Girls hockey team going to nationals

Local skaters Stephanie Tartaglino, Bridgett Herne, MaKenna Hulslander and Chloe Newlon helped the Montana Wildcats U19 girls hockey team capture the Regional Northern Plains District title earlier this month in Gillette, Wyo.

The Wildcats defeated Wyoming 1-0 in the final.

"In my mind, it's awesome to win," Wildcat coach Steve Tartaglino of Kalispell said. "That was one of our team goals.

Also competing in the event was South Dakota.

The Wildcats broke a scoreless tie in the championship game when Wildcat defensemen Alison Cygan, from Belgrade, found the back of the net off an assist from Stephanie Tartaglino. That was at the 10:39 mark in the third period.

"I saw open ice," Cygan said. "I went wide and beat their defenders. We just had to keep getting shots off and we knew one would have to go in."

Wyoming missed out on a scoring opportunity late in the second period when captain Hayden Shea of Jackson, Wyo., faced down Wildcat goalie Kayleigh Handa, of Great Falls, on a penalty shot. Her attempt just missed as Handa came away with a clutch save.

"She was as strong as she has ever been," coach Tartaglino said of Handa. "She was a solid wall out there."

The victory advances the Wildcats to Anaheim, Calif., for the National Championships. Also competing in the March 30-April 3 event are teams from Pennsylvania, New York and the Central States Region.

Individuals wishing to help with the team fundraising for nationals can do so by calling coach Tartaglino at 250-0055.