Joey Payeur
A sharpened supply of Sabres used a third-period surge to slice the Muskie boys’ hockey team’s thoughts of a tournament title to shreds.
Fort High led 3-2 after two periods but gave up three unanswered goals in the third to fall 5-3 to the Steinbach Sabres in the final of the Morden Thunder tournament on Saturday.
“It wasn’t bad,” said Muskie head coach Jamie Davis.
“Penalties are still killing us,” he stressed. “The calls were even both ways, but we’ve proved over the first eight games of this season we are not a team that can play well from the penalty box.”
The Sabres scored first but Tyler Mosbeck and Tyler VanUden made it 2-1 for the Muskies.
After Steinbach tied it, Mosbeck’s second of the game during a power play to put Fort High ahead again.
But the third was all Steinbach, who beat Muskie goalie Jonah Johnson for a trio of markers, including the go-ahead one at 9:23 of the third.
“I’m definitely not disappointed,” said Davis.
“It’s coming along,” he added. “We’re a little bit inconsistent right now and we’re riding a bit of a roller-coaster.
“But I’m not sweating yet. They’ll figure it out, ” Davis reasoned. “This is new to them, and they’re starting to feel each other out and getting on the same page.
“We have to tighten up defensively, but 5-on-5 we’re playing fairly well and our power play and penalty-killing looks good.”
Fort High opened play with a 5-2 defeat of the Deloraine Colts, followed by a 6-2 thrashing of the Morris Mavericks.
The black-and-gold then made it three-straight wins by edging the host Morden Thunder 3-2 to earn a berth in the final.
The Muskies kicked off the NorWOSSA regular season last Tuesday (Nov. 12) with a 13-2 pounding of the host Dryden Eagles.
Mosbeck, Chase Ferguson, Braden Webb, Graeme Kitt, and Cole Tymkin each scored twice for the Muskies (1-0).
Singles went to Jack Hamilton, David Pryde, and VanUden, although Davis seemed certain Pryde should have been credited with VanUden’s marker.
Cam Zappatelli and Kirk Markowski replied for Dryden (0-1).
Johnson earned the win between the pipes while Devon Carne was replaced midway through the game in the Eagles’ net by Josh Kitt.
Fort High had its NorWOSSA home-opener last night against the Kenora Broncos at the Ice For Kids Arena (the outcome was unavailable by press time).
The Muskies then head to Dryden for a tournament this weekend.
Their next home game is not until Dec. 9 against the Red Lake Rams.
Meanwhile, the Muskie girls’ hockey squad was on the road last night for an exhibition tilt with the host Detroit Lakes Lakers (the outcome also was unavailable by press time).
The black-and-gold will launch their NorWOSSA campaign tomorrow against Kenora at 7:15 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
Then they’ll head to Thunder Bay to take on the Midget ‘AA’ Kings on Nov. 23-24.
