Billings bullies Ice Hawks in the Ice Dome

As some sports seasons are still in there early stages, others are nearing the midway point of the season, including Montana high school hockey.

As the middle of the season draws closer, teams like the Havre Ice Hawks are looking to gets some wins to make a good run in the postseason.

Unfortunately, the Ice Hawks met with a brick wall last Saturday and Sunday in the Havre Ice Dome - the Billings Bulls. Havre was swept by Billings, with by scores of 4-1 Saturday and 9-0 Sunday. It was a tough weekend for the Ice Hawks, who are pushing for more wins on the year.

Despite the losses, Havre head coach Barry Brownlee knows there were positives from the series alongside the negatives.

"Our first game was pretty good," said Brownlee. "Our goalie (Trennis Riley) kept us in the game for sure. This game (Sunday), our guys were just tired too quick."

In Saturday's game, Billings was the first to strike in the first period with a goal by Duke Cherpeski, followed by a defensive stunt on both sides to halt the scoring game for some time. But in the second period, Tavish McLean put the Ice Hawks on the board with a power play goal, tying the score 1-1.

From there, the Bulls took the game, starting off with a goal from Patrick Crooks, who had many on the weekend. Billings put up two more goals, one by Johnathan Hertz, to claim the first game.

Game two continued to be a big day for the Bulls. Daylon Rinebarger sent the puck into the net for the first goal on the day, followed by goals from Crooks, Ian Forsyth and Raymond McCollum to lead 4-0 at the end of the first period.

In the second period of game two, Rinebarger and Crooks put the puck home to add two more goals to Billings' score. Crooks, along with two other players on the Bulls, pushed Billings to the win with three more goals to take the series.

Compared to Saturday's bout, Sunday's game was a lot tougher on the Ice Hawks and Brownlee knows the reason.

"I think they were so exhausted from playing the game before," said Brownlee. "But they were trying and moving the puck, but I could just tell they were exhausted. They worked so hard last night that they couldn't play today."

Brownlee saw someone stand out over the weekend on the ice, as well, even if the player did not score any goals.

"Jocelyn Staples did really well," said Brownlee. "She stepped up to a level that I haven't seen her play before and it was impressive. I really liked that."

Next up, the Ice Hawks will play in the Havre Ice Dome against Butte Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. to continue the season. It's the final regular season games for the Ice Hawks inside the Havre Ice Dome.