HS Ice Dawgs Split Opening Weekend

The Glasgow Ice Dawgs high school team started their season, a bit early and after only three practices, this past weekend in Missoula. Glasgow dropped their first game outdoors 9-4, then rebounded on Sunday on an indoor rink to win 7-4, splitting their opening weekend with Missoula.

“I Feel that this opening weekend gave an excellent glimpse of what this season may hold for our team,” said captain Colter Barnett. “While we didn’t win our first game, we came out ready to play the second game. Our guys were playing much more aggressively and attacking very strongly. I loved to see commitment from all the guys, including our freshman goalie Kolten Hansen who played an outstanding the second game, gaining his first high school victory!”

The opening period of game one on Saturday saw each team score a goal. Missoula lit up the scoreboard early in the game, but Glasgow answered midway through the first on a power play. Barnett found the back of the net on an assist from Tatum Hansen.

Missoula lit up the scoreboard again early in the second period, but again Glasgow answered. Barnett put in his second goal, assist Hansen, just 32 seconds after Missoula scored. The home team then put up three more goals before the Ice Dawgs put the biscuit behind the Missoula netminder. Barnett scored his hat trick goal unassisted with 2:32 remaining on the clock before intermission. Missoula found their way past Aidin Wilkowski one final time before the buzzer, making the score 6-3 at the break.

The host team came out firing in the final period and put two more shots in the net early on before Hansen netted the Ice Dawgs’ final goal of the game. Missoula found the back of the net one final time for a final score of 9-4.

Wilkowski faced 55 shots between the pipes while Glasgow threw 20 attempts at Missoula’s goalie.

Missoula was called for a lone penalty in the game while Glasgow served time for four infractions.The Ice Dawgs made good on their lone man-advantage while also shutting down Missoula’s power play attempts.

Hansen served time in the first for roughing. Aiden Price and Gage Siefert also spent time in the sin bin for roughing, both in the second period. Zevin Kummerfeldt sat for hooking, also in the second.

Back indoors for the Sunday morning game, the Ice Dawgs took the win after overcoming a first period 2-1 deficit. Michael Hoyer put Glasgow on the big board in the first period, unassisted. “We cleaned up our game on the second one and we put some pucks in the net,” Hoyer said. “We shaped up and found our teammates.”

The second period belonged to the Dawgs who put up five unanswered goals. Hansen netted the first three of those five. Barnett assisted on the first, while Siefert got the assist on number two, which came on the man-advantage. Hansen’s third goal was also on the power play, unassisted.

The next two goals came with the Dawgs on the wrong end of the power play. Barnett netted a shortie as did Siefert, assisted by Mason Hunter.

Missoula put two pucks past Kolten Hansen early in the third, but Glasgow shut down any rally attempts and Barnett put the Dawgs ahead by three with just over a minute left in the game on another power play.

Glasgow outshot Missoula by a margin of 41 to 29. K. Hansen had an 86.2 save percentage. Each team was called for seven penalties in the game. Missoula converted on only one of their power plays, while Glasgow went three-for-seven on the man-advantage.

In the first period, Hunter served time for tripping. Barnett, tripping; Siefert, kneeing; Hansen, interference and Price, holding, all served time in the second period. Hansen, roughing, and Hoyer, kneeing, took seats in box in the third period.

“This season holds a lot of great potential and I think our whole team is very excited for our next games to come,” enthused Barnett. Assistant captain Hoyer confirmed the optimism,” I’m looking forward to a great season with this new team. We got some nice talent in the upcoming freshmen so that’s a nice thing. I think we have a good shot this season and I hope for the best.”

Glasgow will travel to Bozeman for games next Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20-21. Check the rink schedule at hlyh.org or the Ice Dawgs Facebook page for updates on game times.