Two Fort teams tangle in Emo

Two Fort Frances teams–the OPP Midgets and B•Macs–squared off at the Emo Arena last Monday (Jan. 11).
The OPP jumped out in front quickly on goals by Scott Witherspoon, Merv Rose, and Jeff Savage while Esselink and Hayward replied for the B•Macs.
Then the B•Macs came on strong in the second period, with T. Rose (two) and Ottertail tallying. Savage got the OPP’s lone goal of the frame.
Hayward then put the B•Macs up 6-4, which held up until the 1:49 mark of the third when Savage completed his hat trick. But that would be as close as the OPP would get.
In local PeeWee action, Gillons’ struck quickly against visiting International Falls en route to a 7-0 shutout, scoring two goals in the first period, three in the second, and then two more in the third.
Greg Hartlin led Emo with three goals while Jeremy Hyatt had two. Mitchell Mosher and Ryan Fedorak added singles.
But the Emo Panthers came out on the short end of a 1-0 score to visiting Esso (Fort Frances). Joe Yerxa, assisted by Kurtis Wepruk, got the lone goal late in the third period.
Meanwhile, the Emo Cowboys, preparing for their weekend tournament, engaged the Emo Predators and had no difficulties earning a 6-2 win although it was tied 2-2 heading into the third.
Jeff LaFleur, Nathan Shute, Donald Kellar, Tyler Mann, Jeff Friesen, and Cole Kaemingh all scored for the Cowboys while Daniel Hettinga and Mike Niskala replied for the Predators.
In Novice action, Emo OPP nipped the Emo Wings 2-1 in a tight game that wasn’t decided until Tyler Huntley netted the game-winner with about two minutes to play.
Jared Barker had given the OPP the lead in the first period, which held up until Chris Strachan (unassisted) tied the game in the third–setting the stage for Huntley’s heroics.