Cloquet Comes Up Just Short Against East

Dan Saletel-NSO

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Feb 9

Kerry Rodd-NSO

CLOQUET – Call it gutsy, call it showing heart, call it whatever you want, but the undermanned Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys hockey team gave another remarkable effort on Tuesday night in a 4-3 loss at home to Duluth East.

Playing with a lineup that has been depleted due to injuries, the Lumberjacks still found a way to keep things tight and give themselves a chance to win at the end of regulation.

The Greyhounds went up 2-0 in the first period on goals by Kenny Mellin and Nate Repensky, but the Jacks rallied to tie the game in the second period. At 4:12 of the second period, the Jacks scored just one second after a power play ended to pull to within 2-1. The goal was scored by Jack McFarlane with Ben Michaud assisting. CEC then tied the game at 10:51 on a goal by Adam Hanson from the left of goalie Joe Jeanetta, off of a pass that was delivered by Max Reinertson. At the end of the second, the game was deadlocked at 2-2.

Unfortunately, the Jacks were unable to hold off the Hounds, who finally broke through with a pair of goals by Dom Toninato at 5:01 and 11:19 to give East a 4-2 lead. With 2:04 remaining in regulation, the Jacks pulled netminder John Scheuer for an extra attacker and the move paid off with a goal from Mark Savage on a goal mouth scramble. Assisting on Savage’s goal were Michaud and Corbin Morse. The goal came with 1:08 left in regulation.

The final minute of the game was played in the East zone with the Lumberjacks mounting a furious attack in an attempt to tie the game, but the puck was continually swept out of harms way by the East defense or stopped by Jeanetta, who finished with 19 saves.

Scheuer, just a sophomore, was again spectacular in the nets for CEC by making 29 saves.

CEC was hoping for a third straight impressive win after beating Hermantown last Thursday in overtime and beating Anoka on Saturday, but they fell just a tad bit short in the wild scramble at the end of regulation.

The Jacks will be at Stillwater on Friday night.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at Kerry@northlandsportsonline.com