Kingsford sophomore Jack Spreen shoots and scores during the third period for his second goal of the game against Negaunee Monday at Mountain View Ice Arena. (Ron Deuter photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Despite holding a decisive 42-18 advantage in shots, the Kingsford Flivvers found themselves on the short end of a 6-5 Great Lakes Conference varsity hockey game against Negaunee Monday evening at Mountain View Ice Arena.

The Miners (3-5-0) got four goals from senior Aydan Miles, the league leader with 11 for the season. Sophomore Jack Spreen scored twice for Kingsford — including a shorthanded marker in the third. Junior Will Murvich, senior Jake Crockford and senior captain Gavin Moore also scored for the Flivvers, who slipped to 2-4-0 with the loss.

The Miners scored first with a shot by junior Nolan O’Dovero from the top of the left circle at 7:54 of the first and never trailed, but the contest went back and forth and was knotted at 3-3 early in the second period before Negaunee scored the final three goals of the second and took a 6-3 advantage into the last period.

Goals by Spreen (6:04) and Moore (13:47) helped the Flivvers close the gap in the third period, but a furious effort to get the equalizer came up empty. The Flivvers’ 42 shots included several that hit the post throughout the game.

“I’m happy with the fact that we didn’t give up,” Flivvers head coach Greg Wadge said. “Our puck movement was good. We just can’t give up that many goals.”

Kingsford goaltender Alex Hemgren made his first varsity start and it unfortunately proved to be a rough outing for the freshman.

He allowed five goals on eight shots before being pulled with 5:18 to go in the second period.

Senior Nate Scullon allowed one more goal when Miles collected his fourth of the game by going high over Scullon’s shoulder at 14:42 of the second to make it 6-3.

But Scullon kept the Miners off the board the rest of the way as Kingsford battled hard for a comeback – with the Flivver defense limiting Negaunee to just four shots in the third period.

Miles made it 2-0 Negaunee 11:01 of the first, stealing a puck from the Flivvers in their own zone and beating Hemgren.

The Flivvers finally broke through less than a minute later on a power play when Spreen collected his first tally by tipping in a shot that originated from the top of the zone.

Murvich tied it 2-2 at 15:36 of the first with a blast through traffic from the blue line, but the Miners snuck another one in right before the period ended when Miles hit for his second goal of the game. The initial shot missed wide but the puck bounced hard off the boards and right back out in front of the net where Miles was able to pop it past Hemgren at 16:58.

Crockford tied the game 3-3 at 5:41 of the second on a Kingsford power play, taking a feed from Moore and firing a wrister from the left circle. But Negaunee answered right back.

Miles completed his hat trick at 9:47 of the second, beating Hemgren on a breakaway.

O’Dovero made it 5-3 with his second goal of the game at 11:42. He fired point blank from the slot right between Hemgren’s legs, which ended Hemgren’s evening.

Moore added three assists for the Flivvers. Freshman Wyatt Lucas assisted on the Murvich goal, and Crockford, Spreen and Murvich also had assists in the game.

Negaunee sophomore netminder Mason Swenor tallied 37 saves to aid the Miners in their first win over Kingsford since Feb. 8, 2022, snapping a five-game losing streak against the Flivvers.

Kingsford heads downstate to Bay City this weekend, looking to snap a three-game skid.

The Flivvers face Birmingham on Friday evening and St. Clair Shores on Saturday.