Escanaba’s Kyle Krutina (left) and Ethan Silverstone (right) fight for the puck with Marquette’s Hogan Nemetz (17) on a face-off Tuesday at Escanaba. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Austin Hemmingson)

WELLS — The Escanaba Eskymos were anxious to get their hockey season underway.

They got their chance Tuesday night, but opened with a 5-2 loss to the Marquette Redmen at the Hannahville Ice & Turf Complex.

“We needed to play a game and learned that we need to improve in all three zones,” said Esky coach Matt Hughes. “We didn’t know where we were at. There’s a big difference between game speed and practice. It was good for our guys to come out and compete.”

Esky was within 3-2 until the final three minutes, 37 seconds when senior forward Sean O’Connor gave the Redmen a two-goal cushion on a rebound shot.

Junior forward Gaetanno Cammarata then put the finishing touches on Marquette’s victory on an empty-net goal with 48.83 seconds remaining.

“Our fourth goal was huge,” said Marquette coach Doug Garrow. “I thought we did a good job working the puck down low. For their first game, I thought Escanaba competed real well. We could tell they got some energy from their second goal. I think they’ll get better through the year.”

Junior forward Grant Wickham brought the Eskymos within 3-2 on a breakaway 4:48 into the third period.

“That gave us some life,” said Hughes. “We killed a penalty, then they scored a few seconds after that. We looked for a good opportunity to pull our goaltender, but they had the puck in our zone and we couldn’t do it until about the one-minute mark.”

The Redmen opened the scoring 6:20 into the contest on Cammarata’s shot from the low slot and gained a two-goal cushion on a rebound by senior forward Nick Leafers at 10:26.

Esky opened its scoring on a power play with 26 seconds left in the opening frame on junior forward Kyle Krutina’s backhanded shot.

“That was a big goal for us,” said Hughes. “Kyle skated across the crease and went top shelf.

“I think that gave us a little momentum and the guys came out pretty quick in the second period.”

Senior defensemen Thomas Dunleavy gave Marquette a 3-1 lead on a one-timer from the left faceoff circle midway through the second stanza.

Esky’s first power-play opportunity began just 38 seconds into this match-up. The Eskymos, however, were unable to get a shot.

“During the first penalty kill we cleared the puck real well,” said Garrow. “We didn’t do it as well on the second penalty kill. We kind of turned the puck over on our red line and they capitalized. When you turn the puck over in your zone, you tend to beat yourself and the puck often ends up in the back of your net. Although, I thought our guys played real well overall.”

The Redmen outshot the Eskymos 34-16. Esky junior Trevor Denome stopped 29 shots and Marquette sophomore Brennen Hakkola had 14 saves.

“Trevor played very well,” said Hughes. “We didn’t pick up guys and kind of hung him out to dry on about three or four of their goals. Trevor made some big saves and kept us in the game. Our guys didn’t quit. They stepped up to the challenge. It was a very competitive game.”

Esky hosts Kingsford Thursday and Marquette hosts Calumet Tuesday.