Ice Hawks swept by Helena over the weekend to open the season

This past weekend at the Havre Ice Dome, the Havre Ice Hawks high school hockey team finally began the season. While the Hawks were happy to get back on the ice, the Hawks suffered a 2-1 loss and a 3-0 loss to the Helena Bighorns.

The Hawks opened the season on Saturday night with their 2-1 loss to Helena. It was a slow start for both teams as neither scored in the first period. But just 30 seconds into the second period, Corbin Reighard scored a goal to give the Bighorns the lead. The Hawks responded late in the second period when Austin Boyce scored a goal on a power play to tie the game.

A few minutes into the third period, the Bighorns responded with a goal from Will Carroll to take the lead. They then held the Hawks scoreless the rest of the game to secure the victory. Boyce had the only goal for Havre while Michael Emge and Stephen Preputin each recorded an assist in the game. Goalie Clara Holland recorded a save percentage of .875 in the game.

The Hawks looked to respond Sunday when they once again played the Bighorns. But Helena again got the better of Havre with a 3-0 win to sweep the weekend. Just past the halfway point of the first period, Kaeben Bushnell scored a goal to give Helena the lead.

Early in the second period, the Bighorns increased their lead with another goal from Bushnell. In the third period, Carroll scored a goal to put the game out of reach for the Hawks. While she allowed three goals in the game, Holland recorded a save percentage of .919.

After getting the season started, the Hawks will go on a break until Dec. 10. The Hawks will then resume their season when they head on a road to face the Bozeman Icedogs for a weekend back to back.