Joey Payeur
It was difficult to determine which of Rob Favot’s decisions elicited the most head-scratching and confusion.
But all the them combined made for a really long night for his Sioux Lookout Warriors.
Annalise Hayes had four goals while Claire Sandelovich added a hat trick as the Muskie girls’ hockey team routed the Warriors 16-1 in NorWOSSA action here Tuesday night.
“We could have done better keeping our intensity up for three periods but it’s tough to avoid in a game like that,” noted Muskie blueliner Sam McKinnon, who scored a highlight-reel goal on an end-to-end rush in the first period.
That intensity dulled somewhat after the Muskies racked up seven goals in the first period against Alex Morin, who is the Warriors’ usual back-up goalie.
She inexplicably got the nod ahead of normal starter Kyla Kulchyski, who has stopped more than 90 shots in previous games against Fort High’s potent offensive machine.
But when Favot tried to earn a cheap power play by calling for the referee to conduct a mouthguard check on Muskie captain Amy Penner, after Sandelovich had made it 8-1 early in the second, the fire was back in the Muskies’ bellies.
With riled-up assistant coach Todd Hamilton urging his troops to hold nothing back, Sandelovich set up Kaily Greengrass on a picture-perfect 2-on-1 to make it 9-1.
Greengrass then set up Sandelovich about two minutes later.
After Hayes’ hat trick goal, Greengrass assisted on a marker by Janelle Kaemingh, then scored again on a give-and-go with Emma Noga to stretch the lead to 13-1.
Kaemingh and Mallory Payne each added two goals for the Muskies (4-1) while Noga and Penner notched singles.
Calie Clendenning, who was scarcely tested between the pipes and only surrendered Sydney MacDonald’s goal in the first period, earned the win.
The Muskies recorded their biggest offensive output of the season—despite being without the services of forwards Jessica Coran (vertebrae/shoulder) and Rylee Redford (shin).
That forced head coach Scott Clendenning to cobble together some makeshift lines.
“It was a change for us, but we all work together well when we take the time to set up and that was proven in the game,” noted Kaemingh.
Coran and Redford are expected back in the lineup when Fort High heads to Blaine, Mn. for the annual Schwan Cup tournament Jan. 1-3, where 40 girls’ teams are expected to take part.
“The [Christmas] rest will definitely be necessary if we want to make our goal of getting to OFSAA,” said Penner.
The Muskies’ next home game is Jan. 12, when they’ll host the International Falls Broncos in the second half of their annual two-game exhibition series.
Fort High took the opener 5-3 on Dec. 2 at Bronco Arena.
