CEC falls in Overtime

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Tuesday’s loss in the Section 7AA quarterfinals to Elk River was eerily reminiscent of the entire season for the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys hockey team.  The youthful Jacks were very seldom out of a game, but they also found themselves on the short end more often than not.  On Tuesday the Jacks fought from behind to eventually take a late lead, only to see the Elks come storming back to take a 4-3 overtime victory.

Elk River gained a 2-0 lead in the first period, but Kyle Klatt gave the Jacks a chance with a goal at the 14:00 minute mark of the opening period with an assist to Hunter Roberts to make it 2-1 after one period.

CEC tied the game at 6:43 of the second period when Dylan Johnson tucked home a shot off a pass from Jack Kuhlman and it was 2-2 after two periods.

The Lumberjacks really made things interesting in the third period when Ryan Lind slammed a shot past Elk’s goalie MacLean Berglove on the power play with James Newgren and Kuhlman adding assists.  Suddenly the 7th seeded Jacks had the #2 seed in the section reeling.  With under two minutes remaining in regulation the Elks got a goal from Reggie Lutz on a pass from Jake Jaremko that evened the score at 3-3 sending the game to overtime.

In overtime the Lumberjacks took a penalty for too many men on the ice and Elk River made the mistake hurt when Lutz scored a power play goal at 3:51 to end the game and send the Elks to the semifinal round of the tournament.

The Lumberjacks got 23 saves on 27 shots from Zack Strom, while CEC managed to put 18 shots on the Elk River net.

CEC finishes the season at 8-15-2.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com