Ice Dawgs Take Center Ice At Big Sky Games

With the regular Ice Dawg hockey season wrapped up, seven players decided there was still time for one more hockey tournament before spring activities overtook the schedule. This past weekend, Eli Lacock, Taelynn Henry, Bridger Brooks, Maddux Feit, Corban Hystad, Benson Rasmusan and Hudson Hubbard, along with their families, traveled to Billings in order for the boys to participate in the Big Sky Skate Games 3 on 3 tournament. Though they have all played as Ice Dawgs during the on-season, this tournament saw the boys come together as the Bash Bros, coached by Torey Rasmusan.

The Bash Bros played a total of four games throughout the two-day tournament, winning the first three games on Friday night, 8 to 5 against the ICE (Fairview), 11 to 5 against the Ice Wolves (Dickinson), and 13-11 against the Roughnecks (Williston).

These wins allowed the team to enter Saturday as the number one seed in the team's first bracket play game. Unfortunately they were played out of the rest of the tournament when the Ice Wolves, who didn't forget the loss from the day before, knocked the Bash Bros out with a 13-6 win.

"This was the first time the kids competed in a 3 on 3 tournament – they did so well!," exclaimed B. Rasmusan's mom SaraAnn. "Everyone scored multiple goals and Eli did great in the net!"

After the tournament, the team was able to watch and cheer on their fellow Ice Dawg players and mentors, the Barnett brothers, Bode and Colter, who took first place in the high school division with the Miles City Stars.

Though the season has ended, that doesn't mean the end of hockey for these kids. Some will participate in camps this spring and summer as well as utilizing their home set ups to keep working on stick-handling skills.

"Most of these kids will move on to baseball where they get to compete with and against each other since they won't let us have a hockey baseball team!," laughed S. Rasmusan.

When reflecting upon the weekend, the boys can't wait to participate again, with Taelynn Henry stating "I thought the games were good. I want to do it again and my favorite parts were getting goals and watching the older boys play!" Bridger Brooks echoed stating, "It was really fun, that's how hockey should be."

These boys put in the extra time, energy and playing time during the on and off seasons, while also looking to the older Ice Dawgs for mentorship in how to improve their skills. "These boys love hockey and are always wanting to play more games so the parents decided to take them where they'd have some good competition," explained S. Rasmusan on why the boys decided to participate in the tournament. "We always had heard of the older kids going and so we figured why not give it a try!"

All of these boys plan on playing for the Ice Dawgs again next season, so with all of their hard work and effort, make sure to catch them on the ice.