Joey Payeur
Adversity can bring a team closer together.
For what their head coach has had to endure this pre-season, this year’s Muskie boys’ hockey squad may be as cohesive a group as has worn the black-and-gold in many a season.
The Muskies headed into last night’s NorWOSSA season-opener against the host Dryden Eagles with a makeshift coaching crew due to the absence of head coach Jamie Davis after the tragic passing of his infant daughter, Addilyn, late last month.
Jordan Sinclair will run the team for now, assisted by last year’s team captain, Carter Brown, and the ever-present Ken “Keno” Christiansen, who is beginning his sixth decade behind Fort High’s bench.
“I think, obviously, it is an incredibly unfortunate situation what’s happened,” said Sinclair.
“The guys have done a really good job sticking together and being there for one another,” he noted.
“It’s a very tight-knit group,” Sinclair added. “They hang out at school together and everybody gets along.
“We’re there for Jamie and the family, and we’ll support them every way we can,” he stressed.
“But the guys understand as far as hockey goes, nothing changes.
“They know they have to hold each other accountable, and that you still have to expect the best out of yourself and your teammates.”
The Muskies got their only taste of pre-season action on Saturday at the annual “Scrimmagefest” event in Warroad, Mn. that featured three loosely-structured games.
They opened with losses to a Grand Forks, N.D. split squad and then the Sartell (Mn.) Sabres before capping the day with a tie against the host Warriors.
“The guys did a real good job making adjustments and they looked more confident in what they were doing,” noted Sinclair.
“After practising for the past month-and-a-half, the guys were chomping at the bit to get going.”
Sinclair was pleased with what he saw out of his more experienced players, such as the line of Graeme Kitt, Chase McGuire, and Matt Cheetham.
“They’re veteran guys who may not have played together as a line before but who can get the job done,” he remarked.
But even more eye-catching was the work turned in by rookies Cooper Witherspoon, Nick Hahkala, and Jake Clendenning.
“You’ve got two Grade 9s and a Grade 10 who bring great energy when they’re out there,” lauded Sinclair.
“It’s already a big step going from Bantam . . . and now you’ve got them going up against really good teams like what we faced in Warroad,” he added.
“It’s a pretty big jump for these kids, but they did all right.”
Returning goalie Dylan Ossachuk shouldered the load in Warroad and will continue in that capacity with rookie back-up Matt Booth just coming off a broken collarbone suffered while playing with the Muskie football team earlier this year.
“Matt’s been cleared to practice and he can go in if there’s an emergency, although we don’t want Dylan getting hurt,” said Sinclair.
The Muskies continue NorWOSSA action this Friday and Saturday with a two-game set here against the Sioux Lookout Warriors.
Friday’s game gets underway at 7:15 p.m. at the Ice for Kids Arena, with the puck dropping at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday at the ’52 Canadians Arena.
Fort High then will host the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints next Tuesday (Nov. 24) at 7:15 p.m. at the IFK Arena.
