Hermantown Tops CEC, Advances In Playoffs

Wes Vork-NSO

Click Here For The Complete Game Box Score

For Additional Photos Click Here To View Our Complete Photo Gallery

Oct 16

Wes Vork-NSO

It has often been said that fans are the “twelfth man” and can make quite a difference in a game. In today’s quarterfinal playoff game between Hermantown and CEC the “twelfth man” made quite a difference. Despite the fans from both schools being very enthusiastic, they weren’t the difference. Today the “twelfth man” was a ferocious north wind which played a part in the Hawks 3-2 victory over CEC.

The Lumberjacks started with the wind at their back and quickly capitalized when Sam Longseth scored in the 3rd minute on a ball made hard to judge by the wind. Hunter Leon picked up the assist on the goal. In the 15th minute Landen Straub put the Jacks up 2-0 when he jumped on an errant clearing attempt and scored with Austin Cossalter assisting on the play.

In what really was the difference in the game, Conner Kanuit, assisted by Isak Abukhodair scored into the wind in the 27th minute of the first half cutting the Jacks lead to 2-1. Despite several chances by the Jacks, the game remained 2-1 at the half.

Hermantown Head Coach Dave Thompson talked about the wind after the game, telling Northland Sports Online, “sometimes the wind is an advantage, sometimes it is a disadvantage, it often comes down to just a bounce here and there, which we managed to get today.”

Like the Jacks in the first half, the Hawks were able to get two goals with the wind at their back. Abukhodair tied the game in the 44th minute with Pat Sirois assisting. With 22:54 remaining on the clock and with an assist from Kanuit, Kyle Nielson scored what would be the game winning goal giving the Hawks a 3-2 lead. Unlike the Hawks, CEC was unable to score going into the wind in the second half. After the game, CEC Head Coach Archie Clark commented, “The wind was the decider today.”

The Jacks did have one last chance when they were fouled and awarded a kick from about 20 yards out, but could not get it off as time expired, sending the Hawks out with the 3-2 victory.

In the 47th minute, the Cloquet faithful got a real scare when a Hermantown player and goalie Brock Anderson collided, forcing him to come out of the game. Already without starting goalie Jarad Weeks, the Jacks were forced to send midfielder Derek Anderson into the game wearing a goalie jersey. As play resumed, Brock Anderson shook off the cobwebs and went to midfield to re-enter the game. In a real show of class, Hermantown’s Abukhodair kicked the ball out of bounce allowing Brock Anderson to re-enter.

Coach Thompson was not surprised by Abukhodair’s actions, “That’s the way the sport is supposed to be played, He plays hard but he definitely plays the game the right way.”

Hawks netminder Aaron Luhm made 7 saves in the victory while Brock Anderson made 5 saves for CEC.

With the win Hermantown advances and will travel to Grand Rapids on Tuesday to take on the #1 seed Thunderhawks, winners of their playoff game against Eveleth-Gilbert by a score of 2-1. The Jacks end their season with a record of 7-9-1.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com