Ice Hawks skate to second at State B hockey tourney

It was an up-and-down season for the short-handed Havre Ice Hawks high school hockey team, but it finished in exciting fashion as the Ice Hawks earned second place at the Montana State B High School Hockey Tournament this past weekend in Miles City.

In a tournament featuring the Ice Hawks, Butte, Glasgow and Miles City, Havre pulled off a thrilling win in pool play Saturday night to advance to Sunday’s championship game.

In the final game, the Ice Hawks fell to the Butte Copper Kings 6-2.

The Ice Hawks came up with the first goal at 14:24 in the 1st period, it was scored by Cole Hanson and assisted by Barrett Kilgore on a power play. Then Butte picked up two in the 1st period. The Hawks put another one in at 15:32 in the 2nd period scored by Kade Friede and assisted by Alex Stilger. Butte came through with another at 6:55 in the 2nd period.

With a score of 3-2 at the start of the 3rd period, the Ice Hawks had their fans fired up. Then at 8:32 in the 3rd, Butte captured one, and another at 7:18 with a power play and again at 1:51 outscoring the Hawks with a final score of 6-2.

Butte’s offense was just too strong in the end, as Nic Stump faced 41 shots, saving an outstanding 35 on the day. Havre got 21 shots on the Butte goal.

The Copper Kings also defeated Havre 6-0 Friday night in the opening game of the tournament. Stump in goal, held Butte off until 3:24 in the 1st period. Then another one escaped at 10:15 in the 2nd. The next four goals were all in the 3rd period. Stump had 41 shots with 35 saves, and the Ice Hawks had 21 shots on the Butte goal.

With the loss, Havre needed two wins to get to the championship game, and that’s exactly what the Ice Hawks got. On Saturday morning, the Ice Hawks pounded the Miles City Generals, 7-3, as Clifford Lenhardt had two goals and an assist, Kade Friede scored twice, and Barrett Kilgore, August Eacker and Bryce Denton also scored goals, while Cole Hanson, Noah Kirsch and Jeffrey Ralph added assists. Stump also saved 29 Miles City shots in the win.

That victory gave Havre a chance to go to the championship game, and the Ice Hawks earned it with a thrilling 1-0 win over the Glasgow Ice Dogs Saturday night. Lenhardt’s goal in the second period proved to be the game-winner, while Stump pitched a shutout between the pipes, totaling 22 saves, and helping Havre reach the state championship game.