Pieces coming together for young Lumberjacks team

With a lineup replete with youngsters, the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls hockey team is busy trying to figure out roles and combinations as they gear up for the winter season.

"We are still pretty young with regards to varsity playing experience," said head coach Kennedy Houge. "We only have four or five girls who had extensive varsity experience returning from last year's team."

Thus Houge and her coaching staff are in the process of trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle that will hopefully come together when playoff time arrives.

"Right now, we are trying to maneuver the puzzle pieces," Houge said. "We are trying to round the jagged edges. We are playing with line combinations and having players play different positions to figure out what works and what doesn't. We want to be playing out best at the end of the season, so it takes some patience."

Offensively, the 'Jacks return Gwen Lilly, Reese Kuklinski, Erin Loeb, Brayley Merrier, Megan Werhan and Allie Jones.

"Those players are our players who had the most varsity action last year," Houge said.

Defensively, the Lumberjacks return Emma Parks and Jose Lindstrom. They also have the option of playing Lilly at either forward or on defense.

"Emma and Josie both played a lot last year and will anchor the blue line for us," Houge said. "We also have toyed with moving Lilly back on defense so we can pair a veteran player with a younger player who is trying to learn the position at the varsity level."

Through the first four games last year, the 'Jacks were 0-4; through the same number of games this year, they are 2-2, including a 4-1 win over Bloomington Jefferson on Saturday.

"Our expectations don't change," Houge said. "Our pride is to always play solid defensively. This year we have a young team, but they are fast and they are strong, so we need to generate our offensive push from that speed. I hope that spark plugs the offense to be more aggressive."

In goal the Lumberjacks have one senior, Torrie Lane, and a couple of eighth-graders, Izzie Strang and Avery Moore, who are battling for playing time.

"Araya (Kiminski), was our goalie for a long time and now she has graduated, so those are some big shoes to fill," said Houge.

As far as the season ahead, Houge and her staff are aiming for playoffs.

"We've taken steps over last year and we have a big learning curve," said Houge. "We will put up with growing pains early in the year as long as we continue to play better each game and are ready at playoff time."

CEC next plays Orono at 3 p.m. Saturday at Northwoods Credit Union Arena, with a junior varsity game at 1 p.m.