Mitch Calvert
The Muskie boys’ hockey team played two tight games in Spring Lake Park, Mn. last week.
The black-and-gold opened the four-team tournament with a hard-fought 6-5 loss in overtime to the hosts on Friday.
They had battled back to tie the game when veteran Kyle Herr scored three goals within three minutes in the third, but a power-play goal by Spring Lake Park with just 17 seconds left in overtime decided the game.
Herr has been a sparkplug for the Muskies after spending last season at the Midget ‘AA’ level playing alongside Donovan Cousineau and Zach McCool.
“It was pretty sweet, a good adrenaline rush,” Herr recalled of his natural hat trick that tied the game.
“Our first game was a tough one, but we should’ve won it,” he added.
The Muskies then rebounded with a narrow 3-2 win over Cambridge in the consolation game. Herr added another goal in that one to finish with four over the two-game stretch.
“I think it was one of our best games we’ve played as a team this year,” Muskie forward Matt DiPiero said. “We worked hard, moved the puck, and forechecked really well.”
The Muskies faced Kenora in NorWOSSA action here last night (the outcome wasn’t unavailable as of press time), then will host the International Falls Broncos in an exhibition tilt this Friday (Dec. 5) at 7:15 p.m.
“We’ve got to get a good jump, haven’t done that enough yet, and start scoring more goals because we are out-shooting teams every game,” noted new Muskie head coach Shawn Jourdain.
Herr agreed, noting the Muskies must get the crowd on their side early against the Falls.
“We’ve got to come out hitting, lay the body, and get the fans screaming,” he stressed.
DiPiero said the Muskies have come a long way since a shaky start that saw them lose their NorWOSSA opener 5-2 to Dryden back on Nov. 12.
“We started off the year a little slow, a little sloppy, but guys are starting to get used to each other and showing signs of a good team,” DiPiero enthused. “I think we have the capability of going to OFSAA again.
“Everybody is working really well as a team,” he added. “There isn’t one guy really, [but] everyone as a whole.”
DiPiero said Friday night’s game against the Falls will be a good test to see just how much the team has gelled in the first month of the season.
“Big game coming up just to see where we are, and it’s always kind of a big rivalry against the Falls,” he noted. “Always an important game for us because it’s always nice to beat them.”
Prior to last night’s action, the Muskies led the NorWOSSA league standings with a 4-1 record, while tallying 28 goals to just 14 against.
Dryden and Kenora were both second at 1-1 having only played two games apiece, while Red Lake brought up the rear with an 0-3 mark.
