CEC Boys Fall In Semi-Finals

Wes Vork-NSO

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Feb 26

Kerry Rodd-NSO

In any sport being able to thrive on special teams is the difference between winning and losing. In Saturday’s Section 7AA boys hockey championship game that held true again in Grand Rapids 5-1 win over Cloquet-Esko-Carlton. While the Lumberjacks went 0-4 on the power play the Thunderhawks did the opposite as they scored on all three of their extra man chances in skating away with the win at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.

“I thought we worked hard and did the best of our ability,” commented CEC coach Dave Esse. “You can only overcome so much with hard work. Their (Grand Rapids) skill level is great, they are well-coached and the better team won today.”

Jace Luoma gave the Thunderhawks a 1-0 lead at 9:36 of the first period on an even strength goal. Despite the goal the Jacks still felt like they were in the game and they had done a good job of not taking any penalties in the period, while Grand Rapids had taken two penalties.

CEC’s hopes strengthened just :22 seconds into the second period when Justin Hammann scored from just inside the blue line off assists by Nolan Meyer and Jack McFarlane, pulling the Jacks even at 1-1. That would be the last time the Jacks would tie the game.

Grand Rapids answered the CEC goal quickly with an Avery Peterson goal at 2:48, but the Jacks still felt they were in the game. At 9:12 Peterson took a minor for tripping and the Lumberjacks had some good chances, but were not able to bury the puck. Less than a minute after the Grand Rapids penalty expired, the Jacks ended up with a penalty of their own for boarding. At 13:15, and on the power play, Christian Peterson scored for Grand Rapids to make it 3-1. CEC then took an interference penalty at 15:47 and at 16:53 Zach Dick rammed a shot by the Jacks goalie Boyd Smith for a 4-1 lead.

“We took some undisciplined penalties and you can’t do that against a highly skilled team,” mentioned Esse to NSO following the game.

The Lumberjacks tried to rebound from the three-goal deficit in the final period, and they had some good chances, but Thunderhawk goalie Dom DeGuiseppi was able to thwart any and all chances in the final stanza. The game’s final goal was scored by Christian Peterson, it was another power play goal with shorthanded for high sticking, at 11:46.

Despite the 5-1 score the Lumberjacks continued to work hard at the end of the game and finished the way Coach Esse wanted them to.

“I’m very proud of our seniors. We had a couple of sub-par years and the seniors, with their hard work, were a big part of turning this around,” explained Esse. “They worked their butts off, they were out there on the last shift and still working hard and that’s all you can ask as a coach.”

Smith finished with 33 saves on 38 shots, while DeGuiseppi made 24 saves on 25 shots.

CEC finishes the season with a record of 16-9-0.
Grand Rapids will move on to face Duluth East, also 5-1 winners over Elk River in the 7AA Section Finals on March 3 at Amsoil Arena.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com