George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com
There's no shame in a tie in hockey. Points are what counts, and ties can be every bit as important in the standings. But the Havre Ice Hawks and Billings Bulls made a habit out of it this past weekend when the two high school hockey teams squared off in two games at the Havre Ice Dome. On Saturday night, the Ice Hawks and Bulls skated to a 3-3 tie and on Sunday morning, the two teams were at again, playing to a 4-4 standstill. The story was the outstanding play in goal by both goalies, including Havre's Will DeVries. On Saturday night, DeVries saved 33 shots for the Ice Hawks, and he came back on Sunday to stop a remarkable 41 Billings shots. Saturday's game saw Havre get a boost offensively from Adam Briese with a pair of goals, Briese scored on an assist from Shane Kemmer and he found the net again with the help of Mason Sheppard and Cameron Schilling. Justin Jensen also put the puck in the net against Billings on Saturday night. Jensen scored a huge goal on an assist from Jonathan Austin as the two teams played to a stalemate. Sunday's game was another backand- forth struggle as Havre and Billings each scored four times. Kemmer poured in two goals, assisted by Sheppard and Kyle Miller, and Sheppard and Dillon McLain also scored for the Ice Hawks. In the game, Sheppard, the Ice Hawks leading scorer, accounted for three points and Kemmer two. Sheppard's goal was also an unassisted goal. The two ties moves Havre's record to 5-7-2 on the season. The Ice Hawks would have had two more games in the books against Billings, but those games were postponed due to poor travel conditions. The Hawks continue their homestand this weekend with two games against arch rival Great Falls. The Ice Hawks and Americans will play at 8:15 p. m. Friday night and 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Havre Ice Dome.
