Staff
It wasn’t so much a hockey schedule as it was a barnstorming tour.
The Muskie boys’ hockey team were put through their paces extensively in NorWOSSA action this past week, having to play five games in four days in three separate towns.
An arduous workload finally caught up to them Monday night, when Fort High (10-1) lost its first game of the regular season 6-4 to the host Dryden Eagles.
Having already delivered a 12-1 beatdown to the host Sioux Lookout Warriors that morning, the Muskies looked the part of the weary traveller in the back half of a rare day-night doubleheader.
Fort High trailed 2-0 after the first period and 4-2 after the second.
The Muskies pulled to within one late in the third but then gave up an empty-net goal in the dying seconds.
Jarred Taylor, Graeme Kitt, and Kendyn Faragher had three of the four Muskie goals (the fourth goal scorer was unavailable at press time).
Jordan Carlson was saddled with the loss in goal.
Taylor had a five-goal outing in the morning blowout of Sioux Lookout, but the bigger story may have been Bantam ‘AA’ call-up Sullivan Shortreed.
The younger brother of veteran Muskie blueliner Spencer Shortreed was outstanding against older-level competition, compiling a hat trick in the game.
His sibling celebrated with a goal of his own, to go along with markers by Tyler VanUden, Hunter Koles, and Kitt.
Dylan Ossachuk earned the victory in goal.
Fort High had opened the two-game series in Sioux Lookout with a 6-3 triumph Sunday.
Taylor netted in a hat trick to lead the way while Max Williams, Kitt, and Koles added singles.
Carlson got the win between the pipes.
The weekend bonanza of action kicked off Friday night as the Muskies routed the visiting Red Lake Rams 20-0.
Taylor (five goals) and VanUden (four) each racked up 13 points total against a Rams’ team that includes three female players (Red Lake is not icing a girls’ program this season).
Brent Jourdain also had four goals, while Chase McGuire netted a pair of tallies as part of an eight-point night.
Carter Brown also scored twice, with singles going to Sam Tibbs and Williams.
Then on Saturday afternoon, the Muskies got even closer to the team record of 25 goals in one game, set back in the 1972-73 season.
Leading 17-0 after the second, Fort High lit the lamp three times in the first seven minutes of the third.
But the Muskies put the brakes on after that and settled for a 21-0 victory.
Taylor, VanUden and McGuire piled up eight points apiece, with Taylor nabbing seven goals and McGuire five.
Koles bulged the twine four times while Matt Cheetham managed a pair.
VanUden, Tibbs, and Kitt tacked on singles to back Ossachuk’s shutout effort.
The Muskies next will host the Detroit Lakes Lakers (Mn.) in an exhibition game this Saturday at 7:15 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena.
Fort High lost 5-2 to Detroit Lakes on Dec. 29 during the Ralph Engelstad Classic in Thief River Falls.
