Staff
They didn’t win the ultimate game but they did win their last one.
The Muskie boys’ hockey team earned a third-place finish at the sixth-annual Boston Pizza Piper Classic Tournament of Champions in Winnipeg with a 4-3 win over the College Jeanne-Sauvé Olympiens in the bronze-medal game yesterday.
Graeme Kitt, who was second in tournament scoring with seven points, netted his second of the game during a power play late in the third period to provide the game-winner.
Jon Busch had the other two goals for the Muskies, who won the Classic last year, while Matt Booth made 43 saves to earn the win in goal.
Fort High won both its preliminary-round games to finish first in Pool ‘B’ at the 12-team tourney, where the Muskies played all four of their games against teams from Winnipeg.
The black-and-gold nipped the Sturgeon Heights Huskies 4-3 to start things off Friday.
Cooper Witherspoon, Kitt, Sully Shortreed, and Sam Tibbs were the goal scorers while Booth got the win.
On Saturday, the Muskies had to rally late to earn a 3-1 win over the St. John’s-Ravenscourt Eagles.
Despite getting outshot 44-6 in the game, the Eagles somehow led 1-0 before Fort High fought back in the final 1:30.
With goalie Dylan Ossachuk pulled for an extra attacker, Shortreed tied the game before Kitt set up Witherspoon on a 2-on-1 rush right after the subsequent face-off.
Kitt then added an empty-netter to seal the deal.
In Saturday’s semi-final, the Muskies were unable to come back from a 2-0 deficit and eventually fell 5-3 to the Oak Park Raiders, who entered the game with a 16-1 record in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League.
Witherspoon, Shortreed, and Mike Drouin had the Muskie goals while Ossachuk took the loss despite 25 saves.
The Muskies played the tournament without veteran forwards Chase McGuire (personal) and Matt Cheetham, who no longer is with the team.
Fort High returns to the ice this weekend for a three-game exhibition series against the Thunder Bay Minor Midget ‘AAA’ Kings at the Couchiching Arena.
The teams will square off Saturday at 1 p.m. and at 8 p.m. before wrapping up Sunday at 11 a.m.
