Girls hockey preview: Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

110719.S.PJ.GirlsPux_CEC.jpg — Cloquet-Esko-Carlton defenseman Tenley Stewart takes the puck away from Proctor/Hermantown's Kaydee High during the 2018-19 season. (Pine Journal file photo)

By Jamey Malcomb

November 07, 2019 at 5:20 AM

Head coach: Courtney Olin

Assistant coaches: Courtney Josefson, Dave Esse, Kennedy Houge, Paddy Elsmore

Returning starters: Taylor Nelson, sr.; Kiana Bender, sr.; Dea DeLeon, sr.; Tenley Stewart, soph.; Emmie Ellena, sr.; Jenna Zdebski, sr.

New faces to watch: Araya Kiminski and Lauren Maslowski will compete for a starting goaltender spot, according to head coach Courtney Olin.

Team strengths: The Lumberjacks have a strong senior class, returning their top five point leaders from 2018-19.

Biggest challenge: “An incredibly tough Section 7A," Olin said. “At the end of the season, four 7A teams were ranked in the 'Top 10 Let’s Play Hockey' rankings.”

Coach’s assessment: “We are returning 17 of our 20 former varsity players, with a strong senior class who are leaders both on and off the ice. We will be looking to fill a starting goaltender spot and hope to be competitive in a very tough section 7A.”

By Jamey Malcomb

Jamey Malcomb has a been high school sports reporter for the Duluth News Tribune since October 2021. He spent the previous six years covering news and sports for the Lake County News-Chronicle in Two Harbors and the Cloquet Pine Journal. He graduated from the George Washington University in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in history and literature and also holds a master's degree in secondary English education from George Mason University.

Girls hockey preview: Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

Lumberjacks return bevy of starters, but play in one of the toughest sections in the state; first home game Thursday, Nov. 7, against Proctor