No puck luck for Lumberjacks

Organizers for Hockey Day Cloquet couldn't have asked for a more picturesque setting than what everyone saw Saturday. A fluffy white snow fell all day long, the smell of cookies, popcorn and burgers emanated from food vendor stands, and an energetic crowd surrounded the hockey rink at Veterans Park. Unfortunately, the CEC boys hockey team struggled to put pucks past the Sartell goalie as the Lumberjacks fell in overtime 2-1 in the second game of a varsity and junior varsity quadrupleheader, with the girls teams playing later in the afternoon.

"The day was fantastic," said CEC coach Shea Walters. "You couldn't have asked for a better day. I was just so proud to be the coach of this team and in this community."

The snow turned out to be a problem, as there were numerous stoppages during the games. The Lake Superior Warriors hockey team, made up of disabled military veterans, shoveled the rink off as needed, sometimes as much as twice each period when the snow was falling at its heaviest.

"It was such a special day for all of us because, if you've ever seen the movie, "Mystery, Alaska," it almost reminded you of that whole scenario," Walters said. "My son (Archer), who plays in the Squirt program, was also on the ice to help hold the American flag and that made it even more special."

CEC dominated time of possession and shots on goal after the first period and continued that effort in the second. But sometimes the hockey gods don't oblige, and at 10:35 of the second it was Caden Vos scoring for Sartell with assists going to Keaton Landowski and Isaac Mentzer.

"I felt like we outplayed them the entire game," Walters said. "We just didn't get the right bounce at the right time."

Despite the 1-0 deficit, the Lumberjacks continued to pressure the Sabres net and, after two periods, held a 23-8 shot advantage.

"We are usually a puck-possession type of team, and the snow and the ice got a bit bumpy, which caused us some problems," Walters said. "We needed to get to the hard areas and to create chaos in front of their net."

CEC broke through to tie the game at 6:56 of the third period when the team's scoring leader Grady Knutson converted off nice passes from Niko Gentilini and Karson Young, making it 1-1. The goal was the 19th on the season for Knutson, whose dad, Nate Knutson, spearheaded Hockey Day Cloquet.

"That was really textbook movement by that group of guys," Walters said.

The 'Jacks held a 35-14 edge in shots as they kept peppering Sabres goalie Adam Holien with shots, but the senior was able to hold off the CEC charge. Eventually the game went to overtime.

"We need to keep things in perspective, and that is the fact that we played well, but we just couldn't get the puck in the net - and that's hockey," Walters said.

Sartell ended the affair on a shot from in close with four minutes gone in overtime, giving the Sabres the 2-1 win.

CEC held a 36-15 shot advantage. The loss dropped the Lumberjacks record to 13-2.