'Jacks impress with 7-1 opening game win

A five-goal burst in the third period helped push the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys hockey team to an impressive 7-1 opening game win over Bloomington Jefferson at Northwoods Credit Union Arena on Saturday afternoon.

"Every year we play them, they give us a good game and I thought this is one of the better teams they've had as of late," said CEC coach Shea Walters. "They came out hard in the second period, but we weathered the storm and then we really got things going in the third period."

The Lumberjacks opened the season with a goal by Luca Gentilini at 16:11 into the opening period with assists going to Jordan Sewell and Hudson Snesrud. Gentilini's goal was the only goal of the opening period as CEC led 1-0. The 'Jacks outshot Jefferson 10-4 in a thoroughly dominating period.

The second period started strong for Jefferson. At 3:29, the Jaguars cashed in when Blake Dosan got a shot past CEC goalie Jamis Halverson with Mason Van Brunt picking up the lone assist. CEC answered at 8:15 of the second as Conor Sullivan gave CEC a 2-1 lead with assists going to Snesrud and Karson Young. Through two periods, the 'Jacks held an 18-14 shot advantage.

"Going into the third period our top line had not really scored, so we were happy that we got some good balanced scoring prior to the third," Walters said.

The third period was all purple as CEC went on a scoring splurge that started at 1:50 on the power play as Bobby Thornton rifled a shot past the Jaguar goalie with assists going to Grady Knutson and Snesrud, making it 3-1.

At 4:10 Knutson tallied his first goal of the season with Young and Thornton assisting.

Seven seconds after Knutson scored, the 'Jacks added another goal by Niko Gentilini with Thornton and Knutson assisting. Suddenly it was 5-1 Lumberjacks.

"I thought Karson Young was the best player on the ice," Walters said. "Prior to the season he played with the Minnesota Wilderness and you can tell he's a difference maker as well as our top line of Thornton, Niko (Gentilini) and Knutson."

Ninth-grader Jordan Sewell notched his first high school goal at 12:49 with Luca Gentilini and Sullivan providing the assists as CEC went ahead 6-1.

William Karjala ended the scoring for the Lumberjacks at the 15:39 mark with Young picking up an assist.

"It is a good way to start the season and we have high expectations," Walters said. "We have good depth, solid goaltending, good scoring balance and a good defensive corps led by one of the best defensemen in the state (Young) in my opinion."

Halverson finished with a total of 20 saves on 21 shots while Jaguar goaltender Owen Matthews made a total of 33 saves on 40 shots by the 'Jacks.

Next up for CEC was a road date with the Hibbing Blue Jackets Tuesday after this edition of the Pine Knot went to press. Hibbing downed CEC in section play last season, making it to the championship against Hermantown. The Blue Jackets are considered to be the favorites for the section along with the Hawks and the Lumberjacks.

CEC hosts Princeton at 3 p.m. Saturday.