Hockey teams get ready for weekend tourneys
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake's youth hockey squads are preparing for a busy weekend, including the midget Avalanche's three-game series with a Moscow, Idaho team at the Larson Center rink.
The Avalanche are 0-6 this season, but head coach George Georgeson has seen improvement in every game. The team is comprised of players ages 13-18. The three-game series with Moscow starts at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, continues at 9:15 p.m. that evening and concludes on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
The Avalanche are solid at goalkeeper with Tyler "Stonewall" Morrison and Dalton Tolliver splitting time in the net. The team's defenders include Logan Zeppieri, Jordan Zeppieri, Tom Johnson, Tim Johnson, Kyle Quinlivan and Nick Laszio.
Moses Lake has a young group of forwards, with captain Opinder Brar, Lucas Whipple and Zack Swanson filling the center spots. On the wings are Emily White, Seth Hayes, Cody Clark, Jacob Brittian, Gunner Raymond, Chris Fleming, Tristan Hieronymus, Alex Trew and Harris Turner.
On Saturday at 9 a.m., Moses Lake's squirts, pee wees and bantams - the Storm and Blast - will square off in a combined in-house game. The players are ages 9-14.
Brenda Parnell coaches the Storm, who haven't notched a victory over the Blast in four previous meetings. Blast goalkeeper Dalton Tolliver has defeated Storm netminder Jesse Humphrey in all four games.
The Storm are hoping to change that with the defense of Alex Trew, Chad Fairweather, Austin Fabian and Mason Griggs. The forwards are Guy Rutherford, Cody Clark, Cole Tabert, Aaron Estrada, Madison Molitor and Kianna Trew.
The Blast, who are coached by John Gough, feature a defensive line of Andrew Burnside, Justin Schrodt, Colton Hayes and Kenny Osborne. The team's scoring comes from the sticks of Zack Swanson, Harris Turner, Tristan Hieronymus, Gunner Raymond, Zach Green and Nathan Schurtz.
Moses Lake's Mite Icicles, ages 4-8, are on the road this week for a tournament at the Tri-Cities TRAC Center. The Icicles take on the Tri-Cities Silver Bullets on Friday at 5 p.m., the Portland Mitey Hawks on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., rematch with the Silver Bullets on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and finish against the Portland squad at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The Icicles are playing together for the first time, as they are usually split into the Flurries and Blizzard when they play each other. The Icicles are strong in goal with Coltin Morrison. Players include Cameron Schurtz, Jonathan Schurtz, Carson Schurtz, Chance Messer, Colton Messer, Easton Nelson, Skyler Skomars, Dylan Wesel, Brian Mullin, Brian Faust, Tristan Ritchie, Ketrin Hemmerling and Jacob Green. The team is coached by Lyle Stoltman, Jeff Mullin, Cole Hemmerling and Michelle Skomars.