No. 5 Seed Jr. Irish Shock the Bracket.
The Butte Jr. Irish 14U-B walked into the state tournament as the No. 5 seed.
They walked out of the rink state champions.
Butte exploded for four third-period goals and rolled past Helena 14U-B 7-1 in the championship game, finishing a remarkable run through the bracket and bringing the title back to the Mining City.
The Irish controlled the pace most of the night, outshooting Helena 37-26 and wearing down the Bengals as the game went on.
First Period
Butte struck first midway through the opening period when Jerdon Harned buried a shot at 8:50, finishing a setup from Vera Petersen.
Helena answered late in the period when Connor Barrell scored shorthanded with 1:01 remaining, sending the teams into the intermission tied 1-1.
Second Period
The Irish regained control early in the second.
At 10:11, Lane Battermann scored what would become the game-winning goal, finishing a pass from Carley Ryan.
Moments later, Brayton Burleson extended the lead at 9:48, converting a feed from Kevin Nielsen and Dawson Lambrecht to push Butte ahead 3-1 heading into the final frame.
Third Period Explosion
The third period belonged entirely to the Irish.
Ryan Byrne opened the floodgates with an unassisted goal at 14:39.
Just minutes later, Maverick White found the net at 12:16, assisted by Kevin Nielsen and Lane Battermann.
Butte kept the pressure on when Kynsie Evans scored shorthanded at 9:43, again off assists from Nielsen and Battermann.
The final dagger came at 2:20, when Lane Battermann buried his second goal of the night off a pass from Kevin Nielsen, sealing the 7-1 championship victory.
Defense sets the tone
While the offense filled the net, the foundation of the championship performance was built on the defensive side of the puck.
The Irish defensive group of Calvin Johnson, Gaige Davis, Kaden Malkov, Tyler Christe, Robert Wheeler, and Daniel Richards controlled the game from their own zone out. They consistently broke up rushes through the neutral zone, closed passing lanes, and forced Helena into low-percentage shots.
Butte also dominated the third period defensively, allowing just three shots on goal in the final frame. That effort helped the Irish pull away late and turn a close game into a convincing championship win.
The blue line also contributed offensively, highlighted by Lane Battermann’s two-goal performance, including the game-winning goal early in the second period that swung the momentum firmly toward Butte.
It was the kind of complete defensive effort that championship teams rely on — smart puck movement, disciplined positioning, and physical play along the boards.
Ferriter stands tall in net
Behind that defensive effort stood goaltender Ryan Ferriter, who delivered a steady and confident performance between the pipes.
Ferriter, turning aside 25 of Helena’s 26 shots while posting a .962 save percentage in the title game.
After Helena tied the game late in the first period, Ferriter shut the door completely. The Butte netminder didn’t allow another puck past him the rest of the night, helping the Irish build momentum through the second period and slam it shut in the third.
Several key stops in the middle frame helped preserve Butte’s lead before the offense broke things open late.
For the Jr. Irish, Ferriter’s calm presence in net gave the entire team confidence and when the final horn sounded, he was right there at the center of a championship celebration.
Goaltender Ryan Ferriter delivered a championship performance in net.
Ferriter played the full 48 minutes, stopping 25 of 26 shots to secure the win and shut down Helena after the first period.
Irish Goal Scorers
- Lane Battermann – 2 goals
- Jerdon Harned – 1 goal
- Brayton Burleson – 1 goal
- Ryan Byrne – 1 goal
- Maverick White – 1 goal
- Kynsie Evans – 1 goal
Assists
- Kevin Nielsen – 4 assists
- Lane Battermann – 2 assists
- Carley Ryan – 1 assist
- Vera Petersen – 1 assist
- Dawson Lambrecht – 1 assist
A Championship Run
From the No. 5 seed to the top of the podium, the Jr. Irish showed depth, grit, and explosive offense when it mattered most.
Led by Head Coach Zachary Woods and team manager Breanna Evans, the Irish capped the season with a performance that will be remembered by players, families, and Butte hockey fans for years.
One thing is certain.
The Jr. Irish are bringing the state championship back to Butte.
Championship Box Score
Butte 14U-B — 7
Helena 14U-B — 1
First Period
B – Jerdon Harned (Vera Petersen) 8:50
H – Connor Barrell, sh (unassisted) 1:01
Second Period
B – Lane Battermann (Carley Ryan) 10:11 GWG
B – Brayton Burleson (Kevin Nielsen, Dawson Lambrecht) 9:48
Third Period
B – Ryan Byrne (unassisted) 14:39
B – Maverick White (Kevin Nielsen, Lane Battermann) 12:16
B – Kynsie Evans, sh (Kevin Nielsen, Lane Battermann) 9:43
B – Lane Battermann (Kevin Nielsen) 2:20
Shots on Goal
Helena — 12 11 3 — 26
Butte — 14 9 14 — 37
Goalies
Butte — Ryan Ferriter 25 saves (26 shots)
Helena — Fisher Briggs 30 saves (37 shots)
