The scoring started early in the first period when Owens VanDusen found the back of the net with 14:58 left, assisted by Ethan Walker. The goal set the tone for the Wildcats, who continued to press Tawas deep in their defensive zone.

Alpena struck again just a few minutes later when Clark Weir extended the lead with 11:21 remaining in the period. Weir capitalized on a well-placed pass from Trevor Worth and Garrett Hamp, beating the goaltender to make it 2-0.

The Wildcats wasted no time adding to their lead, as just 10 seconds after the faceoff, Worth fired a quick snapshot past the Tawas netminder. Cole Deschamps provided the assist, and Alpena quickly found themselves in full control with a 3-0 lead.

By the end of the first period, the Wildcats had outshot Tawas 22-4, dominating possession and keeping the Braves on their heels.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Ethan Walker is seen before passing the puck to Owen VanDusen, who scored the first goal of the game, on Friday night in Alpena. The Wildcats’ hockey team won the regional semifinal matchup against Tawas, 8-1.

The second period saw Alpena continue to push the tempo. Early in the frame, the Wildcats earned a power play opportunity but were unable to convert despite maintaining pressure in the offensive zone.

It didn’t take long for Alpena to get back on the scoreboard. Midway through the period, Weir struck again, this time with an assist from Brody Misiak, giving Alpena a 4-0 advantage.

Less than a minute later, Worth added his second goal of the night, tipping a shot into the net to extend the lead even further. The Wildcats were relentless, and with about three minutes remaining in the period, VanDusen found the back of the net for his second goal of the game, making it 6-0.

Tawas managed to break through just before the period ended with only three seconds left. Despite the late tally, Alpena still held a commanding 6-1 lead at the end of two periods, with an overwhelming 43-8 shot advantage.

The Wildcats wasted no time in the final period, as Lucas Weir scored just 12 seconds in. Weir was assisted by Garrett Hamp and Gavin Winterstein, putting Alpena ahead 7-1.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Gavin Winterstein looks for an opening to pass the puck during Alpena’s hockey game against Tawas on Friday. The Wildcats took the win over the Braves, 8-1.

The Wildcats continued to control the pace of play, preventing Tawas from generating any momentum. With 3:47 left in the game, Sam Bastow added one final goal for Alpena, capping off a dominant performance.

By the final buzzer, Alpena had fired an impressive 57 shots on goal, while Tawas managed just 13. The Wildcats’ balanced attack and relentless offensive pressure proved to be too much for the Braves to handle.

With the victory, Alpena advances to the regional finals, where they will face either Freeland or Gladwin on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Wildcats will look to carry their momentum forward as they continue their postseason run.