CLOQUET, Minn.- The shorthanded Cloquet-Esko wrestlers are entering the new year with a chip on their shoulders. “I don’t think a lot of kids expect anything when they hear they’re wrestling a Cloquet kid, because since we’re so small, we don’t win many duels,” says freshman Aiden Thiesen. “It’s annoying when we get counted out before it even starts.” Team…
CLOQUET, Minn.- After having sole possession of the Midwest Division for most of the season thus far, the Minnesota Wilderness now share the lead with the Janesville Jets after the latter defeated Minnesota 5-2 Sunday night. The Wilderness fell behind early after giving up three goals in the first period. Minnesota scored two goals in the third period, but the…
DULUTH, Minn.- For this week’s Coaches Corner, we caught up with Cliff Knettel, the head coach of the Duluth boys swim & dive team. Knettel is in his fifth year as the head coach of the co-op program (Duluth East and Duluth Denfeld). The swim team will be competing at a meet in Superior on Saturday, December 30 before hosting…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Despite some early-game struggles on offense, the UW-Superior women’s basketball team found their groove enroute to a 60-44 win over Marian in day one of the Superior Shootout Holiday Classic. At the end of the first quarter, the Yellowjackets trailed 8-6, making only two field goals. However, Elise Besonen came alive in the final three quarters, sinking five…
DULUTH, Minn.- Both host teams from two of the biggest high school boys hockey holiday tournaments in the Northland came out as champions on Friday. Duluth Denfeld defeated Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 5-4 in overtime to claim the Heritage Holiday Classic Championship. The Hunters previously defeated Irondale 4-1 and Park of Cottage Grove 3-2 to earn a spot in the championship game. Meanwhile,…
DULUTH, Minn.- Top plays this week came from both the ice and the hardwood. At number two, Duluth Marshall forward Brooks Johnson makes it a one man fast break and the slam in Tuesday’s game versus East Central. At number one, River Freeman was playing hockey for Hermantown but he decides to take a baseball swing for the goal in…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The St. Scholastica and UW-Superior men’s hockey teams will get to renew their rivalry on Saturday. On Friday, St. Scholastica would defeat Dubuque 5 to 1 and UW-Superior would top Marian 2 to 1 in the semifinals of the Superior Showdown. For the Saints, they were led by Filimon Ledenkov, who had two goals in the victory. As…
Those who want to get outside and enjoy a real winter, don’t know how long they will have to wait. And there is a different kind of waiting going on for those who sell winter gear. Superior’s outdoors gear store, Northwest Outlet, has decided it can’t wait forever for cold and snow, so they’re putting out the sale sign for…
MILWAUKEE, Wis.- The UMD men’s hockey team returned to the win column on Friday, defeating Air Force 4 to 1 in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off. The Bulldogs were led by Ben Steeves, who had two goals in the victory. Steeves had a total of three goals throughout the tournament. UMD (6-9-4) will next play at St. Thomas in an…
The cautionary tone about being careful on lake and river ice was echoed this week as outdoor enthusiasts get antsy. At Duluth’s Marine General, this month they had customers torn between both ice and open-water fishing. Some anglers were rigging up their boats and heading out on the lake. But with the weather now turning back to a little bit…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Denfeld boys hockey team earned a spot in the Heritage Holiday Classic Final, after defeating Park 3 to 2 in the semifinals on Thursday. The Hunters will next take on Cloquet-Esko-Carlton in the title game on Friday. C-E-C would defeat Anoka 6-1 in the other semifinal game Thursday. Puck drop is set for 3:30 PM on…
CLOQUET, Minn.- The Cromwell-Wright girls basketball team finished the Wood City Classic unbeaten on Thursday, topping Mesabi East 64 to 38. The Cardinals (8-3) will next play at Carlton/Wrenshall on January 2nd. Meanwhile, the Giants (6-3) will host Littlefork-Big Falls on January 4th. In other girls basketball action, Duluth East would fall to Forest Lake 64 to 47. The Greyhounds…
