Momentum can be lost and had within seconds.

Sometimes gaining it can come from a collective team effort and sometimes it can come from one person and they spread it to their teammates.

In Bloomington Jefferson's 7-6 overtime victory against Cloquet/Esko/Carlton on Saturday, December 1 at the Bloomington Ice Gardens, the Jaguars got their momentum from senior Jono Lindquist.

Lindquist scored twice and had two assists for the Jagauars, who survived a wild and crazy season opener.

"It was an exciting game to be in," Lindquist said. "I was just happy i was able to chip in when I could to help us with a big season opening win, because I don't think we have won one in a while."

Down 2-0 after the first period, it appeared Blooming Jefferson was going down that road again, but when the second period began, Lindquist did just about everything for the Jaguars to end the season opener blues.

He cut the Lumberjacks lead in half when he fired a low wrist shot through an abundance of traffic to beat Cloquet goalie Justin Ketola.

Just over two minutes later, he blocked a shot with his right hand, hoped on the loose puck and was of to the races for a showdown with Ketola.

He was met by a Cloquet defenseman, but was still able to get a shot off only to have it blocked by Ketola, but a rebound was left for teammate Colin Hernon, who was able to clean up the mess by chipping the shot into an open net that was created by Lindquist.

Less than five minutes after tying the game, Bloomington Jefferson had its first lead of the season and Lindquist was again part of it, assisting on Charlie Straus' goal.

Cloquet cut the lead to one with two goals late in the second period, but Lindquist struck again with a breakaway goal, sliding a backhand through the five-hole of Ketola.

"There were a lot of guys who stepped up and played pretty good for us," Bloomington Jefferson coach Jeff Lindquist said. "I am just really happy that Jono came out and had a good game for us, because we needed him."

Cloquet would eventually tie the game up on goals by Tanner Robideaux and Koby Bender to force overtime, Lindquist, this time as a vocal leader, stressed the importance of not giving in.

"We had to make sure that we don't have our heads down at all," Lindquist said. "The game was back and forth, so we can't do that or else it would just worse."

"I thought our captains and leaders did a great job today," said Bloomington Jefferson freshman Alexander Robbel, who was credited with the overtime goal. "After the first period I thought our captains did a great job in getting us back on track. They said some things after we were down to get us going again and were there when we needed them late in the game."

In overtime, both teams had its chances and Cloquet played with confidence of a team that just came back from a three-goal deficit.

"We were feeling pretty good at that point," Lumberjacks forward Beau Michaud said. "They have some talent over there and one of their guys (Lindquist) was really good for them, so for us to come back and at least tie it was pretty good."

It may not have been the cleanest game played, but one of the more exciting ones, especially one to begin the season.

Two teams that had two powerful top lines put them on show in Bloomington, not only for the paid attendees, but its own peers as well

"I would have liked to see a better defensive game, and I have seen my fair share of games like this before, but these are always fun to be a part of," Jeff Lindquist said.

-- Justin Magill, MN Hockey Hub staff

After the game, Cloquet's Beau Michaud and Karson Kuhlman took a few minutes to reflect on the Lumberjacks 7-6 overtime loss to Bloomington Jefferson.

MN Hockey Hub: What was it like being part of an exciting, back-and-forth game like this?

Michaud: It was a pretty exciting game. I don't think I have ever played these guys in my life, so it was fun to come down here and play them.

Kuhlman: This was a good, tough test for our team. It is our second game of the year and I think it is good for our team to come down here, play a good game and move on from a close loss.

Hub: After Bloomington Jefferson came back and scored five straight goals in the second, what was said to calm things down and allow your team to get back in the game?

Michaud: We just told our guys to settle down. Everyone was getting a little frustrated and the fans were getting in our heads a bit, so we just had to settle down and just play our game. We came back, but just didn't get the bounce we needed.

Kuhlman: For a lot of our guys, this is there second varsity game of their lives and this is a tough place to play on a Saturday night. In the third period, we responded and all of our lines started chipping in and got some goals, so it was good all of them get in the mix.

Hub: What are some of the aspects of this game that you can take away, even in a tough loss?

Michaud: I think that we can take away from this game that we came back from three goals against a pretty tough team in their rink. We didn't give up after they got the lead and just slowly got back in the game. We also have a young team and they got a look at a good team and how they play. If anything, it was better this happened early in the season than late.

Kuhlman: We play in one of the toughest sections in state (7AA), so it was good for us to play a game like this early, so if this opportunity arises in the playoffs, we will know how to handle it.

-- Justin Magill, MN Hockey Hub staff

Cloquet/Esko/Carlton sophomore center Kyle Klatt’s clearing attempt in the slot resulted with the puck in the Lumberjacks’ net, an own-goal in overtime that concluded a wildly entertaining 7-6 victory for Bloomington Jefferson on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Bloomington Ice Garden.

Klatt was left face first on the ice after the goal – credited to Bloomington Jefferson freshman defenseman Alexander Robbel because he was the last Jaguars player to touch the puck before Klatt slid it into the Cloquet net – as equally stunned Jefferson players celebrated the victory in their season opener.

Cloquet led 2-0 after the first, setting the stage for a Jefferson eruption in the second that saw the Jaguars score five unanswered goal before the Lumberjacks scored twice to make it 5-4 heading into the third.

Bloomington Jefferson’s five straight second-period goals came in a span of 10 minutes, 10 seconds.

Senior Jono Lindquist scored twice and had an assist for Bloomington Jefferson. Beau Michaud scored two goals and added two assists for Cloquet.

Cloquet’s Tanner Robidaux scored with 10:54 remaining and teammate Koby Bender forced the overtime period by scoring with 6:52 remaining.

Justin Ketola made 38 saves for the Lumberjacks, and Bloomington Jefferson’s Grant Martens made 31 saves.

-- Loren Nelson, MN Hockey Hub editor

1. Jono Lindquist, Bloomington Jefferson
When the Jaguars needed to get their offense going, Lindquist was the one who got them started. In the second period, he accumulated three of his four points, the first, a goal to get the Jaguars on the board. In the third period, he have Bloomington Jefferson a brief 6-4 lead when he got loose on a breakaway and made a gorgeous quick move to his backhand to slide a shot through the five-hole of Cloquet goalie Justin Ketola. His speed and nose for the note set the tone for the Jaguars in their season opener.

2. Beau Michaud, Cloquet
The left wing on the Lumberjacks top line tallied two goals and two assists for an impressive four-point night. What is scary is his point total could have been even better, but he was stopped on a breakaway late in the second period by Bloomington Jefferson goalie Grant Martens. Michaud scored his final goal with just 44 seconds left in the second, which helped get Cloquet back in the game when it was down 5-2 at one point.

3. Colin Hernon, Bloomington Jefferson
A member of the Jaguars top line that had to go punch-for-punch with Cloquet's. Hernon held his own with a goal and an assist. His two points resulted in the first two goals the Jaguars scored, which began a chaotic second period that resulted in a combined seven goals. In addition to his two points, Hernon was all over the ice, creating chances not only for himself, but his teammates as well.

-- Justin Magill, MN Hockey Hub staff