Go for gold

It seems only fitting—as we anxiously wait to find out Saturday night whether Fort Frances remains in the running for the 2014 Kraft “Hockeyville” title—that both Muskie hockey teams capped stellar seasons by winning NorWOSSA gold over the weekend and advancing to their respective OFSAA championships.
Qualifying for the all-Ontarios is old hat for the Muskie boys, who will be making their 34th appearance at the big dance. And over the years, Fort High has been crowned provincial champs three times (in 1986, 2001, and, of course, on that unforgettable April Fool’s night here in 1989 in what’s now known as the ’52 Canadians Arena).
It’s a different story for the Muskie girls, who claimed their first OFSAA berth in the 14-year history of the program after posting a perfect 15-0 record during the NorWOSSA regular season.
The accomplishment is a testament to their perseverance through some lean seasons—and redemption for last year’s squad that captured the “Northland Cup” as the league’s top team but couldn’t advance to the all-Ontarios due to the teachers’ dispute with the province.
On top of all that, our local Junior ‘A’ squad, the community-owned Fort Frances Lakers, last week clinched regular-season supremacy in the SIJHL for the first time in franchise history.
Local fans certainly will have plenty to cheer about in the coming weeks as all three teams vie to bring hockey glory to Fort Frances.
And hopefully that translates into a veritable online voting frenzy over the ensuing 48 hours after Saturday night’s announcement—should our community make the “Hockeyville” cut.
Let’s go for gold on and off the ice!
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Congratulations, as well, to the Muskie girls’ curling rink for advancing to the all-Ontarios.
Good luck in Brampton.