SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - The Alpena Hockey team surrendered three third period goals and fell to the Houghton Gremlins in the Division 3 Quarterfinals, 4-1, on Wednesday night at Big Bear Arena.  The Gremlins carried the play for most of the opening period as the Wildcats struggled to mount any type of offensive attack.  Houghton finally broke the scoreless tie with 9:56 to go in the first when Justin Norkol fired a point shot that somehow found its way through a crowd and past Cooper Black.  The Wildcats seemed to find their legs in the second period as they began to flip the ice in the direction of the Gremlins net.  The effort paid off late in the period when Charlie Halleck was able to get the puck past Gremlin netminder Jimmy Pietila off the goalmouth scramble.  The goal ignited the nearly 400 fans and students that made the trip from Alpena as the Wildcats seemed to take momentum.  The Gremlins quickly grabbed it back for good when Jett Heinonen broke the 1-1 tie just two and a half minutes into the third period.  Seth Francois would extend the lead to 3-1 and Narkol would add a second goal on the night to push the final tally to 4-1.  Alpena finishes the season 23-5-1, which ties the school record for wins in a season.  The Wildcats also won the Big North Conference and their first Regional Championship since 2012.