Calumet forward Luca Matous scores a goal against University of Detroit Jesuit during a game Friday at the Calumet Colosseum. (Paula Porter/For the Gazette)

CALUMET — The Calumet Copper Kings hockey team appeared to be in control of their matchup with the Brother Rice Warriors Saturday night at the Calumet Colosseum after Brendan Boberg scored his second goal of the night, and second of the second period, to give the Copper Kings a 3-1 lead.

The Warriors scored six times in the third period to steal the game away from the Copper Kings and win, 7-4.

Less than two minutes into the third period the Copper Kings took advantage of a power-play opportunity against their opponent, and scored their fourth goal of the night. When co-captain Cam Anderson scored on a 5-on-3 just 1:22 in.

But the Warriors were not deterred.

“I told the guys in between periods that they were playing well. I just thought they were being too fancy with the puck,” said Warriors coach Kenny Chaput. “There is something to be said for just putting the puck on net and seeing what happens, as opposed to waiting for the perfect shot.”

Brother Rice’s second goal of the night came courtesy of Nico Haiji, who launched a line drive from the point and it found the net at 1:49.

“Nico gets the game puck,” said Chaput. “He set the tone with that goal and that started the scoring spree.”

It was then hockey “as usual” between these two teams until around the 10-minute mark of the period. The game then tilted the Warriors’ way.

Aiden Agbay found himself in the right spot at the right time in front of the Calumet net and was able to push one in to make it a 4-3 game at 7:10.

Less than three minutes later, Brother Rice’s Davis Belt tied it at 4-4 with a slap shot at the top of the right circle that sailed past traffic and found the net.

While the Copper Kings tried to regroup, Brother Rice (7-6) gave them little time to get up and delivered a one-two knockout punch within a 40-second span at around the five-minute mark. First came the go-ahead goal on a breakaway by the Warriors’ Christian Haiji at 11:08, and they then made it 6-4 with Belt getting his second 24 seconds later.

They scored an empty netter at 16:41 when Johnny Kunz found the net.

“Our guys showed some depth tonight,” said Chaput. “They stepped up to the challenge and that was good to see there at the end.”

Calumet opened the scoring 8:51 into the game when Anderson scored his first of the night. Nels Loukus picked up the assist.

After the Warriors evened the game on a goal from Christian Haji at 11:53 of the second, Brendan Boberg regained the lead for the Copper Kings at 14:28. Luca Matous and Brady Boberg assisted on the goal.

Brendan Boberg struck again on the power play to put the Copper kings up 3-1 going into the third at 16:26. Erik Loukus and Nels Loukus both earned assists on the goal.

Copper Kings goaltender Hunter Tuoriniemi took the loss.

COPPER KINGS FALL FRIDAY, 5-4

Leading 4-2 going into the third period, the Copper Kings appeared to be in the driver’s seat against the University of Detroit Jesuit Cubs on Friday night. However, the Cubs struck three times in the final frame to earn the win, 5-4.

Brendan Boberg led the Copper Kings’ attack with a pair of goals in the game, and he added an assist as well.

Matous and Kobe Solomonson both notched a goal each as well.

Nathan Londo and Anderson both picked up a pair of assists. Erik Loukus and Luke Hamlin each had one.

Tuoriniemi made 21 saves in the loss for Calumet.

UP NEXT

The Copper Kings return to action Tuesday night when they face the Jeffers Jets at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena at 7 p.m.