CEC Boys Drop Season Opener

Chris Shevich-NSO

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Nov 30

Kerry Rodd-NSO

CLOQUET – Grand Rapids used a strong fore-check early in the game and an opportunistic offense in a 4-1 boys hockey victory over Cloquet-Esko-Carlton in Cloquet on Tuesday night.

The Thunderhawks outshot the Jacks 33-24 for the game and jumped on CEC with a pair of first period goals. Jace Luoma and Jordan Stejskal notched markers at 8:16 and 14:30 in the opening stanza to give the Thunderhawks an early edge.

Both teams took a pair of penalties in the second period, but the Thunderhawks were the only ones that could convert their chances into a goal. At 4:32 of the second period it was Zach Dick, who ended up with a goal and an assist, pumping a shot past CEC netminder Boyd Smith. Then at 6:31 of the second it was the only goal of the game for CEC when senior center Jack McFarlane scored with the assists going to Nolan Meyer and Ben Michaud.

The lone goal of the final period was by Thunderhawks forward Patrick Moore at the four minute mark. Moore finished with a goal and an assist and Luoma did the same.

For the night the Thunderhawks went 1-for-4 on the power play, while CEC went 0-for-4 with the man advantage.

Dom DeGuiseppi ended up making 23 saves on 24 shots for the Thunderhawks who improved to 1-0 on the season, while the Jacks are now 0-1.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com