Local Hockey Players Named To UMHS Elite Hockey League

Contributed Photo:

July 24, 2012

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Three players from Cloquet-Esko-Carlton and a pair of players from Hermantown will help to represent the area in the Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League, which will open with training camp on August 31st.

CEC players making the team were; Karson Kuhlman as well as Beau Michaud and Westin Michaud. Hermantown players named to the Northern Team are; Jake Zeleznikar and Neal Pionk.

Senior to be Beau Michaud and juniors to be Kuhlman and Westin Michaud make up the high flying first line of the Lumberjacks. Last season the three each crossed the 50 point plateau to team up for 69 goals and 91 assists for a whopping 160 points.

Beau Michaud
hopes and believes the line will be left intact while playing for the North Team. “This team is usually made up of seniors, but Karson and Westin really are that good so they made the team as juniors. It will help when the regular (high school) season gets here if we have some time together under our belts.”

Pionk played a regular shift all season as a sophomore on a deep, senior laden Hawks team that won the Lake Superior Conference and made it to the state Class A title game for the second consecutive year. Pionk finished up with 8 goals and 9 assists for 17 points. Senior to be Zeleznikar, an offensive minded defenseman with great stick handling skills scored seven goals, while racking up 22 assists during the 2011-2012 season

The North Team will play 21 games between September 8th and October 21st. The Northern Team will be coached by Pat Guyer as well as, Mitch Ryan and Jake Taylor.

Defending state Class 1A champion St. Thomas Academy has the most players in the league with eight; Eden Prairie has seven players on Elite League rosters while Edina and Duluth East each have six.

The Elite League is highly scouted by NHL and college coaches and features the top players in the state of Minnesota.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com

“It will make for a long season, but its good because when the high school season gets here we will have 20 games under our belt and be ready to go.” stated Beau Michaud, the senior member of the line.“This also gives us the opportunity to play against some of the best high school players in the state.”