CEC Boys Get Impressive First Win

Chris Shevich-NSO

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Dec 5

Kerry Rodd-NSO

CLOQUET – Cloquet-Esko-Carlton has been looking for scoring on the hockey rink this season. On Saturday night the Jacks boys hockey team found just what they were looking for and as a result they posted an impressive 7-2 win over the Buffalo Bison for the first win of the season.

Things looked bleak early for the Jacks when Buffalo scored just 42 seconds into the game on a blistering shot from Cody Elletson that beat CEC goaltender Boyd Smith for a 1-0 Bison lead. The Jacks tied the game on a weird shot from the point. A puck on rolling on edge was fed by Ricky Nelson to Chaise Jokinen who shot the knuckle puck towards the Bison cage. Goalie Blake Schmidt made the initial save, but the rebound bounced to Mark Savage who stuffed it in for a 1-1 tie and that is how things ended after the first period.

In the second period, the Lumberjacks stormed the Bison net and put the game away with an impressive fore-check. First it was a goal from Paul Johnson at 3:19, and then it was a power play tally by Jack McFarlane at 5:50. McFarlane’s goal was assisted by Ben Michaud and Johnson. After a goal on the power play at 6:39 by the Bison the Jacks notched another goal from McFarlane at 8:48, a goal from Adam Hanson at 9:40 and yet another marker by Tony Wilcox at 11:24. In all the Jacks rammed home five goals in the period in a span of 8:05. It was a very impressive display of offense from a team that has been looking to find much needed scoring this season.

The lone CEC third period goal came from Max Reinertson with a minute left in the game to make it 7-2.

McFarlane finished with two goals and Johnson also had a two-point night with a goal and an assist. Smith made 17 saves on 19 shots and Schmidt made 31 saves on 38 shots by the Lumberjacks.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com

Wes Vork-NSO