Calumet forward Erik Loukus prepares for a faceoff during a game against Forest Hills Central Friday at the Calumet Colosseum. (Paula Porter/For the Gazette)

CALUMET — The Calumet Copper Kings hockey team needed a comeback Friday, and it was successful. Saturday, they took the lead twice en route to a win as they defeated a pair of downstate opponents in Forest Hills Central Friday and Brighton Saturday at the Calumet Colosseum.

With the wins, the Copper Kings improved to 9-4-1 overall and have won three of their last four games.

Copper Kings 3, Rangers 1

Friday night, the Forest Hills Central Rangers struck first, but the Copper Kings closed out the middle frame with two goals in the last two minutes. Then, they added an insurance goal late in the third to seal the win, 3-1.

The Rangers struck 10:44 into the second period while on the power play when Benny Mielock found the net.

Looking to bounce back, Calumet continued to put pressure on Rangers goaltender Nolan Bateson and that finally converted into a goal when junior forward Brady Boberg deposited one behind Bateson at 15:08. Junior defenseman Kaden Cronenworth and senior forward Rogan Gronlund both assisted on the goal, Boberg’s second of the year.

Co-captain Nathan Londo then broke the 1-1 tie at 16:43 when he scored his 11th of the season. Co-captain Erik Loukus and alternate captain Ben Anderson earned assists on the goal.

The Rangers threw eighth shots at junior goaltender Beau Jukuri in the third period, but he stood his ground until senior defenseman Drake Niemala struck on the power play to put the game out of reach. Niemala’s third goal of the season was assisted by Londo and Anderson.

Jukuri finished his night with 22 saves on 23 Rangers’ shots. Bateson made 22 saves for the Rangers in the loss.

Copper Kings 2, Bulldogs 1

The Copper Kings and Brighton Bulldogs fought toe-to-toe for 51 minutes, with Calumet scoring an early third-period goal to take the lead for good en route to a 2-1 win.

Senior forward Luke Hamlin got the Copper Kings on the board at the end of the first period when he found the net with just 16 seconds left. His fifth goal of the season was assisted by Boberg and senior defenseman Robert Loukus.

Nic Smith tied the game at 1-1 at 13:20 of the middle frame for the Bulldogs.

In the third, Londo needed just 33 seconds to regain the lead for Calumet when he scored his 12th of the season. Anderson and junior defenseman Lewis Nagel picked up assists on the tally.

Jukuri made 23 saves to earn the win for the Copper Kings. Reece Hutchinson stopped 22 of 24 shots in the loss for the Bulldogs.

Up next

Calumet is off this week until Saturday, when they host Brother Rice at 7 p.m. at the Calumet Colosseum.