Kingsford freshman defenseman Carter Steber tries to work the puck away from Escanaba senior Alex Schwalbach during the second period Tuesday at Mountain View Ice Arena. (Ron Deuter photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Kingsford varsity hockey team continues its opening week of the season tonight, hosting Negaunee at Mountain View Ice Arena at 5:30 p.m. The Flivvers dropped their season-opener Tuesday evening — a contest that the group would no sooner love to forget. Kingsford was mercy-ruled by Escanaba in embarrassing fashion, 9-0 in two periods on home ice.

“I was expecting a battle, a tight game,” Flivvers head coach Greg Wadge said. “We didn’t do anything that we’ve been doing in practice. I had 16 guys out there who didn’t want the puck.

“We coughed it up like 25 times in the neutral zone. We didn’t generate any offense. We didn’t enter the zone the way we wanted. It was not good from beginning to end. I take the blame for that performance. I obviously didn’t have them ready.”

Juniors Graham Johnson, Carson Hughes and senior Cale Carter each netted two goals for the Eskymos, who outshot the Flivvers 24-7. Junior goaltender Cully Hayes had the shutout for Escanaba, even though he was barely challenged.

Junior goalie Nate Scullon suffered the loss for Kingsford, allowing five goals on 13 shots.

Freshman newcomer Alex Hemgren was overwhelmed as well, stopping just seven of the 11 shots fired his way.

The Flivvers were a little bit short handed in the opener, with senior forward Jake Powell not ready to go after Iron Mountain’s extended football playoff run and sophomore defenseman Seth Greenleaf was also scratched.

Kingsford, 8-17-0 last season, shows a more senior-heavy lineup than they’ve had in recent years, with seven on the roster, including the return of forward Jaxon Buckley — who did not play hockey last season. Buckley debuted on the first line alongside seniors Gavin Moore and Jake Crockford, who combined for the bulk of Kingsford’s scoring a season ago. Moore was fifth in the Great Lakes Conference with 19 goals last year, while Crockford added 10 more scores.

Other top returning offensive players for the Flivvers include junior Jake Deuter, who produced 11 points (5G-6A) last season, Powell, who had four goals and four assists, senior Jack Supanich who contributed three goals and two assists, and sophomore Jack Spreen with five points (3G-2A) as a freshman.

Kingsford’s remaining seniors Evan Moyer and Cooper Pigeon shore up the defense, joined by junior Will Murvich — who played offense and some defense a year ago and led the team with 13 assists. The defense also includes Greenleaf and sophomore Jonah Doenier.

The Flivvers have four freshmen on the team in Hemgren, forward Wyatt Lucas and defensemen Trinton Paynter and Carter Steber. Junior forward Cameron Stratton also worked his way back onto the varsity roster.

Ian Weber, Dennis Murvich, Gust Junttila and Ryan Pepin all return to Wadge’s coaching staff this season.

Tonight’s game against the Miners will feature the annual Teddy Bear toss where fans are encouraged to bring a new stuffed animal to throw on the ice after the Flivvers’ first score of the game. The stuffed toys are collected and donated to local emergency responders, charities and crisis centers. Admission is only $1 for those who bring a teddy bear to toss.