While no snow and a lot of rain may have driven people inside to do things like check out Duluth’s trains and railroad museum, there are also those who think winter is going to come–eventually. There were still plenty of snowblowers lined up at Northern Tool and Equipment in Hermantown on Thursday. Store manager Mike Surface said it’s been quiet…
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have switched starting quarterbacks for the fourth time in nine weeks, handing the offense again to rookie Jaren Hall with two must-win games left for making the playoffs. Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Thursday that Hall will start Sunday against Green Bay, benching Nick Mullens after his six interceptions in two games doomed the…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Superior girls hockey team is well on their way to returning to the state tournament. Team captain Autumn Cooper has had an immeasurable impact on the Spartans’ success, and she’s hoping to do a little bit more before she heads to Bemidji State. On a Saturday afternoon, the Spartans took the ice on the same day as…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- The Hermantown boys hockey team returned to the win column on Wednesday, defeating Delano 5 to 1. The Hawks would have five different goal-scorers in the contest. Hermantown (5-1-2) will next host East Grand Forks on Thursday at 3:30 PM. In other boys hockey action, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton would top Apple Valley 5 to 2 on day one of the…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Superior girls basketball team saw their three-game winning streak come to a close on Wednesday, falling to Forest Lake 81 to 53. The game was a part of the Duluth East Holiday Tournament. The Spartans (6-3) will next play Coon Rapids on Thursday at 1 PM at Duluth East High School. Categories: High School, Sports
ESKO, Minn.- It was an eventful Boxing Day for two Northland basketball teams in the 2023 Esko Coaches Classic. The Duluth Marshall boys were able to secure their fourth win of the season, taking down East Central 73-68. The Hilltoppers were led by Brooks Johnson, who scored 22 points in the first half and put down his fair share of…
DULUTH, Minn.- The high school boys’ swim and dive season is well underway, and the Duluth swim team has a sophomore that’s already making his mark in the pool. Last year, then-freshman Joey Zelen was part of a relay team that reached the state tournament. In a meet at Prior Lake on December 9th, Zelen was victorious in both the…
DULUTH, Minn.- After a much-needed holiday break, the UMD men’s hockey team will return to the ice as part of the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee. On Thursday, the Bulldogs will take on Northeastern, who they haven’t faced since 1999. UMD will wrap up their time in Milwaukee on Friday by facing either Air Force or Wisconsin. The Bulldogs…
DULUTH, Minn.- The UMD men’s hockey team have suffered another loss to their lineup ahead of the Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee. On Tuesday, Head Coach Scott Sandelin announced that sophomore Cole Spicer is out for the second half of the season, citing academics. Per Sandelin, Spicer will still be able to practice and be around the team but will not…
The rain has forced a change in plans for Chester Bowl in Duluth. The ski hill was going to start its annual Holiday Ski and Snowboard lessons Tuesday. But the endless rain has changed that, and the hill was closed. Chester Bowl says it is disappointed to be closing, but felt that the best chance to preserve the snow they…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- At 5-6, the UW-Superior women’s basketball team has already experienced both big wins and tough losses 11 games into the season. However, the overall mood of this team hints at greener pastures. “When things aren’t really going our way or the outcome of the game isn’t how we want, we can lean on each other,” says Katie Dobson,…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- After the first two periods ended in ties, the Rosemount Irish scored two goals in the third period to defeat Hermantown 3-1. This marks the Hawks’ first loss of the 2023-24 season. Hermantown (4-1-2) will play three games in three days, starting with a home matchup against Delano, following another home game against East Grand Forks on Thursday….
