Helena Fends off Great Falls to Pick up 22nd Victory

Photo credit Michael Noel Photography The rivalry between the top-ranked Helena Bighorns (22-2-0-0) and the #3 Great Falls Americans (15-9-1-0) continued on Saturday night in Helena, Montana. Prior to tonight’s fifth meeting, both in-state rivals have won two of their four previous contests this season. Three weeks ago, the Americans needed just a single goal to get past the Bighorns on the road inside Helena’s Steed Arena. Great Falls and Helena were scoreless through the first two periods before Americans forward Blayne Jusczak buried his sixth goal of the season four minutes into the third period. The Americans also won their September 21st rivalry at the Great Falls Ice Plex by posting a 3-2 victory. The Bighorns topped the Americans 7-1 on September 20th and 6-2 on September 28th. Both matchups were in Helena, Montana . The #1 Helena Bighorns scored twice in the third period to hand the #3 Great Falls Americans their third straight loss at Steed Arena in Helena, Montana. The 3-1 win gave the Bighorns their 22nd victory in 24 games. Cam Young, Jason Hammett and Kade Pareja provided the scoring for the host team. Garren Narvaez tacked on the lone score for the Americans. Each NA3HL squad scored once before the second intermission. Helena’s offense struck first on Cam Young’s (unassisted) fifth scoring opportunity of the season during the first stanza. The Americans rebounded to score a goal of their own in the second period. Americans leading assist leader, Garren Narvaez put the puck between the pipes to even the game (1-1). Zac Orwig contributed his 22nd assist while newcomer Cooper Clouse was credited with his second assist. After forty minutes, the home team led the visitors, 31-13 in the shots-on-goal category. In the final frame, Helena’s Jason Hammett needed three minutes to help his team retake the lead. Owen Gruener and Colin Becker provided the assists. The Americans took out starting goaltender Kaden Rhyder to add another offensive player during the final minutes. Helena took advantage and Kade Pareja scored the empty net goal off the stick of Colin Becker to ensure Helena would get their 22nd win. Helena’s offense led to them attempting 47 shots while Great Falls was held to 20. Each team had four power play opportunities but only Helena third period lamplighter by Jason Hammett was successful. Five minor infractions were called on both teams. Branson Appelman now has two wins in two games (2-0-0-0) in his first weekend with the top-ranked squad in the Frontier Division. The Maple Grove, Minnesota netminder ended with 19 saves. Great Falls’ Kaden Rhyder (13-6-0-0), who spent time practicing with the NAHL’s Watertown (SD) Shamrocks this past week, swatted away 44 shots. FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: Zack Vockler scored two goals to guide the fourth-ranked Badlands (SD) Sabres (12-9-3-2) to a 5-2 romp over the #7 Gillette (WY) Wild (10-15-1-0) on Saturday night. The Sabres led 3-2 before the second intermission. Brady Johnson and Dylan Peterson answered for the Wild. Lochlin Jackson added his fifth win of the season (5-2-2-2) by accumulating 24 saves. Tate Cothern (4-7-0-0) is now 2-2-0-0 against the Wild this season. Cothern added 27 saves in the loss. The #2 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (18-6-2-0) raced out to a 4-2 advantage after the first forty minutes of action against the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-25-1-0) and went on to defeat the Quake, 7-4 in Sheridan, Wyoming. Sheridan outshot Yellowstone 48-23. Elijah Farris led all scorers with two goals for the Hawks. Yellowstone received goals from Macen Heisler, Logan Nichols, Jordan Murray and Wesley Amos. Sheridan netminder John Simon won his ninth game in 12 appearances. He is 2-0-0-0 against the Quake this season as he redirected 19 of the 23 shots he faced. Matthew Neeser recorded 41 saves for the Quake (0-13-0-0). The #6 Butte Irish (11-13-1-0) scored first but the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs (13-19-1-1) dominated as they scored nine unanswered goals for the 9-1 win at the Butte Community Ice Center on Saturday evening. Bobby Anselmo scored the lone goal in the first period for the Irish. Devin Bruns received a hat trick (3 goals, 2 assists) and Spencer Wilkinson added two more goals for Bozeman’s 13th victory of the season. Isaac Weatherford (2-1-1-1) stopped 57 shots for the Ice Dogs. Butte’s Tim Nanson (6-7-1-0) got the start and registered 27 saves over the first two periods before backup Manny Pantow made 15 saves in the third frame.