Muskie pucksters counting on revenge factor

It’s been a year of commiserating, seething, and planning. Now the time for payback is finally here.
The Muskie boys’ hockey team has waited 12 long months to avenge their 2-0 loss to the Dryden Eagles in the best-of-three NorWOSSA semi-finals last season.
Step one in the retribution process takes place here tomorrow at 7:45 p.m. in the Ice for Kids Arena with game one of the NorWOSSA semi-finals between Fort Frances and Dryden.
Game two goes Sunday afternoon in Dryden, with game three (if necessary) scheduled for the ’52 Canadians Arena here next Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The Muskies (16-4) took three of four in the season series, including a 5-4 win last night in Dryden to close out the regular season (scoring information was not available at press time).
The first-place Kenora Broncos will go into battle in the other semi-final series against the Red Lake Rams, who are coming off a split at home last weekend against the Muskies.
Fort Frances netted four goals in the second period en route to an 8-3 victory in Friday’s opener against the Rams.
Nathan Miller kept up his impressive performance of late, notching a hat trick and an assist to lead the Muskies. Linemate Steven Sus had a goal and three assists, while Kurtis Wepruk added a pair of markers.
Scott Bridgeman and Kris Esselink also had singles for Muskies while Matt Gamsby made 23 saves in goal. Breven Gawley, Dave Weese, and Dennis Marcellais had the Rams’ goals.
Despite being a laugher on the scoreboard, Muskie head coach Shane Bliss wasn’t in a joking mood after his team received six third-period penalties, many of which he felt were questionable.
“[The referee] wouldn’t even let our bench high-five after goals at one point Friday. We always do that,” a frustrated Bliss said. “Red Lake could do it, but we were warned we’d get a penalty if we did it anymore.”
Bliss’ temperature went from simmering to boiling on Saturday when the Muskies were hit with six more penalties in the first period alone on their way to a 3-1 loss.
“It’s not [the referee’s] fault we lost, but it’s his fault that Red Lake won,” charged Bliss. “He kept them in the game. That’s a long way to travel to get reffing like that. It was brutal.”
The key moment of Saturday’s game came with Fort Frances trailing 2-1 at 13:40 of the third period.
Sus appeared to have tied the game, but the goal was called off and Sus instead was handed a five-minute penalty for goalie interference—despite Bliss claiming he was cross-checked into Red Lake netminder Chris Tougas from behind.
“Sus has, I think, four penalty minutes this year,” said Bliss. “Any five-minute penalty in this league is supposed to carry a game misconduct. But he didn’t kick Sus out. Nobody was hurt on the play.
“But now, instead of us tying it, we’re killing a penalty.”
Paul Weese, Gawley, and Devin O’Donnel had the Red Lake tallies, while Mike Niskala responded for Fort Frances.
The Muskies played the weekend without forwards Justin Larson (shoulder) and Cody Dittaro (knee), both of whom Bliss believes can be back in time for the playoffs.
< *c>Against the odds
Meanwhile, the female Muskies will be looking to exorcise the demons of a winless NorWOSSA campaign—and earn their own degree of revenge against the Eagles.
After a 7-2 loss last night in Dryden, the Muskies (0-12) will challenge the Eagles again in the best-of-three NorWOSSA semi-final, starting Friday night up there.
Game two of the series goes Sunday at noon at the Ice for Kids Arena, with game three (if necessary) slated next Tuesday night back in Dryden.
It was the very same Eagles who ended Fort Frances’ championship run last year with a 2-0 sweep in the semi-finals, with both wins by just one goal.
Becky Witherspoon and Stephanie Strachan provided the offence for the Muskies last night as Dryden led 2-0 after the first, then broke the game open in the third period.
Muskies’ forward Kristin Roehrig missed her second-straight game with a lower back injury, but repeated her vow from two weeks ago to be back in time for Friday’s playoff opener.
Blueliner Ashley Whalen continues to sit out with post-concussion syndrome, although Muskie head coach Jim McMahon held out hope she may be able to return for the playoffs.
Sunday’s game also will feature an Atom girls’ house league hockey exhibition during the second intermission.