Lumberjacks boys look to improve

Second-year Cloquet-Esko- Carlton boys' hockey coach Shea Walters says he's been impressed by his players' commitment to improving their craft this off-season.

"The kids stayed very active in hockey all summer and fall, including some players who competed in the Elite League," said Walters, who guided CEC to a 14-12-1 record last season and a Section 7AA semifinal appearance.

Last season, CEC was built for a strong run in the playoff, led by a handful of high-end players including three-year team scoring leader Landon Langenbrunner, a dynamic senior centerman. But a 5-2 loss to Duluth East in the second round of the playoffs was a difficult pill to swallow, Walters said.

"We have a lot to prove this year," Walters said. "Everyone had high expectations a year ago, and when you don't get to State and lose to East in the tourney, it left a sour taste in our mouths."

This season, the 'Jacks are committed to making a deeper push in the playoffs, Walters said, but they'll have to do so without defenseman Mason Langenbrunner, one of the state's elite underclassmen who transferred to powerhouse Eden Prairie.

"It's an opportunity for young players to step up on the back end," Walters said of losing Langenbrunner, who verbally committed to Harvard earlier this summer.

The 'Jacks will again be an extremely hard-working outfit - a staple of CEC hockey, Walters said.

"We expect to be a top-10 team in the state - hard on the puck, gritty all over the ice and high-octane offensively," Walters said. "We prefer to play with the puck in our opponents' end of the rink, keeping it out of our end as much as possible. We'll roll three fairly balanced lines and, as always, be strong on the back end."

From top to bottom, the 'Jacks are deeper than a year ago, Walters said.

CEC returns junior forward Christian Galatz (16 goals, 31 points), senior forwards Aaron Moore (4, 22) and Cole Ketola (8, 16), junior defenseman Cade Anderson (2, 10) and senior goaltender Owen Carlson (8-9-1, 2.54 goals against average, .902 save percentage).

"Galatz, Moore and Ketola all should have good years, and Carlson should be strong in goal," Walters said.

"We return a strong group of juniors, who came up from bantams and most didn't get a lot of varsity time a year ago. Their continued development will be key."

Galatz will shoulder a heavy load for the 'Jacks early in the season, Walters said, as his younger, skilled and less-experienced teammates adjust to the heightened speed and physicality of varsity hockey.

Galatz is "fun to watch, a guy who doesn't shy away from playing in the hard areas on the rink," Walters said.

The Jacks hosted Greenway and Woodbury in round-robin scrimmages Saturday, as they continued to prepare for their season, home and Lake Superior Conference opener versus Proctor at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21.

Andover is the heavy favorite in 7AA, with CEC, Duluth East and Grand Rapids in the mix. All four teams will be difficult "outs," Walters said. The defending section champion Greyhounds are rebuilding big-time, and the young, skilled Thunderhawks are a team to be avoided in a semifinal.

Walters and his coaching staff are also investing considerable time to develop the CEC youth program. "Communicating with our youth coaches and keeping them and their players engaged with the high school program are super-high priorities, because they're the future of our program," Walters said.

Cloquet graduate Howie Hanson cut his journalism teeth as a sportswriter for the former Pine Knot from 1971-74. Contact him at [email protected]

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CEC boys hockey schedule

Nov. 21 – Proctor, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 23 – at Chaska, 4 p.m.

Dec. 3 – at Stillwater, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 5 – Duluth Denfeld, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 – Bloomington Jefferson, 2 p.m.

Dec. 12 – Duluth East, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 17 – at Hibbing, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 – at Eastview, 7 p.m.

Dec. 27 – at Hill-Murray, 5 p.m.

Jan. 2 – Eagan, 7 p.m.

Jan. 3 – Holy Angels, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 7 – Duluth Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 – at Eden Prairie, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14 – at Grand Rapids, 7 p.m.

Jan. 21 – at Virginia, 7 p.m.

Jan. 24 – Bemidji, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 – Forest Lake, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 – at Hermantown, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 1 – at Holy Family, 3 p.m.

Feb. 3 – at Duluth East, 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 – White Bear Lake, 1 p.m.

Feb. 11 – Grand Rapids, 7:30 p.m.

Note: All home games at Northwoods Credit Union Arena

Cloquet youth tournaments

Dec. 6-8 – Squirt A

Dec. 13-15 – Squirt B

Dec. 27-29 – Pee Wee B2

Jan. 3-5 – Bantam B2

Jan. 10-12 – Bantam AA-A

Jan. 24-26 – Pee Wee AA-A

Jan. 31-Feb. 2 – U10 B Girls

Feb. 7-9 – U12 B Girls

Feb. 14-16 – Mite 2, Mite 1 Jamborees; U8 Girls Jamboree