Staff
A short-handed goal in the third period proved to be the difference as the Muskie boys’ hockey team lost 5-4 to the host Sioux Lookout Warriors yesterday afternoon.
The Muskies (11-3) started off well, opening the scoring early in the first period.
After winning a face-off in the Muskies’ own zone, Cole Magill streaked up the ice on a give-and-go with Matt Spence before snapping a shot home.
After some pressure by the Warriors (12-3) on a man advantage, they were able to beat Muskie goalie Darian Klem to knot it at 1-1.
Peyton Avis then banged in the rebound of Austin Armstrong’s shot later in the frame to put the Muskies up 2-1 after 20 minutes.
The Warriors wasted little time in tying the score once again as they netted the equalizer 1:54 into the second.
Carson Noga corralled a stretch pass before taking a shot on the Warriors’ net from the slot, which Spence banged the rebound of home to put the Muskies back on top 3-2 near the five-minute mark.
After Klem fell down a few minutes later, the Warriors were able to capitalize and knotted it at 3-3.
The Warriors then tipped in a point shot at 10:04 to forge ahead 4-3 after 40 minutes.
Sioux Lookout then forced Noga to turn the puck over at the blueline while the Muskies were on a man advantage, with the Warriors then netting a breakaway goal to stake themselves to a two-goal cushion.
Jake Barker then stripped a Warrior of the puck at the blueline before tallying on a breakaway of his own to trim it to 5-4 with less than two minutes to go.
The Muskies then pulled Klem with 1:23 left in attempt to force overtime but couldn’t notch the equalizer.
Fort High will conclude NorWOSSA regular-season play this Thursday when they host the Dryden Eagles at 7 p.m. at “The Duke” (Couchiching Arena).
The best-of-three NorWOSSA semi-finals then are slated to begin Feb. 20.