Arguably the most anticipated game of the boys’ high school hockey season, the annual battle between the Muskies and International Falls Broncos has been put on the backburner for this coming season.
While Fort High athletic director Shane Beckett did say there will be a discussion about having both teams play again in the future, Broncos’ athletic director Don Rolando stated in an interview with the Falls Journal over the weekend that a decision was made not to have a game this year was because of “too many extra things that go on in the stands.”
Although the decision both schools made is understandable, I’m personally also a little bit disappointed.
When I first arrived in Fort Frances nearly two years ago, one of the first things I heard about was how heated the rivalry was between the two schools.
On both occasions, whether it be through the passionate atmosphere and the thrilling overtime conclusions, the annual contests quickly had become the most memorable events that I’ve covered as a sports reporter.
While this might sound entirely selfish, the fact I won’t have the chance to cover another contest between the two squads this winter is disappointing, although I’m sure there will be some tight games—albeit without the crazy atmosphere—in regular league play for both sides.
With that said, it’s easy to see why the fan atmosphere has led to the postponement of this annual clash as last season’s overtime finish was tarnished slightly by a water and pop bottle chucking battle between both fan bases.
Following February’s contest, I wrote in this column that in hindsight, having the two sets of student sections right next to each other probably wasn’t the smartest idea, especially as a game builds in intensity.
I suggested that perhaps in the future, if you separated both fan bases to a certain side of the arena, it would be easier to police such rowdy activities without affecting the atmosphere.
However, you also have to keep the general fan in mind when they go to a game such as this. And if they feel threatened by the chaos in the stands, why would they want to go to another game?
Perhaps a cooling off period for the rivalry is the right move as it lets both student bodies know any inappropriate conduct is strictly prohibited.
But with that said, there certainly are no guarantees that a return engagement between both sides will go off without a hitch.
In the meantime, if local hockey fans still want to see two border programs go head-to-head this season, they don’t have to look any further than the Muskie and Broncos’ women’s hockey teams.
Although there’s none of the body contact many fans like to see on the boys’ side, the girls have had some tight games over the last couple of seasons that are among some of the best that either side will have during the winter.
While the crowds aren’t as crazy as the boys’ games, many fans probably don’t feel worried for their lives at the two contests between the ladies’ each season.
And at the end of the day, isn’t that what we want to have when we watch an athletic encounter?
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
