MISSOULA – The Billings Bulls finished off a perfect hockey season with a state championship on Sunday. The top seed skated past Bozeman 6-1 in the championship.
The undefeated Bulls were expected to make the final after pool play, but the Icedogs made a surprising run. Bozeman came into the five-team tournament as the No. 5 seed but pulled off upsets on Friday and Saturday to make the last game.
The underdogs skated with the favorites early. Neither team found the back of the net in the first period.
But then Billings took over the game in the second. Bulls captain Dawson Smith started the scoring with 15:12 left in the period. Four minutes later, Brandon Dringman added another. Simon Minch joined the score sheet with 8:43 left in the second, and three minutes after that, Coley Anderson made it 4-0 Billings.
The Bulls held that lead until Dringman scored again with 3:48 left in the game. Dylan Chirrick scored just 27 seconds later to put the Bulls up 6-0.
Bozeman avoided the shutout on a goal by Caid Cox with 1:19 left in the game.
