Staff
The Muskie boys’ hockey team expected to make the NorWOSSA final.
What they didn’t expect is who will be staring at them from the other end of the ice.
Five different marksmen lit the lamp as the Muskies beat the host Sioux Lookout Warriors 5-2 in Game 2 of their best-of-three NorWOSSA semi-final series.
The victory meant a 2-0 series sweep of the Warriors and an opportunity for the black-and-gold to go for their 10th-straight league title.
Byron Stewart, James Gushulak, Cam Gushulak, Eric Pitkanen, and Jon Busch all scored for the Muskies, with Matt Booth earning the win in goal.
But it won’t be the second-place Dryden Eagles awaiting them in the best-of-three final that begins this Sunday at 1:15 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
Instead, the third-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas Saints (Kenora) will provide the opposition after they beat the Eagles 5-1 last night to eliminate Dryden in two-straight games.
The Muskies went 3-0 against the Saints this season, outscoring them 18-5.
Both teams already have qualified for the OFSAA ‘A/AA’ championship that runs here March 20-23.
The Muskies automatically are in as the host team and since they made the final, that guaranteed whomever they would face (in this case, the Saints) would be the official NorWOSSA rep at the all-Ontarios.
Game 2 of the final will go next Tuesday (March 7) in Kenora, with Game 3 (if necessary) set for next Thursday (March 9) at 1:15 p.m. at the IFK Arena.
Meanwhile, the schedule also has been finalized for the best-of-three NorWOSSA girls’ final.
The Muskies, seeking their fourth-straight crown, will open the series Friday at 7:15 p.m. at the IFK Arena.
Game 2 will be hosted Monday by either the Dryden Eagles or St. Thomas Aquinas Saints, who will duke it out in the decisive Game 3 of their semi-final series tonight in Dryden.
If necessary, Game 3 will be back at the IFK Arena next Wednesday (March 8) at 1:15 p.m.
