Youth hockey team makes history

A group of local athletes put Montana hockey on the map last month at the USA Hockey National Championship Tournament in Pennsylvania.

Taylor Hulslander of Kalispell and Dylan Gamble of Whitefish helped guide the Montana Thunderblades to a national championship in West Chester outside of Philadelphia on April 11.

The 16-and-under squad, compiled of teenagers from across the state, made history as they became the first team from Montana to win a national title in USA Hockey.

When the group of roughly 18 players gathered to start the season last September they were asked to write down personal and team goals. Just before the title game, the team's two coaches pulled out the pieces of paper.

"We read the team goals before the game and reminded them of what they wrote down, and pretty much everyone wanted to do well at nationals and most of them said they wanted to win the national championship," said Mark Damico, who coached alongside Mark Loeding.

"Sports teams pretty much all set goals, but the more important thing is what they do to accomplish those goals. It's fine to say you want to win a national championship, but it's different to go out there and put in the hard work and dedication that's required. It's not easy. These kids were committed, and it's a remarkable accomplishment."

In the Tier II Conference 2A finale, the Thunderblades had a rematch with the Atlanta Fire, who had beaten them 7-2 in the opening round two days earlier. With Hulslander playing goalie and Gamble turning in two assists in the game, the Thunderblades were tied 4-4 with the favored Fire late in the third period. Jason Smith of Billings came through with the game-winning powerplay goal with 56 seconds left and the Thunderblades went on to preserve the lead, winning 5-4.

"The championship game was just unbelievable. When we scored with 56 seconds to go, it was pretty much bedlam on the bench," Damico said. "We reeled in the kids pretty quickly and just said we've got to finish the deal here and make sure we guarantee this win. And like they did all year, they got back to work and did what it took to win."

Both Hulslander, a freshman at Glacier, and Gamble, a freshman at Whitefish, remember the last 50 seconds of the game being the longest of their lives.

"We were celebrating (after the decisive goal) but then it was right back to business and we had to hold together and keep focused," Gamble said.

Afterward, "there was a lot of tears of joy going through the team," he said. "It was really nice for us to finally get this far because this has been our main goal for the last four to five years."

"The other team, they were supposed to be the big team and we were the underdogs I guess," Hulslander said. "It was a good feeling that we could come away with the win."

Gamble, who had four goals and four assists in the championship tournament, was one of the team's original members when the Thunderblades were organized in 2004. Hulslander, who played goalie all season, has been apart of the team the previous two seasons. Kalispell's Steve Olbert also played on the squad this season but couldn't make the trip to nationals.

"This is a really, really special group of kids," Damico said. "Everyone who's ever been involved with the Thunderblades have a part in this title."

The team finished the season with a 30-7-1 record and was awarded a Governor's Citation letter from Brian Schweitzer, who congratulated the players for setting "a fine example for Montana's youth. Keep up the hard work!"

As hockey in Montana continues to grow, the Thunderblades hope to build off their strong roots. As the team's website says, the program's "goals and objectives are in the establishment of the most competitive team possible."

"I hope that it has really created a buzz around Montana," Damico said. "I hope the younger players across the state now look at this and recognize they can do it also."

For information on the Montana Thunderblades, visit www.eteamz.com/montanathunderblades

Reporter Dillon Tabish can be reached at 758-4463 or by email at dtabish@dailyinterlake.com

Correction: The Thunderblades were first organized in 2004