DULUTH, Minn.- In this week’s Coaches Corner, we caught up with Duluth Marshall head boys basketball coach Cam Berger. Berger is in his first season leading the Hilltoppers. Duluth Marshall is 3-2 so far this season. Categories: Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Sports
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth East boys basketball team opened the home portion of their schedule on Friday in style, defeating Bloomington Jefferson 69 to 57. The Greyhounds earned their 1st win of the season and will next host Blaine on December 29th. In girls action, Hermantown snapped a five-game losing skid, topping Mesabi East 53 to 44. The Hawks (2-7)…
DULUTH, Minn.- Top plays this week came from both the ice and the hardwood. At number two, Kylie DeBay for Grand Rapids/Greenway nets the short-handed goal in Tuesday’s 6-2 victory over Duluth. At number one, Duluth Marshall’s Aaden Westerbur goes off the glass to his teammate Brooks Johnson, who skies up for the putback dunk. Categories: Friday Night Frenzy, Sports
DULUTH, Minn.- Last season, the Duluth Marshall boys basketball team only had a four win campaign. Fast forward to this year, and they’ve nearly reached that total, posting a 3-2 record in their first five games of the season. It’s a new era of Hilltopper basketball as Cam Berger takes over at the helm after being an assistant on last…
DULUTH, Minn.- The UMD men’s basketball team heads into the holiday break as a ranked team in the top 25. The Bulldogs did see a small fall in the latest NABC coaches poll. After being ranked 21st in the country last week, UMD is now ranked 24th. The Bulldogs last action came on Tuesday, when they would fall to 3rd…
VIRGINIA, Minn.- Rock Ridge senior Julia Lindseth put pen to paper earlier this week as she signed her National Letter of Intent with the Bemidji State Beavers. Lindseth is coming off a doubles state tournament appearance in her last season. She would partner with teammate Anna Beaudette to accomplish that feat. Lindseth also received interest from St. Scholastica, before deciding…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Marshall girls basketball team faced a tough Class AA opponent in Crosby-Ironton on Thursday night, ultimately, it would go the Rangers way 84 to 75. The Hilltoppers fall to 4-2 on the season and will next host Hinckley-Finlayson on Friday night. In other girls action, Superior extended their win streak to three games with a road…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- After giving up four goals in a loss Tuesday night, the Superior boys hockey team got back on track with a 6-0 win over Hayward on Thursday in their annual Bar Down by the Bay game. Thursday’s win is Superior’s largest margin of victory this season. It’s also their first shutout after allowing an average of 2.3 goals…
DULUTH, Minn.- Two prep standouts from the Northland have been named to Vikings 2023 All-State team. Barnum Quarterback Hayden Charboneau and Hermantown Wide Receiver Peyton Menzel each landed on the roster. Charboneau is coming off a season in which he led the Bombers to the section title game. He would toss 22 touchdowns on the season. Meanwhile, Menzel broke a…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Anyone who’s been to a UW-Superior women’s basketball game this season is well aware that Elise Besonen has been given the green light to shoot the ball. “I know that if she doesn’t pass it to me, she’s making it for sure,” smiled Katie Dobson, both a teammate and roommate of Elise’s. “She’s one that’s not selfish, but…
ESKO, Minn.- After a last second attempt from Ohio State, Esko senior football standout is sticking to his original commitment back in April. Perich has officially signed with Minnesota according to the team’s Twitter page. Wednesday morning, Perich officially signed with P.J Fleck and company. And later that afternoon he had a chance to celebrate with family, friends, and teammates…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Hermantown boys hockey team stayed unbeaten on the year on Tuesday, but they didn’t get the win. Duluth Denfeld would rally from a two goal deficit to force a 2-2 tie with the Hawks. Hermantown (4-0-2) will next host Rosemount on Friday at 7 PM. Meanwhile, Denfeld (5-3-1) will host Irondale on December 27th. In girls action,…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- After a neck-and-neck first half, the Superior boys’ basketball team came alive in the second half to deliver an 84-57 knockout over Solon Springs. The Spartans were aided by their three-point shooting. In total, they made 13 shots from beyond the perimeter. This win puts the Spartans at 5-2 this season as they look ahead to the new…
LOS ANGELES, C.A.- He’s spent nearly the whole season waiting for his opportunity. And finally on Monday, he received the call. Former UMD Offensive Lineman Brent Laing is now a member of the Los Angeles Chargers. Laing officially signed to the team’s practice squad. The two-time All-American kept busy after being released by the New York Jets back in August….
