Avalanche 14U bring home state title
The Glacier Avalanche 14U includes, in back, Seth Roskos, Finnegan Davidson, James Thompson, Carver VanAken, Coach Maxl Smith, Joshua Nelson, Mason Rediger, Darby McCarthy, Assistant Coach Josh Townsley; middle, Benjamin Rainford, Zane McCallum, Zack Dunnagan, Max Kowalka, Calder Townsley; and front, Goalie Gates Gilman. (Photo courtesy Lesley Thompson)
The Glacier Avalanche 14U valleywide team wrapped up their season recently in Bozeman claiming the state title for Bantam A hockey.
They played Helena, Billings, Missoula and Bozeman leading up to the championship match against Missoula, which they won 4-2.
Missoula held the Avalanche through the first period with a score of 0-0.
Five minutes in to the second, Calder Townsley, assisted by Zane McCallum and Seth Roskos drew first blood but Missoula answered only a few minutes later. The teams headed in to the third with a tie at 1-1.
With only six minutes left in the game, the Avalanche pulled ahead with two quick goals, the first by Benjamin Rainford assisted by Max Kowalka and the second, a slapshot by Darby McCarty on a penalty kill, assisted by Benjamin Rainford and Joshua Nelson.
Missoula answered with a goal of their own, but Benjamin Rainford sealed the victory with a breakaway goal assisted by James Thompson.
The Avalanche won all four tournaments they participated in, won the year-end titles for both the U.S. and Canadian leagues in which they participated, and finished the season with an undefeated 44-0 record.