Ice Hawks hoping for a hot season

Hockey continues to be a major part of Havre prep athletics, and with another talented roster, and with a new head coach, the Havre Ice Hawks high school hockey team will look to continue their climb back towards the top of the ranks.

Last season didn't end up quite like the Ice Hawks had hoped.

They finished the season with an overall record of 8-12-0, and missed out on a trip to the state tournament. They were on the bubble, as the team finished the season as the No. 7 team, missing out on a state berth by just two points, and instead played in a postseason tournament in Missoula where they finished strong.

This season, the Ice Hawks are under a new head coach in Chinook's Scott Gunderson, and are looking to get back into the elite group of best teams in the state. Gunderson will welcome in a talented group of skaters, including Brandon Huntington, Caleb McLain, Dane Linquist, Alexander Hanson, Justin Miler, Josh Emge, Nicholas Howell, Megan Cline, Gavin Gunderson, Russell Jensen, Dustin Armstrong, Roxanna Jensen, Kyle Konesky, Ned Malone, and Jon Stoner. Tyler Boyce and John Huntington will also assist Coach Gunderson this season.

Malone was key last season for the Ice Hawks, and should look to have another solid season. But the depth doesn't start there, while Stoner, McLain and Gavin Gunderson's return should also add talent on the defense. But with key losses like goalie Joey DeVries, Nate Welch, and Tim Welch, there are still plenty of holes to be filled.

The season has already begun, as the Ice Hawks hosted Great Falls for two games last weekend, but there are still plenty of games left to be played.

Saturday and Sunday the Ice Hawks will host Gull Lake, playing at the Ice Dome at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday. And moving forward, the Ice Hawks will face Salmon and Helena in Salmon, Idaho, before returning home to host Whitefish, Salmon and Glasgow on Dec. 7-9. In another road stretch, the Ice Hawks will face Glasgow and Whitefish, but will return home on Jan. 12-13 for their final home games against Helena.

Havre will finish on the road. The Ice Hawks will taking on Great Falls on Jan. 19, Bozeman, Whitefish, and Billings on Feb. 8-10 in Bozeman, and finish with two games against Missoula, in Missoula on Feb. 23-24.

And if everything goes as planned, the Ice Hawks will return to the state tournament at the end of the regular season. This year the state tournament will run March 7-10 in Bozeman.

Saturday and Sunday the Ice Hawks will host Gull Lake, playing at the Ice Dome in Havre at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

The Havre Ice Hawks high school hockey team continues the early part of their season with games against Gull Lake Saturday and Sunday at the Havre Ice Dome.