Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjacks

Head coach: Shea Walters, sixth season

Key departures: G Kyle Abrahmson (3.96 GAA, .875 save percentage); G Jacob Walsh (4.63 GAA, .870 save percentage); F Wyatt Mrozik (4-3—7); D Carter Salo (2-5—7); F Aaron Ermatinger (4-3—7)

CLOQUET-ESKO-CARLTON

Returning starters: Sr. F Patrick Dunaiski (13-9—22); Sr. F Dayne Painovich (9-7—16); Sr. D Lucas Rauner (1-13—14); Sr. F Noah Knutson (3-10—13); Fr. D Karson Young (3-10—13); Jr. F Jace Stewart (4-6—10); Jr. F Joey Antonutti (9-5—14); Jr. D Gino Bertogliat (0-2—2)

2022-23 SCHEDULE (home games in ALL CAPS)

Nov. 29 — at Hibbing/Chisholm, 7 p.m.

Dec. 3 — BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON, 3 p.m.

Dec. 8 — DULUTH DENFELD, 7 p.m.

Dec. 13 — at Proctor, 7 p.m.

Dec. 15 — DULUTH EAST, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 — GRAND RAPIDS, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22 — MOUNDS VIEW, 7 p.m.

Dec. 27 — at Heritage Classic, TBD

Dec. 28 — at Heritage Classic, TBD

Dec. 29 — at Heritage Classic, TBD

Jan. 3 — at Stillwater, 7 p.m.

Jan. 6 — at Brainerd, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 12 — DULUTH MARSHALL, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14 — at Coon Rapids, 7 p.m.

Jan. 17 — at Grand Rapids, 7 p.m.

Jan. 20 — HOLY ANGELS, 7 p.m.

Jan. 24 — at Rock Ridge, 7 p.m.

Jan. 27 — BEMIDJI, 7 p.m.

Jan. 31 — FOREST LAKE, 7 p.m.

Feb. 2 — at Hermantown, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 — CHAMPLIN PARK, 3 p.m.

Feb. 6 — at Duluth East, 7 p.m.

Feb. 9 — at Superior, 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 — at Elk River/Zimmerman, 3 p.m.

Feb. 14 — NORTHERN EDGE, 7 p.m.

Outlook: The Lumberjacks were young and inexperienced last season, graduating just three skaters off the 2021-22 squad, but this season looks much more promising.

CEC returns its top seven scorers from last season and, even better, the Lumberjacks will be adding a group from a state tournament Bantam team that will “help fill some roles,” according to coach Shea Walters.

“Partnering with a hardworking junior and senior group, we should have a lot more depth,” Walters said. “We had a great off season where everyone bought in and worked hard. We are looking to use that to jumpstart our season.”

Joining the Lumberjacks this season will be Niko Gentilini, Bobby Thornton, Cole Painovich, Leo Luense, Brudy Dushkin, Grady Knutson and Hudson Snesrud.

The Lumberjacks will need to improve their scoring after averaging just more than two goals per game last year.

“We are going to need to get scoring from all over,” Walters said. “We will need to rely on several guys to score — not just one individual player.”

- Jamey Malcomb, News Tribune

2021-22 RESULTS RECORD: 8-17-2

Nov. 26 — Andover, L, 4-0

Nov. 27 — at Minnetonka, L, 5-1

Nov. 30 — HIBBING/CHISHOLM, W, 4-3

Dec. 4 — at Bloomington Jefferson, W, 2-0

Dec. 9 — at Duluth Denfeld, L, 6-2

Dec. 14 — PROCTOR, W, 4-2

Dec. 18 — at Champlin Park, L, 3-1

Dec. 21 — at Grand Rapids, L, 6-0

Dec. 23 — at Holy Angels, T, 3-3

Dec. 28 — BLAKE, L, 6-2

Dec. 29 — Centennial, L, 8-0

Dec. 30 — Hill-Murray, L, 6-2

Jan. 6 — BRAINERD, W, 3-2

Jan. 7 — STILLWATER, L, 6-1

Jan. 15 — ELK RIVER/ZIMMERMAN, L, 8-1

Jan. 18 — GRAND RAPIDS, L, 10-1

Jan. 20 — at Duluth Marshall, W, 4-2

Jan. 24 — at Duluth East, L, 4-1

Jan. 25 — ROCK RIDGE, W, 3-0

Jan. 28 — at Bemidji, T, 3-3

Jan. 31 — at Forest Lake, L, 4-3

Feb. 3 — HERMANTOWN, L, 8-0

Feb. 7 — DULUTH EAST, L, 4-3

Feb. 10 — SUPERIOR, W, 5-2

Feb. 12 — HOLY FAMILY, L, 4-3

Feb. 19 — DULUTH MARSHALL, W, 3-2

Feb. 23 — at Andover, L, 7-0

Best wishes for ahealthy, winning season,CECboys&girlshockey!

Hawks

From Page 3

Carlson spent nearly a month last season on the top line when Zam Plante was sidelined with a shoulder injury. He made the most of the opportunities he had last season with 18 goals and 12 assists.

He knows it will be a challenge without Janzig, Hanson or Zam Plante, but those players faced a similar task last season.

“Obviously, we lost a bunch of top end guys, but we’re going to have new guys coming in that have to fill roles,” Carlson said. “A bunch of the new people that are coming in this year, they’re going to have to step up a lot. It was the same with the returners last year, they had to step into roles they hadn’t come through yet and overcome all the adversity we had.”

While Andrews was unable to work with the team until Nov. 14 because of state rules, Kohanski, Carlson and Peterson were running captains’ practices to help get everyone ready for the new season.

“At these captains’ practices, we’re just trying to pick up the tempo and try to get to game speed,” Peterson said. “We want to create that chemistry because we’ve got a lot a question marks and a lot of new players that are going to be stepping up to play big roles.”

Andrews knows the team will be very different from last season and Hermantown has talent, but will take time for the team to round into shape.

“I think we’ll be incredibly strong defensively and not give much up and then be opportunistic offensively and find our way as we go,” Andrews said.

“Hopefully by Christmas we know what we have. It’s a little different team — I think we’re going to be good, it’s just a matter of when.”