Houghton forward Brody Donnelly scores in the first period of a game against Gabriel Richard Wednesday at Dee Stadium in Houghton. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — On a Wednesday at Dee Stadium, a high school hockey game had a little bit of almost anything as the Houghton Gremlins scored a game-tying goal with just 1:21 left in regulation. Then, they struck again with just 1:12 left in overtime, to earn a 6-5 win over the visiting Gabriel Richard Pioneers.

In the end, the Gremlins won their ninth straight and improved to 13-5-1 on the season.

“What an exciting game for 5 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon,” said Gremlins coach Micah Stipech. It’s too bad more people couldn’t have seen it, because that had a little bit of everything in it. It’s exciting, as exciting as a high school hockey game can get.”

The game saw both teams score a shorthanded goal, scored less than five minutes apart.

“Both teams struggled on our power plays,” Stipech said. “We both have very aggressive penalty kills, and were able to cough up some pucks. We are going to have to figure it out. We gave up a lot of Grade ‘A’ chances on our power play, so we have to clean that up. But, that’s a really good team that’s going to be there at the end of the year in Plymouth.”

Sophomore forward Gunner Gullstrand, playing in just his third game with the Gremlins, led the way with two goals, including the game-tying tally, and an assist. However, as Stipech pointed out, his game still has room to grow.

“He’s not going to miss that one,” said Stipech. “I was happy for him, because he went through some ups and downs during that game. He had some turnovers, and then he had some opportunities that I know he wanted to score on. So, to be able to bury that one’s big for him.

“He gives us our top six. We have two lines that are strong and you really have to respect.”

Gullstrand’s second goal came right off a faceoff late in the third period. Captain Connor Arko pushed the puck forward off the draw and then laced a pass across to Gullstrand, who one-timed the puck into the net for his third goal of the season.

His first goal came just 3:17 into the game when he found space in the slot. Sophomore forward Braden Kari fed the puck to him and he buried a quick shot for the goal.

After taking a pass from his linemate for a goal, Gullstrand then connected with his other linemate for the Gremlins’ second goal. Alternate captain Brody Donnelly got a pass from Gullstrand in the high slot and beat Pioneers goaltender Connor Ptak with a wrist shot at 16:20 of the first period.

As good as Houghton’s start was, things went awry almost immediately in the second period. The Pioneers scored a shorthanded goal on Houghton’s first power play when Jacob Chiles got loose, skated in alone and beat goaltender Brycyn Nettell with a deke to his backhand.

Steven Mauritho then evened the game at 2-2 before the period was 3:46 in.

Donnelly responded for the Gremlins by regaining the lead on a Pioneers’ power play. Alternate captain Jack Sayen picked up the puck near his own blue line and skated it up the rink along the right boards. He got across the offensive blue line and fed the puck across to Donnelly, who wristed one home at 7:50.

Gabriel Richard evened things at 9:09 when Andrew Magiera scored. Then Connor Forster put them in the lead for the first time at 10:08 when he batted home a one-timer off a feed across the crease.

Houghton responded at 11:52 when Sayen found the back of the net from the slot. Arko and alternate captain Noah Maillette both assisted on the goal.

Unfortunately, the Pioneers regained the lead at 5-4 when Tommy Hughes scored his first goal of the season when he batted in a loose puck near Nettell at 13:38.

The Gremlins poured 10 shots at Ptak in the third period, but could not find the equalizer until Gullstrand batted home that pass from Arko with Nettell pulled for an extra skater.

In overtime, both teams had chances, but it was Maillette, scoring yet another timely goal for Houghton. Arko took the faceoff to Ptak’s left and won it to Maillette. Maillette fired a shot along the ice that found the back of the net.

“Faceoffs are so important,” Stipech said. “We put a huge emphasis on faceoffs and practice them. The goal was the type of goal that goes in (in overtime). We’ve seen so many overtime goals. Those are the kind that go in. It’s just a normal play that was a leaker.

“It started with a big win with our center, but we also set a pick on that to buy him (Maillette) some time, and then he was able to put it on net and get it through the traffic. So, it’s huge for us to see a couple things that we prepare for in practice, and be able to execute when the lights are bright.”

Up next

Houghton does not have a lot of time to celebrate and enjoy their victory. They are back in action Friday against Ashwaubenon at Dee Stadium at 7 p.m. Then, they face Jeffers Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena at 12:30 p.m.

Houghton’s Gunner Gullstrand (21), Brody Donnelly (14), Braden Kari (9), Jake Mattson (6) and Wesley Mattila (4) celebrate a first-period goal by Gullstrand during a game against Gabriel Richard Wednesday at Dee Stadium in Houghton. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)