Winners of five of their last seven games, the Glacier Avalanche High School team was looking to extend their hot streak while hosting two games with league rivals, the Cranbrook Ice.
Lindsey Nelson / Whitefish Pilot<br>Colin Brown, #21, hits the puck towards the goal during the Glacier Avalanche game against Cranbrook Sunday at the Ice Den.
Glacier Avalanche on a hot streak
Saturday's game was a classic goalie duel. Netminders Brandon Maykowski or Cranbrook and Kris Archer for the Avalanche each made several fine saves to keep the game scoreless through two periods.
While the Avalanche held the edge in scoring chances and shots, it wasn't until late in the third period that Glacier's Tyler Gardner broke the tie by redirecting Ted Golleher's shot from the point over Maykowski's stick.
With a narrow 1-0 lead and seven minutes remaining in the game, Glacier's defensive crew of Tim Schuch, Ian Hosek, Zach Gargasz, Wes Henning, Ted Golleher, and Andrew Sweeney finished strong and limited the Ice's scoring chances down the stretch. Kris Archer's excellent goaltending secured the shutout victory 1-0.
Sunday's game appeared to be a repeat when early on the Ice's Maykowski continued to deny all shooters until at 9:27 of the first period Nathan Powell redirected Tim Schuch's point shot out of mid-air for a 1-0 lead. Late in the first period, Cranbrook answered when Dan Kennally out-worked two Avalanche defensemen to get the puck past goalie Tim Schuch.
Glacier dominated play in the second, commanding a 4-1 edge and again Maykowski held firm.
The Avalanche finally broke it open with Eddie Correa's rebound goal, assisted by Andrew Sweeney and Mike Ortley. Correa's late period goal carried the Avalanche momentum into the third when Nathan Powell notched his second goal less than four minutes into the period. Glacier followed with two more goals midway through the third period by Colin Moll and Andrew Sweeney to finish the game 5-1. Avalanche goalie Tim Schuch faced 8 shots for the win.
The two wins bump the Glacier record to 13-5 on the season. Upcoming games include a Friday night trip to Cranbrook, B.C. on January 21, followed by two home games at the Stumptown Ice Den on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 1p.m. against Invermere, B.C. and Sunday, Jan. 30 at 11a.m. against Elk Valley, B.C.