FORT FRANCES — While a different Canada-United States matchup was gathering attention nationally, International Falls defeated Fort Frances 4-1 locally at the Ice For Kids Arena to take a 2-0 series lead on the Muskies this season.
The two Borderland rivals square off again Feb. 19 for the final time this season.
“Anytime you come over here and beat Fort Frances in Fort Frances, it’s a good thing,” Broncos head coach John Prettyman said.
While the U.S. was battling Canada in the world junior hockey championship Tuesday — in a contest won in overtime by International Falls’ own Dean Blais and the U.S. (see inset) — International Falls used a three-goal cushion to fend off a sluggish Muskies squad.
Fort Frances head coach Shawn Jourdain didn’t know his team’s record after playing over 30 games, but he knew where this loss ranked.
“We just didn’t have it tonight,” he said. “It was probably one of the worst games we’ve played this year.”
The Broncos took a 1-0 lead in the first period on an unassisted goal by Willie Corrin before exploding for two goals early in the second. The Broncos had a 5-on-3 advantage for 58 seconds to open the second, and although they didn’t score with two extra skaters, Jon McDonald made it 2-0 with a power-play tally with one extra skater. Corrin added his second goal a little over a minute later just 2:34 into the period to make it 3-0.
From there the Broncos coasted, clamping down in the zone during the eight penalties called after taking a 3-0 lead, including two that took away breakaways.
The Muskies were whistled for only one penalty during that stretch, which allowed a shift in momentum with all the man-advantages.
“We had a lot of chances to put the game out of reach, but we didn’t make good on them,” Prettyman said.
However, Fort Frances couldn’t solve Mike Hart or get any continuity on the offensive end. Hart finished with 27 saves, while Devin Stromness stopped 35 shots in the loss.
“All over the ice. Can’t pick one part where we played well,” Jourdain said.
Devin Ball scored at the 11:50 mark of the second to cut the lead to 3-1, but Michael Bounds added an insurance goal late in the third to put away the Muskies.
The Broncos (8-5) return to action Thursday at Eveleth-Gilbert before playing at home Saturday against Hermantown.
Game notes
• The crowd was much smaller than usual, in large part to the world junior championship, which had scoring updates throughout the Broncos-Muskies game.
• Matt Youso, Andy Dougherty and Derek Riley returned to action after missing time with injuries. Jeff Shermoen (illness), Dominic Casareto (knee) and Kalan Schneider (ankle) missed the game.
• The Broncos have a 12-day layoff after Saturday’s contest
I. Falls 4, Fort Frances 1
IF 1 2 1—4
FF 0 1 0—1
First period — IF, Willie Corrin, 7:11.
Second period — IF, Jon McDonald (Michael Bounds, Matt Youso), PP, 1:20; IF, Corrin, 2:34; FF, Devin Ball (Nathan Calder), 11:50.
Third period — IF, Bounds (Brandon Richards), 13:57.
Goalies — IF, Mike Hart, 27 saves; FF, Devin Stromness, 35 saves.
