Staff
The Muskie boys’ hockey team continued their winning ways with a 7-2 thrashing of the Kenora Broncos here Tuesday night.
Mike Jourdain scored twice in the first period, with Zach McCool adding two goals and a pair of assists to send the Broncos packing.
The Muskies (5-1) improved their home record in NorWOSSA play to 2-0—and seem to be on a tear at the right time with the International Falls Broncos coming to town for an exhibition tilt tomorrow at 7:15 p.m.
The teams ended the first period knotted at 2-2, but Cody McCool, Jamie Kaun, and Zach McCool all found the net in the second period to give the black-and-gold a big cushion after 40 minutes.
Kyle Herr and Zach McCool rounded out the scoring with a goal apiece in the third.
“It was kind of a sloppy game, but the kids are really starting to come around and move the puck well,” Muskie assistant coach Ken Christiansen said. “We’re getting a lot of chances, still not scoring as many goals as we could, but hopefully we get that out of our system and get ready for Friday night.”
Clearly the expectations are still high for this team—despite the fact only 10 seniors make up the squad.
The Falls Broncos are in much the same boat, having a large number of players move on after last season’s loss in the Section 7A semi-finals.
A notable absence is University of Minnesota recruit and Mr. Hockey finalist, Jake Youso, who helped the Broncos finish with a 23-4 record last season.
The Falls’ squad opened their 2008-09 season on Tuesday with a 7-1 loss to Hibbing/Chisholm.
The Muskies and Broncos split their home-and-home series last season.
“It always is a big game, quite a rivalry, and I’m sure we’ll be up for it, but so will they,” Christiansen warned.
New Muskie head coach Shawn Jourdain took a puck in the nose at practice earlier this week and missed Tuesday night’s game. He was headed to Thunder Bay and may require surgery, so he won’t be behind the bench for tomorrow night’s showdown, either.
“I was on the ice waiting to set up practice, and I guess he got hit coming out that little hallway [onto the ice],” Christiansen explained.
In related news, fans are encouraged to bring winter toques, gloves, and socks to Friday night’s game to toss onto the ice after the Muskies score their first goal, which then will be donated to the local Salvation Army.
