Ice Hawks open with tough teams

Havre's Alexander Hanson (right) skates with the puck during a Ice Hawk's hockey game Friday at the Havre Ice Dome.

Havre's Ned Malone (left) handles the puck during a high school hockey game Saturday at the Havre Ice Dome.

It was a chilly beginning for the Havre Ice Hawks high school hockey team.

The Ice Hawks opened the 2011-12 high school season on their home ice Friday and Saturday with their Border Bash Tou

Havre Ice Hawk's high school hockey player Gavin Gunderson (right) takes the puck in front of a Gull Lake defender during Saturday's Border Bash Tournament hich school hockey game at the Havre Ice Dome in Havre. The Ice Hawks lost three games in their season-opening tournament, but did open the season with a tie against the South County Sabres on Friday afternoon.

rnament, where they went 0-3-1 in play against some quality teams from around the Northwest.

The Border Bash Tournament featured not just the Ice Hawks, but a quality Glacier team from Whitefish, as well as teams from Idaho Falls, Idaho, Gull Lake in Canada and Warner, Sask., as well.

Havre opened its season with a 1-1 tie against the South County Sabres on Friday afternoon at the Havre Ice Dome. The Ice Hawks forged a tie with the Sabres when Levi Wavrick found the net at the 10:18 mark of the third period. The Sabres had scored their only goal midway through the second period.

Havre goalie Joey DeVries was outstanding in goal against the Sabres. DeVries stopped 37 shots on goal.

DeVries was under fire from opposing offenses all weekend long, but none more than in Friday night's 9-0 loss to Idaho Falls. The Golden Eagles scored early and scored often against the Ice hawks, and while nine goals got past DeVries, he also came up with a remarkable 66 saves.

Havre then turned its attention to Saturday's two games at home.

The Ice Hawks fell 8-3 to the Gull Lake Greyhounds on Saturday afternoon. The Greyhounds built up a big lead and held Havre's offense in check before the Ice Hawks finally got rolling in the third period.

Havre scored three times in the third with Dustin Armstrong hitting the net at the 12:11 mark on an assist from Jon Stoner. Ned Malone then scored back-to-back goals for the Ice Hawks. Malone's first came at the 10:15 mark on a Gavin Gunderson assist and he then scored with 1:38 to go on an assist from Stoner and Armstrong.

DeVries was busy again, stopping 46 Greyhound shots.

Havre then finished the tournament with a 7-1 loss to the Glacier Avalanche on Saturday night. The Ice Hawks were again shut out for two full periods before Justin Miller scored with 11:38 left in the game. DeVries stopped 44 shots against the Avalanche.