Jamie Mountain
The Muskie girls’ hockey team will be looking to solidify their game this week as they head towards the NorWOSSA playoffs.
Heading into yesterday’s final game of the regular season against the host Sioux Lookout Warriors (the outcome wasn’t known at press time), the black-and-gold (13-1-1) sat just three points up on the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints from Kenora (12-3) for first place in the league.
“Honestly, [we’re] just looking to finish strong and enjoy our last game,” Muskie head coach Todd Hamilton noted yesterday morning.
The Muskies went into their final game on the heels of a narrow 5-4 triumph over the Saints on Monday night in Kenora.
Captain Annalise (C.C.) Hayes notched four goals to pace Fort High’s offence in that one.
Hayes opened the scoring at 10:54 of the first period, with Jillian Calder and Taylor Croswell drawing the assists.
Chelsea Henderson drew the Saints even at 9:46.
Nat Reynard then gave the home side a 2-1 lead with 6:52 left in the opening frame.
Hayes netted her second of the game just 1:23 into the second period to knot it at 2-2.
Henderson then buried one at 11:07 to give the Saints the lead once more.
But the Muskies stormed back. Avery Cates made it all square again before Hayes scored twice more to put Fort High ahead 5-3 after 40 minutes.
The Saints did get one back with 1:37 to go in the game but it was too little, too late.
Kamryn Sandelovich earned the win between the pipes.
“Our kids came to play,” enthused Hamilton. “It was a tough, physical game and our players earned the win.”
“C.C. Hayes had four goals and was involved from the drop of the puck to the final buzzer, [and it was] one of her best games of season,” he lauded.
“Avery Cates was solid on ‘D,’ adding a great power-play goal [and] the entire team played one of their better games of the season.”
Depending on how the season wraps up, the Muskies will face either the Kenora Broncos or Sioux Lookout in the best-of-three NorWOSSA semi-finals that are slated to begin here Feb. 20.
Hamilton knows his squad will be in for a tough battle no matter who their opponent turns out to be.
“Like I said back in November, I think any team in NorWOSSA can win this season,” he reasoned.
“It will boil down to what team wants it more.
“We need our best players to play their best, work hard, play smart, and have fun,” he concluded.
