CEC girls hockey defeats defending section champs

The Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls hockey team got off to a fast start Thursday night as the Lumberjacks defeated defending section champion Proctor-Hermantown by a score of 4-2 at Northwoods Credit Union Arena. On Saturday, however, it was the CEC who was knocked off by Anoka-Spring Lake Park by the same 4-2 margin.

Thursday the ’Jacks got off to a quick start, scoring four goals in the first period as CEC completed all the scoring they would need in the two-goal victory.

Dana Jones started the scoring at 1:04 of the first period with an assist to Lauren Cawcutt.

Taylor Nelson scored her first goal of the season at 9:11 of the period as Emily Litchke provided the lone assist.

Fifty-two seconds later, CEC made it 3-0 as Dea Deleon scored on the power play with assists coming from Tenley Stewart and Kiana Bender.

“It was nice to see Taylor score right away. She’s been so busy with volleyball for Carlton, but she made the transition so smoothly back onto the ice, and a lot has to do with her senior leadership and work ethic,” head coach Courtney Olin said. “I’ve said we are such a young team in the past — I can’t do that anymore because we have seniors that have been around now for 4-5 years, and that we are one of the more experienced teams in the section.”

The Lumberjacks’ final goal of the period and the game came at 13:23 of the first when Bella Harriman notched an even strength goal and Bender picked up her second assist of the period. Deleon also added an assist on the Harriman goal.

Freshman Araya Kiminski picked up the win in nets for CEC as she stopped 19 of the 21 shots she faced on the night.

“We got off to a very fast start in the Proctor-Hermantown game,” Olin said. “We had some puck luck, which helped. Considering we didn’t have too many practices with all the girls involved in fall sports and several playing in state tournaments, it was just a nice start against a very good team.”

Saturday it was Anoka-Spring Lake Park striking first as they built up a quick 2-0 lead over CEC before Kiana Bender scored at the 15:25 mark of the period to cut the lead to 2-1. Her linemates Deleon and Nelson both assisted on her goal. Following a scoreless second period, Maddie Mashuga scored her second goal of the game for the Panthers which made it 3-1 early in the third.

Tenley Stewart scored her second goal of the season to cut the lead back to one goal at 14:01 of the third with less than two minutes remaining in the game. The Panthers sealed the win with an empty net goal with just 24 seconds remaining in the contest.

“We had four power play chances to score but just couldn’t get the puck in the net and sometimes that’s how it goes,” Olin said. “We have a tough schedule coming up, so we will work hard at getting better each and every practice.”

The Lumberjacks played in Brainerd Tuesday night against Brainerd-Little Falls. On Saturday they will travel down to face Orono in the Twin Cities.