Kuhlman’s Overtime Goal Nets CEC 4-3 Win Over Superior

Wes Vork-NSO

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Jan 13

Wes Vork-NSO

DULUTH – It wasn’t the prettiest win of the season, but the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boy’s hockey team still managed to skate away with a 4-3 overtime win over Superior in a game played at the new Amsoil Arena in Duluth on Thursday night.

“As coaches we were very disappointed in our play,” commented CEC coach Dave Esse. “We were up 3-1 and didn’t put them away and we were making horrendous mistakes.”

Adam Hanson got the Jacks on the board first at 9:41 of the first period with Karson Kuhlman notching the assist, but with just 54 seconds remaining in the period the Spartans tied the game on a Taylor Olson goal to make it 1-1 after a period of play.

Hanson picked up his second goal of the game at 1:45 of the second period with rugged winger Mark Savage and crafty defenseman Chaise Jokinen picking up the assists. The Jacks went ahead 3-1 when Beau Michaud popped in a goal while flying through the air at the 12:49 mark of the second with Kaleb Kadelbach and Max Reinertson assisting and CEC led it 3-1 entering the final period.

It looked as if CEC had settled into a 3-1 win, but at 14:18 the Spartans scored a short-handed goal by Nolan Holcomber to cut the CEC lead to 3-2 on a puck that came off the end boards and bounced wildly in front of the net. The Spartans tied the game with just 12 seconds remaining after CEC goalie Boyd Smith stopped an initial shot that bounced back over to a waiting Daniel Litchke who buried it for a 3-3 tie sending the game to overtime.

Kuhlman, who is a freshman, ended the game for the Jacks when he took a rink wide pass from defenseman Drew Dincau and came from right to left in front of Spartan goalie Scott Crawford. Kuhlman dragged the puck to the far side and nudged it past Crawford for the game-winner at 2:50 of overtime giving CEC the win.

After the game, Kuhlman, who has 10 goals and 17 assists in 15 games talked about making
his jump from Bantams one of the most successful in team history. “The speed of the game is a lot different. In Bantams you have time, where here it is move, move, move.” Adding, “Jack (McFarlane), Nolan (Meyer), and Ben (Michaud) have taught me a lot. Jack takes time in the locker room and in practice to help me which has made for an easy transition.”

“It is a great place to play,” said Kuhlman of Amsoil Arena. “I have never played in a big building like this and it was awesome.”

For the game CEC goalie Smith made 21 saves on 24 shots and Crawford finished with 29 saves on 33 shots.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com