Staff
The Muskie boys’ hockey team briefly looked as if it was in danger of dropping two games in a row for the first time this season.
But after trailing the Kittson Central Bearcats 1-0 after the first period of Saturday afternoon’s exhibition game here, the black-and-gold exploded for six goals in the second period en route to a 7-1 victory.
The win was a rebound from Fort High’s first loss in NorWOSSA play—a 6-4 setback in Kenora last Tuesday night.
Things started slowly for the Muskies on Saturday as the visitors netted the lone goal of the first period.
Bearcats’ captain Markus Dahl was given time to chip at the puck in front of Muskie goalie Devin Stromness, and eventually forced it into the net.
The first period also proved to be a parade to the penalty box, with Fort High taking three of its five minor penalties in the opening stanza.
The black-and-gold came through early in the second when, deep in his own zone, Tyson McLean found Nick Jourdain left wide open at the Kittson blueline during a poor Bearcat change.
Jourdain cruised in and beat Jackson Klein blocker side to even the game at 1-1.
It then took the Muskies just 30 seconds to claim the lead as Nick Kaun deposited a Brendan Cawston rebound.
After McLean scored an impressive goal, dangling through the Kittson defence before wristing a shot blocker side, Ryan Lundy stole the puck while the Muskies were shorthanded and fired one to a similar spot at 8:41.
Lundy’s marker prompted a goalie change, but Tucker Cosley initially fared no better as Robbie Rea welcomed him to the game with a deke on a breakaway just 29 seconds later.
Rea’s goal also came shorthanded.
Jourdain later notched his second of the game on the power play when he pounced on his own rebound and roofed the puck past Cosley at 11:54.
He then completed the hat trick with another power-play goal just 56 seconds into the third, banging the puck home from in front of Cosley.
Stromness had to make just seven saves. Klein made 11 for Kittson while Cosley stopped 19.
The Muskies are back in action next Monday (Dec. 27) when they open the annual Hilltopper Holiday Classic tournament in Duluth against Edgewood (Madison, Wis.).
Fort High then will take on the host International Falls Broncos in an exhibition game on Jan. 4.
The squad won’t see action at the Ice For Kids Arena until Jan. 18, when St. Thomas Aquinas (Kenora) visits for a 7:15 p.m. start.
In girls’ action, the Muskies dropped their second game in as many nights with a 4-3 setback in Dryden on Friday night.
The loss dropped the black-and-gold to 1-6 in NorWOSSA play.
The girls will hit the ice next Monday (Dec. 27) for their alumni game at 1:45 p.m.
Their next NorWOSSA action is slated for Jan. 11 when St. Thomas Aquinas visits at 7:15 p.m.
