Muskies struggle to open seasons

The Muskie girls’ hockey team opened their NorWOSSA season with a 2-1 overtime loss to the visiting Dryden Eagles on Tuesday night while the boys’ squad fell 5-2 to the host Eagles in their opener last night.
The girls played a disciplined game, only being whistled for one penalty, but they couldn’t put the game away in regulation time thanks to Eagles’ goalie Kelsey Fuerst, who stopped 25 shots.

After the first two periods were scoreless, Alexis Reid put Dryden up 1-0 in the third. But Kailey Curtis responded for the Muskies just over a minute later to send the game to overtime.
Kylee Engstrom got the last laugh, however, as her individual effort gave the visitors the win.
The Muskie girls continued where they had left off from a weekend tournament in Winnipeg, struggling around the net despite getting ample scoring chances.
“Same story, not finishing on opportunities and allowing the other team to stay in the game,” head coach Chris Hill remarked.
Meanwhile, the Muskie boys opened NorWOSSA play in Dryden last night, where they were foiled by a 30-save performance by Eagles’ goalie Zach Lake.
“Our team just didn’t have the effort last night,” new Muskie coach Shawn Jourdain admitted. “I think if we would’ve put forth an effort and done the things we’ve been talking about for a month, I think it would’ve been a different outcome, but that’s hockey.”
Kevin Trott, Ryan Lobreau, Aaron Lane, Kyle Hamilton, and Cam Hoedl scored for the Eagles while Cody McCool and Kyle Herr netted the Muskies’ markers.
The black-and-gold next head to Morden, Man. for a tournament beginning tomorrow, and Jourdain said it’s best to put this game behind them and get back to the drawing board.
“Devin Ball and Brett McMahon really put an effort in last night, and they are going to see a little more [ice] time because of it this weekend,” Jourdain said.
“I don’t know if it’s the young guys not being prepared or what, we have a lot of new faces, but I guess we’ll get back to the basics and try to shore up some things in practice tonight for Morden,” he added.