12U Avalanche win state championship
The Glacier Avalanche 12U hockey team is, left to right: in back, Cale Olbert, Jami James, Landen Hindman, Ford Thompson, Jesse Burrough, Finley McCarthy, Maya Lacey and Cody McCarthy; in middle, Cody Polumbus, Jack Muhlfeld, Finn Safir and Adam Healy; and if front goalies Hayden Townsley and Blake Blandon. (Courtesy photo)
The Glacier Avalanche 12U PeeWee Black hockey team capped off their season with a state championship win over Bozeman last weekend.
The Avalanche were in a three-way tie for third place coming out of pool play in the state tournament, and made the championship game by beating out Helena in goals against.
In the championship, Finn Safir drew first blood with a goal in the first period for the Avalanche. Landen Hindman added a second goal early in the next period for a 2-0 lead.
Bozeman got on the board with five minutes left in the period to make it 2-1.
Things got tight in the final period.
Hindman nailed another goal, this time assisted by Safir and Finley McCarthy, to make it 3-1, but just seconds after Bozeman nailed their second goal of the game to bring them within one.
Midway through the period Bozeman hit the equalizing goal, and regulation wrapped up with the teams in a 3-3 tie.
After two scoreless overtime periods, it all came down to a shootout.
Safir missed his shot, but McCarthy, Cody Polumbus and Jack Muhlfeld all connected. Bozeman was only able to net their first shot, and the Avalanche took home gold.
The Avalanche finished the regular season 7-7-2, and also took second place in the East Kootenay Minor Hockey Association’s Banner Tournament, which wrapped up the previous weekend.
The Avalanche are coached by Jami James.