GRAND RAPIDS HOCKEY VS CLOQUET-JAN 2025 -GOES INTO OVERTIME-YANMAR ARENA GRAND RAPIDS MN-HIGH SCHOOL

Grand Rapids Thunderhawks face the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjackets in Grand Rapids Minnesota-Jan 14th 2025-Rapids wins the hard fought game 4 to 3 in overtime-Plus the Squirts play between periods and the Grand Rapids High School Pep Band provides rousing music-
Grand Rapids 4, Cloquet/Esko/Carlton 3

GRAND RAPIDS — Seth Carlson and Dylan Clayton lifted the Thunderhawks to an overtime victory after Grand Rapids entered the third period down a goal to the Lumberjacks.

The pair of junior forwards were exactly what the Thunderhawks needed Tuesday night at Yanmar Arena, combining for all four team goals as they chipped away at three leads to force overtime.



CEC got an early lead, beating Carter Casey at 2:16 in the first period. Carlson answered four minutes later with his first of the night with help from Nathan Garski and Job Carpenter.

The Lumberjacks answered right back to take a 2-1 lead into the second period.

Two minutes into the second, Clayton scored his first of the season, bringing the game to 2-2. He was assisted by Garski and Carlson.

Another quick response by CEC gave them a 3-2 lead that they would hold the remainder of the second period.

The Thunderhawks’ forecheck was aggressive at the start of the third and it paid-off when Clayton scored his second of the game at 2:17, assisted by Garski. The two teams stayed locked at 3-3 through regulation.

Head coach Grant Clafton stayed with his hot hands in Garski, Clayton and Carlson in the overtime, and they didn’t wait long to finish off the Lumberjacks to complete their comeback.

Two minutes into the extra period, Clayton collected the puck deep in the Lumberjacks zone and circled the net to find Carlson in the slot, and he wouldn’t miss, securing the win with his second of the game and sixth of the season.

Grand Rapids’ top line of Carlson, Clayton and Garski combined for 12 points in the game - Clayton and Carlson each with two goals and an assist, and Garski with three helpers.

Carlson is on fire as of late. He’s tallied eight points in his last four games, but none bigger than his overtime winner Tuesday. Clayton has totaled five points in his last three games, and picked the perfect time to net his first two goals of the season. After the game, Clafton says he’s taken notice of Carlson’s and Clayton’s recent efforts:

“I thought Dylan Clayton was great tonight. Awesome to see Seth get going, he's starting to get hot, which is what we need. [Clayton] He’s been getting better all year long. He’s just a good hockey player and he loves this team and I think that just propels him,” Clafton said in the locker room following the win.

Carlson scored 22 points in 23 points last season as a sophomore and it’s a great sign for Clafton and the Thunderhawks to see him picking up the pace, along with Clayton as the team is down to their final ten.

They have a tough stretch of games on the horizon, and Clafton says it’s go-time for this team as they begin their final push toward the end of the season.

Grand Rapids (12-3) travels to White Bear Lake (10-2-2) this Friday, before playing at Hill-Murray (12-1-1) the following day.