ST. PAUL, Minn.- After making the final roster just a week ago, former UMD goaltender Maddie Rooney has officially signed on with PWHL Minnesota. The deal is for two years. Minnesota would bring Rooney in back in September on a camp invite offer. The Olympic Gold Medalist would later earn a spot on the roster after camp commenced just a…
DULUTH, Minn.- A former UMD men’s goaltender will now begin his 8th season as a pro. Kasimir Kaskisuo has joined the Montreal Canadiens organization and will begin play for the Laval Rockets in the AHL. He’s spent the last two years playing professionally in Sweden. Before that, he had stints with both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Nashville Predators…
ST. PAUL, Minn.- The NCHC is making changes to their current playoff format. Except, it will take two years to go into effect. The league announced on Tuesday that beginning in 2026, the tournament will be moving entirely to campus sites. The tournament will last three weeks and one of the biggest changes sees the semifinals move to single elimination…
ESKO, Minn.- The defending state champions in Class A continued their winning ways on Monday, as Mountain Iron-Buhl defeated Esko 82 to 66. The Rangers were led by Jordan Zubich, who had 46 points in the victory. MIB (9-1) will next play at Northhome/Kelliher on Friday. Esko (3-4) will play at Pine City on Thursday. In boys action, Duluth Marshall…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Harbor Monsters have signed their first player. The team announced that quarterback Ja’Vonte Johnson is the first to join the team. Johnson was the 2022 AWFC MVP and helped lead the Tri-City Rush to a perfect 9-0 record. He can sling it too as he tallied 45 touchdowns and completed 70 percent of his passes. Johnson…
ASHLAND, Wis.- Northland College is in search of a new men’s soccer head coach. Greg Gilmore has departed the program to become head coach at Salem University, a division two squad. He spent five seasons leading the Lumberjacks and in all five years the team would make the UMAC tournament. Lee Denis is set to serve as the interim head…
DULUTH, Minn.- It may not feel like it but the Duluth Huskies want you to start thinking baseball. The team revealed their 2024 schedule for this upcoming season. On May 27th, Duluth will open up the year at one of the newest members of the Northwoods League, the Badlands Big Sticks. They’ll make stops in Bismarck and St. Cloud on…
SOLON SPRINGS, Wis.- Solon Springs senior forward Isaiah Kastern has officially signed with Bemidji State University. Just last season, Kastern would average 23 points and 11 rebounds per game. Kastern was also a key force in helping lead the Eagles to the sectional final. He has been named all-state first team once and is a two-time all-conference first team member….
DULUTH, Minn.- The St. Scholastica women’s basketball team picked up their fifth win of the season this past weekend against UW-Superior. In the previous last two seasons, CSS would only tally four combined wins. The weekly MIAC player of the week honors came out on Monday and St. Scholastica players just so happened to grab both. For Offensive Player of…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Another superior football senior has found his college home. And it won’t be far for senior offensive and defensive lineman Cadin Olson as he announced his college commitment to St. Scholastica. Olson is a athletic lineman with a great work ethic and high football IQ, according to head coach Bob DeMeyer. He’s been on the varsity roster since…
ESKO, Minn.- The Esko boys basketball team is off to a 3-0 start to their 2023-24 season, and combo guard Dalton Spindler has played a major role in their success. “I think my role is just to be a scorer and pass the ball a lot, get people open, play-make.” Over the last two seasons, Spindler has led Esko in…
PROCTOR, Minn.- In this week’s Coaches Corner, we caught up with Proctor boys’ hockey head coach Jeff Laspi. Laspi is in his fourth season as the Rails’ head coach and previously served as an assistant coach with the Proctor/Hermantown girls hockey team. Categories: Coaches Corner, Friday Night Frenzy, High School, Sports
