The Manistique hockey team is gearing up for the upcoming season with high hopes and big dreams. After a successful 18-7-1 finish last season, the Emeralds are ready to continue their journey in the third season of the program’s existence.
Cooperating with Munising, Newberry, and Eben Junction Superior Central, the Emeralds had an impressive run last season, securing regular season sweeps of Cadillac, Petoskey, and Negaunee. Although they faced a tough loss to Sault Ste Marie in the district title game, the team showed great resilience and determination throughout the season.
Coach John Nutkins reflected on the team’s performance, acknowledging the initial challenges they faced. He mentioned, “We started a little slow. We have a lot of kids that play football, so the first couple of games we were kind of unprepared, and (we had) some new kids that hadn’t played with us. It just took a little time to get rolling.”
With seven seniors returning to the team, including Alex Noble, Carsyn Hinkson, Ryan McEvers, Austin Hinkson, Cameron Skeans, Blake Walther, and Gavin Nutkins, the Emeralds are poised for a strong season. Gavin Nutkins, the team’s top scorer from last season, expressed the team’s camaraderie, saying, “We are building as a team. It’s like a brotherhood. We all want to win, but more than that, we all want to have fun together.”
Alex Noble, the team’s goalkeeper, is determined to set high goals for the upcoming season. He aims to lead the team to a district championship and make it downstate, building on his impressive performance from last season.
The Hinkson brothers, Austin and Carsyn, along with Blake Walther, are eager to replicate their success from last season and elevate the team’s performance. Austin Hinkson expressed their collective goal, stating, “We want to bring the same level of play into this season.”
In addition to their seasoned players, the Emeralds are also welcoming a trio of freshmen, Levi Vruggink, Kade Schroeder, and Joe Noble, injecting youthful energy and enthusiasm into the team. Joe Noble, one of the freshmen, emphasized the importance of teamwork, saying, “It’s all about teamwork. We have to put the work in from day one to get where we want to get. I’m happy to get to play with my brother and learn from the coaches and seniors on this team.”
Looking ahead, the Emeralds have set their sights on a significant goal for the upcoming season: securing their first win against Escanaba. Gavin Nutkins expressed the team’s determination, highlighting their close encounter with Escanaba last season and their readiness to take the next step.
Coach John Nutkins is optimistic about the challenges that lie ahead, emphasizing the team’s willingness to face tough opponents. He stated, “We had teams reach out wanting to play us. We took on the challenge of playing better schools. You don’t get better playing bad teams; you have to play the good teams and not play down to them.”
With their eyes set on success, the Emeralds are gearing up for an exciting and challenging season, filled with determination, teamwork, and a shared passion for the game.