Muskies earn crucial win

The Muskie girls’ hockey team earned a crucial 2-1 victory over the visiting Kenora Broncos Tuesday night at the Ice for Kids Arena.
With the win, the black-and-gold are now three points clear of the Broncos for second place in the NorWOSSA standings with a game in hand. They also pulled to within four points of the idle first place Dryden Eagles with a game in hand.
“It was a big game,” head coach Lynn Kellar said. “We told the kids we have to win every game now. First [in NorWOSSA] is still there.”
“Tonight the effort was there,” Kellar added. “Some of the things we’ve been trying to get to do, they were working tonight.”
“They didn’t all go in, but there were some good plays made.”
Unlike earlier in the year when the Muskies were often guilty of relinquishing leads to the opposition, the black-and-gold
“We’ve played a lot of one-goal games, so we are getting better at it,” Kellar said.
“Compared to previous years, this group of kids are more confident in that situation.”
Lauren Krukoski opened the scoring early in the second period with her team-leading 24th goal of the season—wiring a snap snot top corner while on the penalty kill.
The Broncos tied the game before the second intermission, when captain Jennifer Meisner beat Muskie goalie Katie Stearns.
However, the Muskies would pull ahead for good midway through the third period on a perfectly executed play.
Carlee Holt chipped the puck up the boards past the Bronco defender to send Krukoski and Cortney Caldwell in on a two-on-one break. Krukoski then feathered a pass across to Caldwell, who beat Bronco goalie Amanda Kowalik stick side to give the Muskies a 2-1 advantage.
The Broncos pressed the attack late in the period in hopes of netting the tying goal but were repeatedly turned away by Stearns. The sophomore goalie stood on her head making several key saves in the waning minutes of the game to preserve the Muskies’ 2-1 lead and pick-up the crucial league victory.