Ice Hawks split with Americans

In their last home games, and last games of the 2015 regular season, the Havre Ice Hawks high school hockey team played hard and played well.

Saturday at the Havre Ice Dome, the Ice Hawks closed out the regular season with a split against the Great Falls Americans.

In the first game Saturday morning, the Ice Hawks edged the Americans 3-2. Havre jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, tacked on a goal in the second and shut out the Americans in the third period. Havre goalie Josh Emge saved 27 shots between the pipes in the win.

On offense, the Ice Hawks peppered outstanding Great Falls goalie Colton Rasmussen with 40 shots. Alex Hanson found the back of the net with an assist from Blake Hanson, while Jeffrey Ralph scored on an assist from Clifford Lenhardt, and Blake Hanson added an unassisted goal.

Later Saturday, the Ice Hawks found themselves locked in another tough battle with the Americans, but this time, Great Falls prevailed 2-1. Havre got plenty of chances offensively, getting 42 shots on goal, but Rasmussen was again outstanding, as was Emge, who stopped 24 shots by the Americans.

While Great Falls scored goals in the first and third periods, Havre’s lone goal came from Kyle Konesky on an assist by Blake Hanson.

Now, with the regular season complete, the Ice Hawks will have a week off before playing in the Montana High School Hockey State Tournament. The state tourney will run March 6-8 in Missoula.