MARQUETTE — A change in tactics and the experience of successfully playing from behind before helped Marquette post a 3-2 victory over Calumet to end the high school hockey regular season for the Redmen at Lakeview Arena on Thursday night.

MSHS (13-10-2) spotted the Copper Kings two goals in the first period before starting their comeback in the last minute before the first intermission.

That was when senior forward Joe Phillips scored a goal with 46 seconds left that was assisted by senior Ethan Jones and junior Tanner Phillips.

“It was a good, hard-fought win,” Marquette coach Doug Garrow said. “We tried to skate with them in the first period, but Calumet took it to us with their speed.

“So in the second and third periods we play a more grinding, physical style.

“It was good to win on Senior Night and give our 11 seniors a way to end their final regular game on a good note.”

The Copper Kings got their goals off the sticks of Gabe Cappo and Dean Loukus in a span of less than seven minutes during the opening period.

Following Phillips’ goal, the Redmen tied the game with 6:26 left in the second when senior forward Rory O’Connor knocked a shot home that was assisted by sophomores Gaetanno Cammarata and Tony Fedrizzi.

The game-winner came nearly 25 minutes later when Jones stuck one in with 3:07 left that was assisted by Joe Phillips.

The shots were relatively even, with MSHS senior goalie Dylan Sibilsky making 36 saves and Calumet netminder Nick Voelker stopping 31.

Marquette opens regional play against Kingsford in a game to be played at Iron Mountain at 7 p.m. EST Tuesday. A win in that game would pit the Redmen in another road game at either Negaunee or Escanaba at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The regional championship game is tentatively scheduled for St. Ignace on Saturday afternoon, March 3, with the opponent to be Petoskey, Traverse City Central or Manistee.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.