The Muskie hockey teams will go Eagle hunting tonight as the NorWOSSA regular season wraps up.
The male Muskies (15-4) visit Dryden to face the Eagles in a preview of the teams’ best-of-three semi-final playoff match-up, set to begin here Thursday.
The black-and-gold, who already have clinched second place in NorWOSSA, have taken two of three meetings between the two clubs, but lost 7-2 in their only appearance in Dryden back on Dec. 20.
Forwards Justin Larson (shoulder) and Cody Dittaro (knee) are not expected to be in the line-up tonight, with head coach Shane Bliss also uncertain whether the pair will be ready for the semi-finals.
Game one of the semi-final is slated for Thursday at 7:45 p.m. at the Ice for Kids Arena, with game two taking place Sunday afternoon in Dryden.
Game three (if necessary) will be back here next Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the female Muskies (0-11) also will be in Dryden tonight instead of being at home against the Eagles as previously announced.
The return of forward Kristin Roehrig, who’s been battling a lower back injury that kept her out of the Muskies’ last game Feb. 4 against the Kenora Broncos, will be a game-time decision by head coach Jim McMahon.
But blueliner Ashley Whalen definitely will be held out of the line-up again while dealing with post-concussion syndrome dating back to the first week of the regular season.
McMahon had said Sunday night he hopes to have her back for the playoffs.
The Muskies also will be getting a look at their first-round playoff opponent tonight as they are scheduled to travel to Dryden on Friday for the opening of their best-of-three semi-final showdown.
Game two is set for here Sunday at noon at the Ice for Kids Arena, with game three (if necessary) slated back in Dryden next Tuesday night.
Sunday’s game will feature an Atom girls’ hockey exhibition game between the second and third periods.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
