Staff
The Flames weren’t too hot as a group but their goalie sure was.
Andrew North made 42 saves to backstop the 10th-seeded Patrick Fogarty Flames (Orillia) to a 3-1 victory over the fourth-ranked Muskie boys’ hockey team in the quarter-finals at the OFSAA ‘A/AA’ championship last Thursday morning in Pembroke/Petawawa.
The black-and-gold were all over the Flames, outshooting them 43-23 in the game.
But North made one key save after another to make a first-period lead stand up until the final buzzer.
Isaac Emon put the Flames on the board first with the only goal of the opening frame against Muskie goalie Jordan Carlson.
The Flames then made it 2-0 in the second when Emon and Anthony Tulipano set up Beau Benham.
Chase McGuire got the Muskies on the board about a minute later—converting on a power-play, with assists going to Carter Brown and Tyler VanUden.
Fort High poured on the pressure from there but North came up with the answer for any shot sent his direction.
Then just over three minutes into the third, North steered a quick pass to Emon, who found Mitchell Pellarin for an insurance goal.
Fort High went 3-0 to finish in first place in Pool ‘D.’
After doubling the host Fellowes Falcons (Pembroke) in their opener, the Muskies then rolled to a 4-1 over the St. Joseph’s Panthers (Cornwall).
VanUden had a goal and two assists while Brent Jourdain, Sully Shortreed, and Graeme Kitt netted the other goals.
Jarred Taylor and Max Williams added two helpers each while Kendyn Faragher and Sam Tibbs had one assist each.
Carlson earned up the win in goal.
The Muskies then capped pool play with a 5-3 victory over the St. Michael Mustangs (Niagara Falls).
VanUden led the way with a pair of goals.
Kitt and Shortreed had a goal and an assist each while Taylor added the other marker.
McGuire, Mike Drouin, Brown, and Jourdain had one assist apiece, with Dylan Ossachuk registering the win in goal.
The Muskies will graduate seven players from this year’s team, including their two-year captain in Brown, as well as Taylor, Tibbs, Spencer Shortreed, Matt Cheetham, Williams, and Carlson.
VanUden, who would be in Grade 12 next season, also may not be back.
The speedy forward, along with Taylor, Brown, and Cheetham, have been invited to spring camp with the Winnipeg Blues (MJHL).
