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SEELEY LAKE – The Dusty Muffins are in the running for last place – and they’re pretty excited about the prospect.

The Missoula-based ice hockey team was one of 48 to brave this weekend’s precarious weather conditions and compete in the Seeley Lake Pond Hockey tournament. They were told Sunday they were in the running for the golden shovel – a cheeky award for the team from each division that finishes with the least amount of points.

It’s hardly an honor, Dusty Muffins’ team members admit while hauling their gear away from the ice Sunday, but the all female team of 40-somethings had a lot of fun earning it.

The four-year-old tournament is the brainchild of Seeley Lake business owners Tom Monaghan, Brett Nogay and Mike Lindermer, who decided an outdoor hockey tournament was just the thing to boost the off-season economy in their tiny tourist town.

The first fledgling tournament attracted 11 teams and 55 players on two rinks, Monaghan said.

This year, the number of participants exploded.