Jacks Compete In Minnesota Hockey Night On FSN

Wes Vork-NSO

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Jan 7

Kerry Rodd-NSO

A regional television audience had a chance to catch two exciting games of high school hockey at the Duluth Heritage Center on Tuesday night. The opening game saw Duluth East and Blaine tie 2-2 in overtime and game two action saw the Duluth Denfeld Hunters beat Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 3-1.

In the CEC loss to Denfeld, the Jacks were facing a team that had shut out three straight opponents. Zach Thompson, the Hunters goalie, nearly did it again. The only goal getting by him was a shot from the point by Justin Hammann that appeared to be tipped in front by Jack McFarlane.

The Hunters gained the lead when Levi Talarico scored at the 15:26 mark of the first period in a shorthanded effort. Talarico found a loose puck along the boards inside the CEC zone and managed to elude a couple of defenders and stuff the puck past Jacks goalie John Scheuer, who finished with 25 saves on 28 shots.

Hammann and the Jacks responded with the goal from the point at 4:26 of the second period knotting the score at 1-1, but Denfeld responded with a pair of goals before the end of the period.

The Hunters regained the lead when Scheuer went to play a puck behind the net in the CEC zone, only to have it take a weird bounce and end up coming back out in front of the goal. Scheuer did manage to make an acrobatic and diving save on Jason Johnson when the puck came out front. Scheuer then made two more saves, including a wild stab at the puck on a shot by Keith Tomassoni, only to have it find its way on to the stick of Collin Magnuson for a 2-1 lead.

The final goal for the Hunters was on a wild scramble in front of Scheuer with just 4:26 remaining in the second period. Andrew Doig found the loose puck in a pile up that resembled more of a goal line stand in football than a hockey game as the Hunters drew ahead 3-1.

Both Scheuer and Thompson slammed the door shut in the final period and the game ended 3-1 in favor of the Hunters.

The loss drops the Lumberjacks record to 6-7-1 overall and 3-1 in the Lake Superior Conference, while the Hunters improved to 9-3-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play. The CEC loss also ended a five-game unbeaten streak by the Jacks.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com