CEC Boys Go 2-0-1 In Holiday Action

Wes Vork-NSO

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Dec 30

Kerry Rodd-NSO

A 4-4 overtime tie might not be exactly what the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys hockey team wanted in their final game of the Heritage Classic Hockey Tournament on Wednesday afternoon. But after going an impressive 2-0-1 in the tournament, the Jacks perhaps are starting to see solid improvement on a season that started slow by CEC standards.

Josh Gaughan gave the Bison a 1-0 lead with a power play goal at 2:58 of the first period, but CEC tied it on a power play of their own from Paul Ryan with an assist to Mark Savage at the 11:51 mark of the opening stanza.

CEC took a two-goal lead early in the second period on goals by Jack McFarlane just 12 seconds into the period and by Chaise Jokinen 3:22 into the period. The lead made it look like the Jacks were on their way to the Heritage Classic Championship. However, the Bison scored three unanswered goals by the time the second period ended. First, it was a goal at 6:57 by Aaron Rouse, then it was Gaughan at 7:53 and then it was Cody Ellefson with a score at 15:07. The Jacks found themselves entering the final period down 4-3.

The Lumberjacks stormed out in the third period with 18 shots on Bison goalie Blake Schmidt, but it wasn’t until CEC had pulled goalie Boyd Smith that they scored on a blast from the point by Tyler Tollerud with just 49 seconds remaining in regulation to tie up the game.

CEC coach Dave Esse told NSO “It’s difficult to play three consecutive games in three days, but I thought our guys showed improved mental toughness.”

Just prior to the end of regulation, the Jacks took down a Buffalo player on a breakaway and CEC entered the overtime a man down. Despite their disadvantage, the Jacks eventually killed the penalty off and took control of the extra session.

Unfortunately for CEC, they were held scoreless despite solid pressure in the Bison end of the rink in overtime and the game ended at 4-4.
Esse further stated, “We still have a lot of work to do to be contenders in Section 7AA, but we are getting better. Our goal is to continue to improve and play our best hockey come playoff time.”

CEC goalie Boyd Smith finished with 40 saves in the game.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com