CEC boys, new coach, aim high

Boys Hockey

The Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys hockey team is preparing to hit the ice with a new head coach and what appears to be a monster schedule featuring some of the state's premier hockey programs. Shea Walters, an assistant under Kevin Smalley last year, will now step into the lead role and becomes the third head coach in the past three years.

"The kids have responded very well," Walters said. "Kids see so many coaches growing up - not only from playing other sports, but playing hockey for other coaches in the summer as well. They have a great ability of taking information given to them and putting it into action."

Walters said working as an assistant last season helps with the transition. "That has helped dull some of the angst of having another new head coach," he said. "The staff we have put together mixes some new with some old and has been a really good combination."

The new assistant is Scott Kishel, a former Minnesota-Duluth defensemen, and the old are Adam Pavlatos and Erik Hansen - who have both been steady influences in the program the past several years.

CEC returns a roster that has 21 players returning from last year's squad, including 11 who saw significant varsity time as the team went 19-7-1. Up front the Lumberjacks have a group loaded with talent that could spell big problems for opposing teams' goaltenders.

"Landon Langenbrunner is coming off a junior season in which he had 23 goals and 22 assists with nine goals coming on the power play. Jon Baker was second on the team in scoring last year with nine goals and 21 assists as a junior. Also coming back are Gavin Rasmussen and Aaron Moore, who had 26 and 11 points respectively. Kade Bender is also a key player coming back off a small injury that hindered him last year.

The Lumberjacks will also look for leadership from blue liners Andy Acers and Nick Baker, who have both played varsity since they were sophomores and logged a ton of minutes last season in key situations. They are among 12 seniors on the CEC roster.

Goaltender Owen Carlson will return after a sparkling sophomore campaign in posting a 15-6-1 record, with a 2.36 goals against average and a saves percentage of .902.

"Owen had impressive numbers last year," Walters said. "For someone to step in as a sophomore and play as well as he did is very impressive, especially with the type of schedule we play."

Walters said CEC will play an uptempo style with focus on the forecheck - reminiscent of 'Jacks teams of the past.

"We will be a fast-skating and offensively-focused team that will look to capitalize on all situations," Walters said. "We will work extremely hard on defense and be wide open on offense. I want to see a gritty style that will make other teams pay the price when they enter our zone."

The 'Jacks schedule includes Duluth East, Lakeville North, St. Thomas Academy, Hermantown, Elk River/Zimmerman, Grand Rapids, Minnetonka and White Bear Lake.

"Our goals are to be competitive in every game and make it to the state tournament," Walters said. "We want to be a hard forechecking team that will pressure the puck all over the ice."