Keep an eye on CEC freshman phenom

The first thing you notice when you talk to Karson Kuhlman is that it's hard to believe he's a freshman.

The well-spoken youngster attends Esko High School, but he's turned heads for the remarkable season he had with the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton hockey program this past winter.

Kuhlman, who spent last season playing on the Cloquet Bantam A team that reached the state tournament, found himself a vital part of this year's varsity.

He scored 17 goals and added 35 assists for 52 points, finishing second on the 17-10-0 Lumberjacks in scoring.

Along the way, the quiet, thoughtful young man understood his role and credited those who helped make him successful.

"It was great," Kuhlman said. "I was put on a really good line with Nolan (Meyer) and Jack (McFarlane), and it was great for my confidence."

Kuhlman's 52 points more than tripled the school record for points by a freshman, held by Jamie Langenbrunner. That fact isn't lost on Kuhlman, either.

"It was an honor to pass something he did," Kuhlman said. "Obviously he's now playing pro hockey and has had a great career. Maybe this is a first step in working toward something like that."

For such a young age, Kuhlman has his feet planted firmly on the ground, and for that he credits his linemates and his coach.

"Nolan and Jack made space, they gave me the puck when I was open, and I tried my best to stay up with them and make plays," Kuhlman said. "They are two great players. Coach (Dave) Esse was great with me too. I think I learned more from him than I learned in a single year ever."

For his part, Esse knows the prize player he's got for three more seasons.

"He's just a great kid," Esse said. "He's not too big to do any task you ask of him, and he works very hard. He's well spoken, and he knows his role on the team."

For a CEC hockey player, roles change dependent on grade. The younger players help in the locker room and despite being the team's second-leading scorer, Kuhlman was happy to work on behalf of the team before and after practice.

"After the varsity drills, we pick up the nets, pick up the pucks and make sure the water bottles are all filled," Kuhlman said. "I do that along with (fellow freshman) Jamie Newgren. It didn't bother me to do those things - everyone in the room did them at one point in time. It's something that has to get done, so why not have the young kids do it?"

Kuhlman's team-first attitude shows through into how he saw his own role during the season.

"My strengths were more in open ice," he said, "skating, playmaking, not so much in the corners because of my size."

However, for a CEC forward player to succeed, he has to be able to play a corner game and cycle. Kuhlman knows this.

"I'm looking forward to the dryland training this summer," he said. "We met with the coaches and learned what we should work on. With me it's upper body strength and my shot."

Then he laughs.

"There isn't much I can do about my size," he adds.

Kuhlman is looking forward to seeing a few more of his bantam teammates on next season's varsity. This year's Bantam A squad came within one game of returning to state, and Kuhlman knows there are players there who can help.

"For me, adjusting to varsity was tough at first," he said. "The speed was a lot faster. But I have a lot of friends on the Bantam A team that can do it. We should be good the next couple of years."

Too, he's pleased to have helped restore the CEC program to prominence after two comparatively lean seasons.

"It was good for us to get a lot of wins for the senior class," he said. "They have gone through some tough years. It's good we won some games, but we could have won more."

Kuhlman also plays football and will run track for Esko in the spring.

"I do the sprints," he said. "Anything past 200 yards is too long for me."

Of course, it all leads back to next hockey season, and Kuhlman will have another year under his belt to add to a season that he can describe in one word.

"Exciting."