Muskie boys blanked by Eagles

The Muskie boys’ hockey team is having no trouble outshooting their opponents. The problem is getting those shots into the net.
The black-and-gold had the edge in shots on goal against Dryden here last night but it was the Eagles who skated away with a 4-0 victory—solidifying their lead atop the NorWOSSA standings over the second-place Muskies.
Starting goalie Wade Friesen gave up the first three goals. Richard Wieringa then played the second half of the game between the pipes, yielding Dryden’s other goal.
The Muskies had the same problem last week at the annual Marshall Hilltopper Classic in Duluth—outshooting their opponents in all three games but coming out on the short end of the score in each one.
The boys had opened play last Monday night against East Grand Forks, outshooting the Green Wave 32-25 but dropping a 3-0 decision.
Tuesday afternoon’s consolation semi-final against New Ulm saw the Muskies again outshoot their opponents (this time by a 27-19 margin) but they came out on the short end of a 4-3 score.
Mitchell Green, Justin Larson, and Brian White had the Muskie markers.
Then playing Wednesday morning in the seventh-place game, the black-and-gold met a familiar foe from Hudson, Wis.—a team the Muskies had beaten 6-5 in the consolation final last year.
This year’s outcome was decidedly different as Hudson won 3-1 in a penalty-filled affair.
The Muskies outshot their opponents yet again (20-15) but again to no avail. Brock Benjamin netted their lone goal five minutes into the first period, assisted by Josh Sigurdson.
Since the beginning of the season, Muskie head coach Shane Bliss repeatedly has described his team as a “snowball” that has been building and building.
Now halfway into their season, the team have seen that snowball build to unbelievable proportions at times, as well as dwindle to merely a snowflake.
With the New Year now upon them, a mid-season report was filled out by the players:
What are your feelings on the first half of the season?
Kevin Bobczynski (first-year player)—I think it’s been an okay season so far. We could have won the game we lost (a 4-3 loss to Kenora).
Brett Perreault (first year)— It hasn’t been too bad. It could be a lot better as a team and get our passes on the tape.
Alex McQuarrie (second year)—Up and down, but lot’s of fun.
Mitch Green (second year)—We could have played better. Our play could have used more consistency.
Tyler Pocock (first year)—The team is really starting to come together now, we just need to get off the roller-coaster we’ve been on and play to win every night.
Brock Benjamin (second year)—I feel we had some good games and some bad, but every time we step on the ice we get that much better.
Luc Romaniuk (second year)—I feel we are beginning to pick things up. Our team has come together, and we should be unstoppable if we play well.
Jake Esselink (third year)—Up and down, too inconsistent, need to come together as a team.
Andrew Easton (first year)—My feeling for the first half of the season was I was very nervous, but I am now becoming a better player.
Brian White (first year)—We could’ve played better, and our record shouldn’t be what it is, but from here on in we’re gonna give ’er.
What were the highs?
Dave Pierce (third year)—Beating the Falls (3-0).
Josh Sigurdson (second year)—Kicking the [crap] out of Manitoba and the U.S. teams.
Jordan Bale (second year)—The wins, the bus rides, and the tourneys.
Justin Larson (third year)—Beating the Falls.
Matt Redford (second year)—Third place in Brandon. Beating the Falls.
Tyler Miller (second year)—Beating the Falls.
Esselink—My four goals and beating the Falls.
Perreault—Hearing a kid in the stands say, “Hey man, you’re my hero! You smoked that guy from Baudette!”
Bobczynski—Playing in Fort, and beating the Falls.
Benjamin—Kicking the [crap] out of Manitoba.
But what were the lows?
Tyson Romyn (first year)—Losing to teams we should have beat.
White—Our record and all of our losses.
Redford—Kenora game.
Sigurdson—Losing in overtime to (Red Lake) and losing the first two league games.
Pocock—Our first two NorWOSSA losses.
Romaniuk—Losing too many close games, and making too many costly mistakes.
Larson—Losing, and skating in practice after losing.
McQuarrie—The Baudette game was not impressive.
Green—Losing to Kenora, and “no-puck” practices.
What do you, as a player, need to do to help the team win?
Romaniuk—Give 100 percent every time I hit the ice.
Pierce—Play more defensively.
Esselink—Play better. Hit and stick. Hit the net and clear our net.
Pocock—Forecheck hard, and start producing on a regular basis.
Benjamin—Work harder and have a good attitude. Stay out of the penalty box.
White—No more penalties, and capitalize on my chances.
Romyn—Keep working hard, and keep hitting.
Redford—Become more consistent, and play to my full potential.
Bale—Stop goals, and play smarter.
Larson—Score goals, and don’t take penalties.
Miller—No clue. Get pumped and make things fun.
Sigurdson—Work hard and have a good attitude.
Easton—What I need to do as a player to help the team win is work hard every shift, and keep going all the time.
Perreault—Get some more big hits, because it gets the team going.
McQuarrie—To play as hard as I can and not let the other team score when I’m on the ice.
Green—Play harder. Be more consistent. Put the puck in the net.