Short-handed Ice Hawks drop two to Bighorns

It was a trough weekend for the Havre Ice Hawks high school hockey team, and by the end of it, the Ice Hawks were playing with just eight healthy skaters.

Havre started its two-game set with the Helena Bighorns at the Havre Ice Dome with just nine players, and goalie Nic Stump would later be lost to injury. And in the end, the Bighorns swept the Ice Hawks by scores of 17-1 and 13-0.

In the opening game Saturday morning, Havre got a goal from Noah Krisch on an assist by Alex Stilger and Bay Merker. Stump saved 42 shots between the pipes, but the Havre offense managed just eight shots on Helena's goal.

In the second game of the day, in which Havre honored senior Alex Stilger, Helena was relentless. Stump had 50 shots on him through the first two periods, while he saved 41. Merker saved 11 when he came on in relief, while the Ice Hawks had just six shots on goal.

The two games against Helena were Havre's final two home games of the season. The Ice Hawks will be in Whitefish for two games this weekend.