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Local youth hockey players victorious in battle of the border

by Whitefish Pilot
| January 29, 2025 12:00 AM

The annual Battle of the Border 8-u hockey tournament last weekend brought together fifteen teams from Montana and Canada for a weekend of fierce competition and camaraderie. 

Held at the Stumptown Ice Den, the tournament featured teams of hockey players ages eight and younger, including three teams from Glacier Hockey and one from the Flathead Flames. 

During the tournament, the 10u Squirts, fresh off a Glacier Avalanche victory in December, brought another banner success this past weekend with the 8u Mites.  

In a true battle of the border, the Glacier Avalanche’s Red team, representing Montana, took on the Golden Rockets from Golden, BC Canada in the finals.   

Teammates Brady Grenier, Brooke Kalgren, Harold Rudd, Harrison Rowe, Jase Rigler, Lexi Gadwa, Ryker Barnett, Weston Helgesen, Weston Lindsey and goalie Cooper Hyland took the ice amidst lights and fanfare for the final.  

After the playing of “O, Canada” and our “National Anthem”, teams battled it out in which after a long wait with the score 0 to 0, the Avalanche turned up the heat and went on to win the game 9 to 0. 

After their victory, coaches Josh Helgesen, Kurt Barnett and Wes Gadwa joined their players on the ice at Whitefish Lake, where they celebrated with their teammates under a beautiful winter sun.   

Championship versus Golden scorecard:  
Helgesen 3 Goals, 2 A
Rigler 4 Goals, 1 A
Barnett 1 Goal, 1 A
Kalgren 1 Goal, 1 A
Rudd 2 A 

For more information on upcoming tournaments and local hockey events, visit https://glacierhockey.org/. 

    Glacier Hockey Red Team after their victory at Stumptown Ice Den last weekend. (photo provided)