obviously, you’re losing one of your top guys,” Maillette said. “Some of these guys step up, and put some pucks in the net. It just feels great that I was able to do it, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without the guys in that locker room.

“They fed me the passes to get the puck into the net, and just playing with great players, and great teammates that help me, that bring me up no matter what, (is huge for me).”

In between Maillette’s second and third goals, Donnelly struck shorthanded at 15:18.

“When your line’s buzzing, you can put as many goals as you want in,” said Maillette. “We put in four tonight, and it was just a great moment for our line.”

Sunday’s matchup cancelled

The Gremlins were scheduled to face the Livonia Stevenson Spartans Sunday evening, but due to potential weather conditions, the Spartans elected to return home on Sunday, leading to cancellation of the game.

Up next

The Gremlins are back in action Tuesday when they face Calumet at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.