Muskies Pull Away From Rivermen for 9-5 Presidents Cup Victory

By Gary Groob 

The Snake Island Muskies (1-0) faced the Six Nations Rivermen (0-1) in day one action at the Presidents Cup in Edmonton, Alberta. 

The goaltending match-up had Nick Damude in net for the Muskies facing Cam Dunkerley in net for the Rivermen. 

The Snake Island Muskies used a fast start and timely responses to defeat the Six Nations Rivermen 9-5 in Presidents Cup action in Edmonton, Alberta. Snake Island built a 4-2 first-period advantage behind two goals from Vaughn Harris, while Skkylar Thomas opened the scoring with a highlight-reel diving effort. Six Nations battled back in the second, but a pair of goals from Challen Rogers helped the Muskies maintain a 6-4 lead through 40 minutes.

Snake Island put the game out of reach early in the third, as Tanner Cook and Stone Jacobs scored just 24 seconds apart to stretch the advantage to four. David Peterkin answered for the Rivermen, but Harris completed his hat trick on the power play at 13:20 to seal the 9-5 victory. Nick Damude and the Muskies held off a Six Nations attack that generated 47 shots, while Harris earned Player of the Game honors for Snake Island and Dalton Kane received the honor for the Rivermen.

To The Game:

The Muskies opened the scoring at 7:26 when Skkylar Thomas scored a highlight-reel goal, diving across the crease off a Tanner Cook pass. Vaughn Harris followed just 45 seconds later, blasting a Willem Firth feed home from in close.

Thunder Hill cut the deficit in half at 13:13, firing a sidearm snipe into the top corner off a Dalton Kane pass.

Willem Firth restored the Muskies’ two-goal advantage in transition off a Christopher Willman pass at 16:14. Harris then added his second of the period 29 seconds later, using half a dozen fakes before beating Dunkerley.

David Anderson brought the Rivermen back within two, firing an outside laser off a Marshall Powless feed at 18:52.

After one period, Snake Island 4, Six Nations 2.

Shots on goal favored the Muskies 17–14.

Second Period:

The Rivermen opened the second-period scoring with Jackson Webster firing a high-to-low blast off a Thunder Hill pass at 3:27, but Challen Rogers replied with a spin move from the inside before finding the far corner off a Jacob Ruest feed at 4:25.

Rogers struck again at 13:46, finishing with a quick stick from the top of the crease off a Vaughn Harris pass for his second of the period. Dalton Kane answered just 25 seconds later, finding the top corner off a David Peterkin feed.

After two periods, Snake Island 6, Six Nations 4.

Shots on goal favored the Rivermen 17-15.

Third Period:

Tanner Cook wasted no time getting Snake Island rolling in the third, converting a Willem Firth feed from the top of the crease just 49 seconds into the period. Stone Jacobs followed only 24 seconds later, scoring in transition off a long lead pass from Nick Damude to extend the Muskies’ lead.

David Peterkin kept Six Nations within striking distance with a sidearm bouncer off a Dalton Kane pass at 7:10, but Vaughn Harris completed his hat trick on the power play at 13:20 off a Tanner Cook feed, putting the game on ice for Snake Island.

Final score, Snake Island Muskies 9, Six Nations Rivermen 5.

Shots on goal were tied 16-16 in the third, for a game total of 48-47 in favor of the Muskies.

Players of the Game

Snake Island Muskies - Vaughn Harris 

Six Nations Rivermen  - Dalton Kane