Two Weekends, Two Losses, Two Wins Bantam Ice Dawgs Split Four Home Games

Over the last two weekends, the Glasgow Bantam Ice Dawgs were challenged by formidable opponents in four home games.

The first weekend in January, the Ice Dawgs faced the Billings Junior Bulls in a pair of games at the Valley Event Center.

In the first game against Billings, Glasgow drew the initial goal of the game when Ike Braaten scored unassisted in the first period. Billings answered with a goal later in the same period and scored again in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. Early in the third period, Michael Uphues for the Dawgs found the back of the net to tie the game 2-2. Less than a minute later, the Bulls scored what would be the final goal of the game and claimed a 3-2 victory. Goalie Colton Pewitt made 38 saves on 41 shots.

Despite their attempts to avenge the loss the day before, the Ice Dawgs were unable to come away with a win in the second game of the weekend. Several scoring chances for the Dawgs early in the first period were thwarted, and Billings capitalized to close the period with a 1-0 lead.

Early in the second period, Billings extended their lead with another goal. Bridger Barnett was able to answer with a goal off an assist from Braaten midway through the second period.

Despite firing eight shots on the net during the third period, Barnett's goal would be the final goal of the game. The Jr. Bulls would eventually send three more pucks into the net to win the game 5-1.

Pewitt had 32 saves on 37 shots through the contest.

This past weekend, Glasgow hosted the Helena Bighorns for games on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Glasgow lit the scoreboard early in the first period of the first game as Braaten scored on an assist from Barnett. Before the end of the period, Helena was able to tie the game with a goal of their own.

In the second period, the Dawgs put two pucks past the pipes on goals from Braaten and Perkins, and the Bighorns found the back of the net to score as well.

The Ice Dawgs entered the third period with a narrow 3-2 lead. The third period would become the penalty period for Glasgow.

The Ice Dawgs were able to score twice early in the third period with goals from Braaten and Brit Fairclough. Soon after, the Ice Dawgs got into penalty trouble and began rotating skaters in and out of the penalty box.

Glasgow had to skate through a three on five situation for a portion of the third period. It seemed that Glasgow was just falling apart on the ice, and for the most part Helena was able to capitalize on the situation.

The Bighorns narrowed Glasgow's lead to 5-3 and at one time pulled their goalie to boost their numbers on the ice. That decision would benefit the Ice Dawgs when Braaten was able to break away with the puck and score a goal on the empty net. That goal secured the Dawg victory at 6-3.

Pewitt made some outstanding saves during the game and turned back 30 of 33 shots, and Braaten recorded a hat trick in the contest.

The second game against Helena was a back-and-forth battle. Glasgow entertained a 3-1 first period lead on goals from Braaten (2) and Aden Perkins with assists credited to Uphues and Perkins.

The Ice Dawgs put two more goals past Helena in the second period when Barnett scored off a feed from Fairclough, and Braaten scored unassisted. However, the Bighorns were able to tally three goals in the second period to keep the game close at 5-4.

The Ice Dawgs pressed on in the third period as Barnett set up three assists for goals by Uphues and Braaten (2) to overcome a goal scored by Helena. At the final horn, the Ice Dawgs defeated the Helena Bighorns 8-5.

Pewitt turned back 34 of 39 Bighorn shots, and Braaten recorded his second hat trick of the weekend.

The Glasgow Bantam Ice Dawgs have a roster of 12 players: Bridger Barnett, Ike Braaten, Brit Fairclough, Brayden Hansen, Bailey Hansen, Trevor Johnson, Noah Lipszyc, Aden Perkins, Colton Pewitt (goalie), Kristian Price, Koby Regalado, and Michael Uphues.