Pucks fly and skates race as the Park County hockey teams prepare for the state competitions now looming.

Throughout the teams, six people represent Powell on the ice. Junior Kayla Kolpitcke, freshman Bodie Heintz, eighth-grader Kalin Hicswa , seventh-grader Keegan Hicswa and eighth-grader Jack Beaudry. Kolpitcke plays on the Girls and Midget (U18) teams. Kalin Hicswa plays on the Bantam team and Keegan Hicswa plays on the Peewee (U12) team. Beaudry plays on the Bantam (U15) team.

The U19 Park County Ice Cats Girls hockey team is continuing to leave opponents reeling after games. Having lost only one game and tied only one out of the 18 games, the team is expecting to be placed in the “A” bracket for State. Girls state is set for Feb. 22-24 in Rock Springs.

“Every year the girls bring their best to the ice, if it be leadership, teamwork, or heart; they are an amazing group of athletes and I’ve been blessed to coach them,” Head Coach Angie Johnson said. “The Powell athletes provide great leadership qualities and are an essential part of the Park County U19 Girls Team.”

Kolpitcke, as goalie, has a 96 percent save average and has had four shutouts this season.

The U18 Midget team, with only 14 players, is performing well considering the size. Their record of 6-12-2 is expected to place them in the “B” bracket for state. Midget state is set for March 1-3 in Gillette.

In his first year on the Midget team, Heintz has one goal and has played all 18 of the games. Kolpitcke has a 84 percent save average.

The younger teams, Squirts, Bantams, Peewees, Mites and Tikes, continue to build their skill and experience at weekly practices and, for the Peewees, Squirts and Bantams, weekend games. The Squirt team has a 16-0-0 record while the Bantams have a 4-14-0 record. Peewee state is March 1-3 in the Ice Cats’ home ice arena in Cody. Squirt state is Mar. 8-10 in Douglas and Bantam state is the same weekend in Pinedale.

“Our team has struggled this year because we have many first-year, young players,” Bantam goalie Beaudry said. “But we’ve improved as the season has gone along.”

Beaudry has a 84 percent save average. This season he has taken a total of 318 shots. He is listed as third in the state for number of saves and ninth for save percentage.  Hicswa has one goal and four assists so far this season.