Joey Payeur
After plucking the wings of Eagles, the Muskie boys’ hockey team next plans to ride herd on some bad-attitude Broncos.
The black-and-gold hammered the Dryden Eagles 9-3 here Monday night to sweep their best-of-three NorWOSSA semi-final after taking Game 1 by a 12-4 score up there Sunday.
With the victory, Fort High now will run head-on into their fiercest rival this season, the Kenora Broncos, in the best-of-three NorWOSSA final that starts tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
Game 2 will go Friday in Kenora, with Game 3 (if necessary) back at the IFK Arena next Monday (March 3) at 7:15 p.m.
The victor will advance to the OFSAA ‘AA’ championship March 18-21 in Burlington/Oakville.
“You have to say the guys played well, considering we had 22 goals for and were plus-14 in goal differential over the two games,” noted Muskie head coach Jamie Davis.
“I think the guys understand the importance of playing one game at a time,” he added.
“But, certainly, winning NorWOSSA and getting to OFSAA is our goal.”
Muskie forward Tyler VanUden, who had two goals and three assists in Monday night’s clincher, voiced that same theme.
“We’re not there yet and we’ve got work still to do to get to OFSAA,” he stressed.
“We expect Kenora to come out and be physical, and even chippy,” he noted.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun.”
Braden Webb had a hat trick in Game 2 while Cole Tymkin added a pair of goals.
Carter Brown and Brett Hahkala rounded out the scoring.
“It’s Braden’s first hat trick of the year but he’s played well all season and he certainly did a great job tonight [Monday],” said Davis.
Jonah Johnson earned the win in goal while Brady Desserre was saddled with the loss.
In the opener Sunday, the Muskies raced out to a 6-1 lead after the first period and were up 10-2 through 40 minutes to take the fight out of the upset-minded Eagles.
Tymkin, Jarred Taylor, and David Pryde each scored twice in that one, with Brown, Chase Ferguson, Webb, Graeme Kitt, Hahkala, and VanUden adding singles.
Derek Kaemingh registered the win in goal while Devin Caren never made it out of the first period in taking the loss.
The Broncos, meanwhile, are coming off a hard-fought 2-1 series win over the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints (Kenora), winning 5-4 in Game 3 on Monday night.
“Beaver Brae’s got a strong goalie,” noted VanUden.
“We’ve got to get pucks on goal and crash the net to make it tough for him,” he said.
