Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 12U B
Season Recap
CEC’s 12U B 2019-20 season (33W-5L-1T) was very successful in a number of ways on and off the ice. We had to overcome a few obstacles to even get the season started. We dealt with low numbers, had a bad stretch with illnesses, and started a goalie who was brand new to the position.
At the beginning of the season, we did not have a goalie and only had 11 skaters signed up to play. While watching a soccer game that my daughter was playing in, I noticed a girl playing goalie on the other team that did not play hockey the previous year but did as a mite and U10. She agreed to join us for the season, and she picked it up in a hurry, becoming a big part of our team success down the stretch.
Our home tournament in Cloquet was one of the highlights of the year. Both CEC and Eveleth made it through our pools to see each other in the championship. This would be our third meeting of the season with each team winning one game to that point. It was a very good game with back and forth action. Our team overcame multiple shorthanded situations including a 5-on-3 penalty kill in double overtime to eventually capture the tournament title in a shootout!
After earning the District 11 Girls 12U League and District 11 Playoff titles, the team headed off to Regions with the goal of making it to State. On paper, CEC had a tough draw as we started with Northern Lakes and Wayzata, but the team played great and earned a rematch with Eveleth in the Region final.
Throughout the year, Eveleth had become our arch rival and a top 10 team all season. Eveleth went up 2-0 in the second period, but CEC scored early in the third period to cut the score in half 2-1. CEC dominated the rest of the third but could not find a way to get another goal. Credit to the girls, they rebounded later that day and played a great game against Northern Lakes to earn the second seed to State!
The biggest thing with this team is that this group was a very fun group to coach. They all supported each other and bought in to what the coaches were trying to teach. This year’s parents were very supportive, and it showed with the way their daughters handled themselves on and off the ice. We overcame a lot of obstacles and really started to gel at the end of the year. We were a physically big team who could skate and focused on playing with skill, passion and determination. I am very proud of this team and all they have accomplished this season, but I am most proud of how they improved as hockey players and the type of character each of them possess.
Coach Rasmussen