Muskie girls still winless in league play

Playing against an offensively-challenged Red Lake Rams squad here last weekend, the Muskie girls’ hockey team could hide their defensive lapses.
The Kenora Broncos would allow for no such deceit.
The Muskies were pulverized on the shot clock, and didn’t do much better on the scoreboard, as the fell 8-1 to the host Broncos last night to fall to 0-5 in NorWOSSA play.
“It was a poor defensive effort on our part,” said Muskie assistant coach Al Barr, whose troops were outshot 67-13 as goalie Kim Pacarenuk faced an unrelenting firing squad.
“We could have played with them, but we didn’t have the execution.”
Courtney Caldwell had the only goal for Fort High at 2:30 of the third period, and has scored three of the Muskies’ four regular-season goals to date.
Needing to find their feet after losing their first three NorWOSSA contests by a combined 28-1, the black-and-gold brought their lunch pails on the road against the Dryden Eagles last Wednesday (Dec. 10).
With the Eagles posting a 47-22 advantage in shots on goal, Muskie goalie Megan Bob was stellar in keeping her team tied 2-2 after two periods. But goals by Joanna Lappage and Caitlin Egli in the third were the difference in a 4-2 Eagles’ victory.
Felicia Fletcher and Nikki Kruger had the other Dryden tallies while Katie McTavish and Caldwell countered for the Muskies.
The defence stepped to centre stage in the Muskies’ 3-1 loss to the Lake of the Woods Bears (Baudette) in exhibition action at Rainy River last Thursday.
The Bears got goals from Breezy Johnson and Danielle Rudd in the first to take a 2-0 advantage. Kristin Roehrig got the Muskies back in the game with 1:34 left in the second, but Sam Reinert made sure of the Bears’ success by scoring at 8:32 of the third.
But the offence was in abundance during the Muskies’ two-game sweep of the Red Lake Rams in exhibition action here over the weekend.
Roehrig was credited with a hat trick, although one of linemate Hannah Firth’s two goals should have gone to her, as the ‘AA’ Muskies blasted the ‘A’ Rams 13-3 at the ’52 Canadians Arena on Friday night.
Stephanie Strachan and Francine McCabe also netted a pair of markers, with Sarah O’Sullivan, McTavish, Carly Holt, and Caldwell adding singles. Candice Lajeunesse had the hat trick to supply Red Lake’s only offence.
Then on Saturday afternoon in the Ice for Kids Arena, the Rams received more punishment as the all-rookie line of Caldwell, McCabe, and Cassandra Cochrane had five of the goals in a 9-1 rout by Fort High.
“It’s mostly just about teamwork,” said Caldwell, who scored twice in the win. “By the three of us getting put together, it gives us more confidence on the ice.
“I don’t know how we’ll fare against the better teams, but I think we can do all right.”
Muskie head coach Jim McMahon said it was worth the risk to put the trio of newcomers together if it meant them realizing their potential to help the hockey team.
“I thought they were hesitant in this early part of the season and trying to let the veterans take over all the time,” said McMahon. “I gave them the opportunity, and they took full advantage of it.
“It’s good for the whole team if the rookies are ready to step up and show they’re ready to be part of the team and contribute,” he added.
Cochrane fired a hat trick in Saturday’s win, with Holt, Roehrig, Strachan, and Firth rounding out the scoring.
“We’re getting better at knowing where everyone is going to be on the ice,” said Roehrig, who carries the mantle of team captain this season. “We’re a new team for the most part, but we’re getting closer to where we want to be.”
The only negative for the Muskies in the victory was a penchant for penalties, with Kerry Hyatt and McTavish ejected for hitting from behind infractions.
McCabe was tossed after a gloves-on fight with Red Lake captain Alyx Liedtke.
“The turnovers and discipline were two things we wanted to work on coming into the weekend,” said McMahon. “I think we did a good job in the turnover department.
“The discipline factor has to be addressed, and it will be addressed,” he vowed.
In related news, it was announced Monday that veteran forward Krystine Marchuk has been indefinitely suspended from the team, though no reason was given.