Fusion win U14 girls hockey state championship

The Kalispell-Whitefish Fusion hockey team won its first U14 Girls State Championship Sunday with a 3-1 win over the Missoula Lady Bruins.

Fusion defender Mariah Dickey shot from the blue line to take an early lead in the first period against Missoula. Defender Laurel Davidson added another point in the second period to make the score 2-1.

Missoula answered with a tough shot shortly after.

Fusion wing Elizabeth Klemann tipped in the final goal on an empty net with 27 seconds remaining to clinch the 3-1 final.

Rookie goalie Oriana Barber-Castro stopped 15 of 16 shots in the final.

The team pushed past Glasgow 10-2 on Friday and lost to Missoula 1-3 Saturday morning in pool play. Saturday night, the Lady Fusion topped Glasgow 4-1 to determine who would face Missoula in the final.

“I am so proud of the efforts of these little girls,” said coach Lini Reading. “They absolutely played their hearts out. They ground it out, worked hard and never quit, allowing us to hold our narrow lead until the end.

Fusion is a combined team of Glacier Avalanche (Whitefish) and Flathead Flames (Kalispell) players. The team includes first- and second-year skaters to a few with multiple years on the ice.