Joey Payeur
Head coach Todd Hamilton was pushing his team to raise the tempo of its game right from the get-go last night.
His players apparently were open to the suggestion.
The Muskies poured it on from the opening face-off en route to a 12-0 romp over the host Kenora Broncos in NorWOSSA girls’ hockey action.
“We were focusing last night on getting the puck to each other quickly, moving our feet a little more, and taking and receiving passes more effectively,” noted Hamilton.
“The kids did well.”
Annalise (CC) Hayes netted four goals for Fort High (8-1), which led 3-0 after the first period and 8-0 through 40 minutes.
Jill Calder and Kelsey Langtry added a pair of goals each while Jenna Clendenning, Taylor Croswell, Siobhan Mackintosh, and Reece McQuaker had singles.
Grade 9 rookie goalie Kamryn Sandelovich made it two shutouts in the past week against the Broncos after backstopping the Muskies to an 8-0 win at the K-Town Winter Classic in Kenora last Friday.
“Kamryn stopped two or three 2-on-1s we gave up,” lauded Hamilton.
“[The Broncos] have a couple of slick players who once they get up the wing are tough to stop,” he noted.
“But we did a good job limiting their opportunities and when they did get their chances, Kamryn came out and challenged the shooters well.”
The Muskies next head to Dryden on Tuesday to face the second-place Eagles (5-1).
NorWOSSA’s two top teams are even in their season series so far at two wins apiece.
Fort High won 4-2 at the pre-season Scott Clendenning Memorial Showcase here and then 8-4 in Dryden to open NorWOSSA play.
But the Eagles nipped the Muskies 2-1 here last Thursday, then blanked the black-and-gold 4-0 on Sunday at the K-Town Winter Classic.
“We have to come out with the same energy and focus we did [last night],” Hamilton stressed.
“Dryden, I expect, will come out with speed and working hard.
“Maybe we will be the ones chasing them at playoff time, that’s a reality,” he warned.
“But the most critical games are the ones in February.”
The Muskies also will take part in the Schwan Cup tournament in Blaine, Mn. starting on Boxing Day.
Then they’ll do a three-day, four-game swing through Thunder Bay for a series of exhibition games Jan. 6-8.
Their next home game is slated for Jan. 10 against the Broncos.
