Squirts play in State hockey tourney
Take 4th Place in WAHL
by Jenifer Proud
March 7, 2005
The Sublette County squirt hockey team traveled east this past weekend, March 5-6, for the State Wyoming Amateur Hockey League (WAHL) play-offs in Cheyenne. The Glaciers were the 3rd place team out of the West and 5th overall.
The first game for Sublette County was against Casper…the #1 team from the East. The Green put on a good show, fighting all the way to the final buzzer, but were outmanned by the quicker team. Aunders Hallsten saved a shut-out with two goals, one unassisted and one with the help of teammate Chase Anderson. Garrett Bartlett had a solid performance in net with 29 saves.
After a one-game break, the Glaciers were headed back on the ice, this time against the #2 team from the West: Rock Springs. Similar to their previous meetings, it was a show-down. Nick Gay was first on the board with a power play goal early in the first period. David Kelly followed suit 46 seconds later to give Sublette County a two-goal lead. Unfortunately, before the period ended, a slow rolling puck snuck into the Glacier net, firing up the Miners.
Rock Springs started the 2nd period with renewed enthusiasm. Although they got an early goal to tie up the game, the Glaciers held their composure. Hallsten found some room early in the third, sped down the ice alone, decked the goalie, and slid the puck past the goalie’s outstretched leg. The Green was back in control. Kelly found Connor Kingsbury open, and the Glaciers pulled the lead to two. Hallsten went solo for Sublette County’s 5th goal, and the Glaciers breathed a sigh of relief. Playing a little too much in cruise control, the Green almost lost in the last minute when Rock Springs earned two goals. "Saved by the bell" brought on a whole new meaning to the young team. Bartlett had 20 saves, and even though the Glaciers were out-shot by their southern rivals, they would be playing for 3rd place Sunday morning.
In the final game of their season, the Glaciers were facing Gillette Energy. Before taking the ice, coaches challenged the players to put together the best game of their lives. Sublette County took to the ice determined. Holding Gillette to only one goal in the first period, the Green was living up to the challenge. But, Gillette went on a scoring streak in the 2nd adding four goals and knocking some wind out of the Glaciers sails. Gillette continued their streak into the 3rd with three more, while denying Sublette County any offensive chances. Bartlett was busy between the pipes turning away 20 shots. When the final buzzer sounded, the Green had earned 4th place in the WAHL.
Sublette County’s 2004-2005 squirt hockey team members include: Chase Anderson, Luke Barron, Garrett Bartlett, Bailey Copeland, Nick Gay, Will Grassell, Aunders Hallsten, David Kelly, Connor Kingsbury, Noah Kolis, Denver Lloyd, Billy Mauch, Lainy Pape, Dalton Proud, Tyler Smith, Aiden Streeter and Alex Truluck. They ended their season with a 10-14-1 record. Having a relatively young team and five brand-new-to-hockey kids, the Glaciers had a fabulous year. They all improved by leaps and bounds and should be very proud of their accomplishments.
I would like to thank my parents for their incredible support; Greg Anderson and Roger Bartlett for jumping into the coaching world; Ted Kelly for his taxi service which helped solidify the Sublette County Squirts and for yelling as much as I do; and finally, my kids for their determination, hard work and humor.
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