After four head-to-head meetings, the Great Falls Americans (5-4-0-0) and the Sheridan (WY) Hawks (7-2-1-0) each have topped their Frontier Division opponent twice.
On Friday in Sheridan, Wyoming, Zac Orwig, and the Great Falls wore down Sheridan, 5-1 as the Americans forward scored three goals and dished out one assist. Easton Kennedy and Garren Narvaez each totaled three assists apiece. Sheridan’s Vlad Zubriichuk the lone puck in the net for the Hawks.
The Sheridan Hawks scored two goals in the first period and one in the second stanza to claim a 4-2 win over the Great Falls Americans on Saturday evening at Whitney Rink in the M&M’s Center in Wyoming. Josh Serino scored half of his team’s goals while Elijah White and Zach Longnecker contributed two assists for the win. John Lang scored his second goal in as many nights for Great Falls in his first weekend with the squad. Blayne Jusczak was credited with his first goal as an American player.
Drake Dunphy (Sheridan) broke the scoreless first period drought with six minute remaining with Kadin Edwards and Elijah White providing the helpers. Zach Longnecker’s pass to Josh Serino with 38 seconds remaining in the opening period gave the home team the lead before the first intermission.
Despite both teams combining for 28 shots-on-goal, Elijah Farris was the only player from either team to successfully put the puck in the net during the second period. Zach Longnecker and Elijah White added another assist to their season total.
During the first 13 minutes of the third period, Great Falls cut their deficit to 3-2 with goals coming from Blayne Jusczak and John Lang. Cal Laggis and Sebe Perez set up Jusczak’s score and Ty O’Bey and Aiden Kennedy on Lang’s goal. Great Falls attempted 25 shots but could not find a way to score a third goal. Josh Serino put the game away for the Hawks with his eighth goal with under one minute remaining.
Great Falls outshot Sheridan in their fourth meeting, 56-33.
Great Falls failed to convert their three power play chances and finished with three infractions. Sheridan went 1-for-3 on the power play.
John Simon, who is now 3-1-0-0 against Great Falls, stopped 54 of the 56 shots sent from Great Falls’ offense. Kaden Rhyder accumulated 29 saves but dropped his record to 5-3-0-0 on the year.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns ran their record to 8-1-0-0 by edging the #5 Gillette (WY) Wild, 3-2 (4-5-1-0) to earn the weekend sweep over their Wyoming foes on Saturday night in Gillette, Wyoming. Gillette’s Tai Kontrac and Ryan Kirkman and Helena’s Chase Berg and Elijah Elmer all scored as both teams were tied (2-2) after two periods of play. Cam Young of the Bighorns provided the eventual game-winning tally in the third. Malik Johnson’s record (5-0-0-0) remains unscathed as he made 17 saves. Tate Cothern (2-3-0-0) allowed three goals but still finished with 36 saves.
The #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-10-0-0) played much better offensively on Saturday night than they did in their 11-2 loss to the #7 Butte Irish (4-5-0-0) on Friday night but failed to pick up their first win. Butte led 5-4 after the first period with five different players seeing the lamp light up including Bobby Anselmo, Alexander Clark, Easton Langemo, Zachary Pilkinton, and Rocco Watson. Max Goulden, Jake Ricci, and Logan Nichols paced the Quake with one goal each. The final two periods saw Butte outscore Yellowstone, 3-1. Easton Langemo finished with two goals for the winning side. Logan Hunter got the start and made 10 saves in 18 minutes on the ice. Manny Pantow (1-1-0-0) replaced Hunter and redirected 18 of 20 shots. Nate Whitson (0-2-0-0) had a busy night recording 49 saves.
After the #6 Bozeman Ice Dogs (4-3-0-0) defeated the #4 Badlands (SD) Sabres (4-2-1-1) in a shootout on Friday, the Sabres took care of business on Saturday, winning 4-0 over the host team. Badlands scored two goals in the first (Ole Svangstu and Charlie Lorbiecki) and two more in the third (Ryan Jordan and Zach Vockler). Hunter Oger (2-1-0-0) earned the shutout win with 15 saves. Isaac Weatherford (0-1-0-0) of Bozeman swatted away 30 shots in the loss in his first appearance this season.
