Joey Payeur
Making progress—even in defeat—helped Jamie Davis take heart.
The head coach of the Muskie boys’ hockey team got a clear image of how far his squad has come since the start of the season despite being swept in a three-game exhibition series against the host Thunder Bay Minor Midget ‘AAA’ Kings.
A 6-2 loss to the Kings on Friday was followed by a 3-1 defeat Saturday and a 4-2 setback Sunday.
Although Fort High won once while hosting the teams’ first three-game encounter back on Nov. 7-9, Davis noticed definite improvement in his troops since then.
“We were a lot more organized out there than in the first series,” he noted.
“It’s the little things that make the difference,” he added.
“You lose puck battles and get out of position against a team like that, and it’s in the back of the net.”
That was the case in Friday’s opener.
“We weren’t very good,” admitted Davis, whose team got goals from Jarred Taylor and Graeme Kitt.
“We didn’t really compete and didn’t put up much of a fight,” Davis added.
“We had some bus legs and it didn’t help that we left late from Fort Frances and basically got to Thunder Bay, got something to eat, and headed right to the rink.
“I’m not making excuses, though,” Davis stressed. “We just weren’t ready to play.”
Saturday’s game was a combination of a good effort and bad luck for the Muskies.
“We played a lot better but we hit four goalposts and had a goal disallowed near the end,” Davis recalled.
The Muskie goal scorer was unavailable as of press time.
Sunday’s match-up saw Fort High actually leading 2-1 in the third before things went south.
“We had some minor breakdowns in the third,” noted Davis, whose team got goals from Taylor and Brent Jourdain.
“But [Sunday] was our best game overall,” he said.
The series also meant another reunion with former Muskies Cole Tymkin and Brett Hahkala, who both had a sizable hand as Grade 9 players on last season’s NorWOSSA championship team.
“I think Tymkin had a goal but they didn’t really do much damage against us,” noted Davis.
“The Kings are pretty even across the board,” he added. “There’s no one star player for them.”
The Muskies next head to Winnipeg for the annual John Taylor Piper Classic, which gets underway tomorrow.
Fort High reached the quarter-finals of last year’s Classic before getting nipped 3-2 by the St. Paul Crusaders (Winnipeg), who went on to capture the title.
“It will be a strong field,” said Davis, whose team opens play with a 9:15 p.m. showdown against the Sturgeon Heights Huskies (Winnipeg).
Fort High then will face the host Pipers at 10 a.m. on Friday before wrapping up preliminary-round play at 8 p.m. versus the Garden Valley Collegiate Zodiacs (Winkler).
The Muskies’ next home game is set for Tuesday, Feb. 3, when the Kenora Broncos invade the ’52 Canadians Arena at 7:30 p.m.
In related news, the Muskie boys’ annual tea and bake sale is slated for Saturday, Feb. 7 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Fort High cafeteria.
Admission is $4, which includes coffee/tea, sandwiches, and dessert.
There also will be penny and bake tables, a Muskie photo booth, and a door prize.
