Former Duluth Denfeld head coach Kevin Smalley has been named as the next head boys’ hockey coach for the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjacks.

"I'm excited to be able to coach at the (2A) level and jump into Section 7-2A," Smalley said. 

"That's probably one of the toughest sections in the state of Minnesota," Smalley added.

The former Minnesota-Duluth Bulldog will inherit a roster loaded with young talent, with six of the team’s seven leading scorers returning barring any early departures.

The Lumberjacks posted a 16-9-2 record and fell to eventual state champion Grand Rapids 1-0 in the semifinals of the Section 7AA playoffs.

"The group that's there right now has proven themselves as Peewees and Bantams that they're a pretty successful group," Smalley said. 

"It's exciting to be able to step in and coach (players) at that level."

In addition to the players already on the varsity roster, Smalley lauded the Cloquet youth program. 

"You certainly have a lot of competition for kids to get better," Smalley said, adding that a funnel from the feeder program to the high school is a promising proposition.  

Smalley’s hiring tacks a positive note on a tumultuous offseason for the Lumberjacks, in which longtime head coach Dave Esse resigned after 18 seasons at the post.  

Smalley was named the John Mariucci Award winner as the Class 1A Coach of the Year by the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association in 2010 and 2013.