ALPENA, MI - Alpena scored two third period goals and advanced to the Regional Semi-Finals with a 4-1 victory over Cheboygan on Wednesday night at Northern Lights Arena.  After killing off two early penalties, the Wildcats were able to fire home a rebound off the stick of Tanner Orban.  Cheboygan's Scott Pavwoski stopped both a point shot by Evan Kraenzlein and the rebound by Anden Marceau but could not stop Orban's third shot.

Cheboygan slowly began to seize the momentum and used their speed to generate several odd-man rushes.  After Collin Lightfoot made a big stop on a breakaway the Chiefs got the puck to the point for another shot attempt.  Ethan Lindle fired the puck towards the net that was deflected by an Alpena stick and into the net to tie the game at 1-1.  Alpena seized control of the game later in the period when Orban scored his second of the night with 3:41 left.  Orban gained control of a loose puck deep in the Cheboygan zone, outskated the defenders, and beat Pavwoski on a beautiful juke to give Alpena the 2-1 lead.

The Wildcats added to their lead early in the third thanks to a shorthanded goal when Anden Marceau buried a rebound from a point shot by Blaise Keller just three minutes into the period.  A minute later, Mitch Agius turned and fired a shot from the top of the face-off circle that found its way through the crowd and into the upper part of the net to extend the Wildcat lead to 4-1.  

Alpena advances to the Regional Semi-Final against Gaylord on Saturday night at 7pm at Northern Lights Arena.  Tawas and Sault Ste Marie will face-off in the other semi-final at 4pm.