Joey Payeur
The International Falls Broncos brought a spirited fan base, a dose of stars-and-stripes fashion accessories, and cheerleaders on skates.
As for the Muskie boys’ hockey team, they settled for bringing most of the offence.
Chase McGuire had two goals and two assists as Fort High beat the visiting Broncos 6-1 before a jam-packed and well-behaved crowd of 1,227 spectators that took in the first game between the two squads in four years.
“When we saw all the people out there, I got a rattle in my bones,” smiled McGuire.
“Then when I saw all the signs on the end glass with our names on them, that really got me pumped.”
Muskie head coach Jamie Davis was quick to applaud McGuire for his contributions, which included a spectacular tally for the game’s opening goal at 6:09 of the first after a prolonged stretch of pressure by the Broncos.
“That was a really timely goal by Chase in the first,” agreed Davis.
“It was not looking good in the first,” he admitted. “We were paralyzed and penalties were hurting us.
“After that, we played pretty steady all game.”
Kendyn Faragher, returning from a lower-body injury that saw him miss two games, made it 2-0 at 4:44 of the second.
Sully Shortreed then tucked home a rebound of McGuire’s chance in front during a two-man advantage at 6:29 to extend the lead.
The Broncos, who gave as good as they got in the hard-hitting affair, got on the board when Riley Nemec ripped a wrist shot by Dylan Ossachuk at 7:46 of the third.
McGuire responded just over a minute later by racing to a loose puck in the Falls zone and centering it to Shortreed, who cashed in the feed from right in front.
Just 10 seconds later, Nick Hahkala scored to increase the lead to 5-1.
McGuire capped the scoring at 11:59.
The Muskies, who lead the NorWOSSA standings with a 12-0 record, return to league play tonight at 7:15 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena against Dryden.
The Eagles (8-4-0-1) are tied for second-place with the Sioux Lookout Warriors (7-4-1-2).
Meanwhile, the Muskie girls’ squad (12-1) will look to inch closer to clinching first place when they host the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints (8-5) in the last of three-straight games between the two teams.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the ’52 Canadians Arena.
Fort High won the first two games by identical 6-1 scores last Tuesday in Kenora and then here last Thursday.
