HS Ice Dawgs Split Games in Bozeman

The high school Ice Dawgs traveled to Bozeman Jan. 11 and 12 for a pair of intense games against the Icedogs. The Dawgs came home with one loss and one win, and a whole lot of pride.

Ike Braaten, captain, told the Courier, "It was nice to beat a bigger team." The win wasn't the only thing the boys were proud of, it was the intensity of the play over the two games. On Saturday, Glasgow dropped the game and the gloves. The end of the game saw Michael Uphues ejected for fighting and a final score favoring Bozeman, 6-4.

Sunday morning the Dawgs, minus Uphues, battled back in a game that saw goalie Brayden Hansen turn in a standout performance and literal last-minute action for a Glasgow win. Koby Regalado, assistant captain, told the Courier the team expected a lot of rough play Sunday after the fighting and the physicality of the first game. "Considering how rough it was," he said, "it was nice to win."

Trevor Johnson put Glasgow up on the board first with an assist from Braaten 28 seconds into the game. Bozeman scored twice before the buzzer sounded. The second period saw the Icedogs take control of the game and not let go. Bozeman put two pucks in the net before Colter Barnett added one for Glasgow. The hosts would score twice more before intermission to take a 6-2 lead into the final period.

Bozeman did not score again in the game, but the two goals put up by Glasgow were not enough to bring the Dawgs within striking distance. Nik Burke found the back of the net with help from Ian Peterson with 4:46 left and Gage Siefert, assist Burke, scored at 3:16.

Despite a two-goal lead, the tension of the game boiled over. With only four seconds left on the clock, Uphues and Icedog Blake Miessner dropped the gloves, leading to ejections for both players who would sit out for the next day's game. Uphues also served time in the penalty box in the second period for roughing. Teammates Britten Fairclough (roughing, second), Peterson (slashing, third) and Siefert (unsportsmanlike conduct, third) each served two minutes in the sin bin.

Aiden Wilkowski faced a total of 40 shots over three periods of play and Glasgow registered 22 shots on Bozeman's netminder.

The teams returned to the ice Sunday morning, each roster down a man, for a penalty-filled thriller. Bozeman had 19 players suited up to Glasgow's 15, forcing the Dawgs into extended shifts and more time on the ice. "We had a short bench, so we were going a lot more," Braaten said. "One of their kids actually said to me at one point, 'Wow, that's a long shift.'"

Barnett put Glasgow up on the big board first, scoring a short-handed goal after beating a one-on-one and finding the Icedogs goalie far outside the crease. Bozeman would tie the game at 7:32 on a power play goal and take the lead with 4:01 left in the period.

The Icedogs took control in the second period, firing 25 shots on goal and scoring once to take a 3-1 lead into the intermission. However, the Dawgs from Glasgow were not about to lay down and play dead.

Puck control in the third period evened out as both teams notched 12 shots on goal, but it was Glasgow who successfully found the back of the net, three times in fact. Braaten notched a power play goal with an assist from Regalado, the first of three unanswered goals for the Ice Dawgs in the third. With 5:20 left in the game, Braaten assisted Burke on the game-tying goal. As Bozeman racked up penalties, Glasgow fought to claim the win. With 45 seconds left on the scoreboard, Braaten found the back of the net with help from Regalado to take the lead for the first time since their initial goal.

Bozeman called a time out to regroup, but as Braaten put it, that decision "just gave us a chance to rest." Regalado added, "That was a stressful 45 seconds." But when the final horn sounded, Glasgow had the win, 4-3.

Glasgow converted on four of 27 shots on goal in the game. "Our goalie [Brayden Hansen] played outstanding," raved Regalado. "He faced 53 shots and played the game of his life." Goalie Hansen faced 16 shots in the first period, 25 in the second and 12 in the third period.

Bozeman was called for 10 penalties over the game, while Glasgow racked up 12 infractions. Six of Glasgow's penalties came in the first period alone with Fairclough sitting for cross-checking, Burke called for a 2-and-10 for checking from behind, Peterson serving time for roughing, Siefert called for roughing, and Fairclough with an interference call.

In the second period, Regalado was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, Siefert for interference/protection of goaltender, Peterson for tripping, and Fairclough drew a double minor for cross checking.

In the third period, Fairclough drew his fifth penalty and his exit from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. The bench was also called for unsportsmanlike conduct in the final period.

Despite the number of penalties and the chirping in the two games, the Dawgs are proud of the win. Braaten told the Courier, "We keep getting better. Our team play, our goalies are all improving." Looking forward to the remainder of the season, the boys are intent on continuing to improve their skills and take on opponents they have not yet managed to defeat. Regalado said, with agreement from Braaten, "We'd like to beat Havre."

To show off their improved skills from the weekend before, the boys played host to the Flathead Fusion Jan. 18 and 19 at the Valley Event Center to disappointing results. With a short bench and down a couple of players, Glasgow gave up both games to the visitors. On Saturday night, the Fusion took control of the game early and never let up. Flathead took a 2-0 lead in the first period, adding three goals in the second and finishing the third period with four more for a 9-0 win.

Ice Dawgs goalie Hansen faced 29 shots on goal, while his teammates registered just seven on the other end of the ice. Uphues took a two-minute penalty in the first period for holding while Nik Burke was called for a 10-and-2 in the third for checking from behind.

Sunday morning's game didn't see the Dawgs fare much better, as the Fusion went on to take the game with a 9-1 final score. Barnett put up the lone goal for Glasgow in the first period. Flathead put up an even scoring offensive, registering three goals in each of the three periods.

Glasgow was outshot in the game, 33-15. Wilkowski saw 27 shots in the first two periods while Hansen stepped into goal to face 15 shots in the third period.

Glasgow racked up 10 minutes in the penalty box on five infractions: Burke (first, tripping), Peterson (first, minor), Burke (first, tripping), Peterson (third, tripping), and Peterson (third, interference/protection of goaltender).

The team will travel to Billings this weekend for games Friday and Saturday against the Bulls.