CEC Nearly Knocks Of #1 Seed Elk River

Feb 23

Kerry Rodd-NSO

A dramatic come-back by the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys hockey team sent their Section 7AA game into overtime against #1 seeded Elk River on Tuesday night. The end result saw the Jacks fall in double overtime 4-3 in a thrilling road game.

John Scheuer kept the Jacks in the game with brilliant goaltending throughout. However, CEC struggled to find anything offensively as they trailed 3-0 late into the second period. Then, Jack McFarlane scored on a power play, a goal that seemed to ignite the Jacks into a ferocious comeback.

The Elks took a 1-0 lead at 7:43 of the first period on a goal by Ben Jaremko with Ryan Jaremko and Chad Hennum assisting. The score went to 2-0 when Ben Jaremko scored his second goal of the game at 12:29 of the first period on a power play with Hennum and Levi Lutz assisting.

It appeared the Elks had salted the game away at 7:54 of the second period when Lutz scored with Ben Jaremko assisting. However, the game was really just beginning for both teams. McFarlane notched the Lumberjacks first goal of the game on the power play at 11:39 with Ben Michaud and Tony Wilcox getting assists. CEC carried a little momentum into the lockeroom entering the final period.

Mark Savage further sparked the emotions of the Jacks when he rammed home a goal just 2:28 into the third period with Adam Hanson picking up the assist. Things really got interesting when McFarlane scored his second of the game at 3:52 with Joey Singpiel and Justin Hammann adding the assists. The game was dead even at 3-3.

The rest of the game was a roller coaster ride of emotions as both teams took the body and play picked up, anxiousness mounting toward an exciting finale. Neither team scored in the remaining time in regulation, or in the first overtime and the game was not decided until Kyle Orock finished off a scoring chance 5:41 into the second overtime giving the Elks the win.

Scheuer finished with 41 saves on 45 shots and Elk’s goalie Anders Franke made 28 saves on 31 shots by the Jacks.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at Kerry@northlandsportsonline.com