This weekend is the final weekend of competition before the winter break with matchups against their Frontier Divisions foes for the #3 Great Falls Americans (15-8-1-0) before next week’s (December 15-17) NA3HL Showcase tournament in Blaine, Minnesota that features opponents from the NA3HL’s other divisions in the West, East, Central and South Divisions.
But first, Great Falls challenged the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs, who are 12-9-1-1 in 23 contests so far this season. Both Montana squads have played each other three times since November 15th with the Americans picking up two straight wins including an overtime win. Overall, they are 4-1-0-0 against the Ice Dogs.
The #3 Great Falls Americans allowed four unanswered goals by the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs after two periods of play but their third period comeback attempt fell short in a 4-3 road loss at Haynes Pavilion in Bozeman, Montana on Friday evening.
Bozeman native Lex Steckelberg scored his eleventh goal six minutes into the first period to give the Ice Dogs an early advantage. Tyler Klingbeil and Andrew Kaunas, who spent time last season with Bozeman along with Steckelberg, earned the assists . The Ice Dogs tacked on their second scoring drive of the night ten minutes later when Devin Bruns lit up the lamp off with one assist apiece from Spencer Wilkinson and Baron Masopust. The Americans were kept off the scoreboard with each squad producing 13 shots.
Bozeman denied any scoring from Great Falls in the middle stanza as they tacked on two more goals for the four-goal lead. Andrew Kaunas and Dan Upton were awarded the goals for the host team. Lex Steckelberg and Michael Reich assisted on the Kaunas score with 18 minutes remaining and then Matthew Stamp assisted on Upton’s score that occurred with eight minutes left on the clock.
The Americans stopped their scoring drought by scoring twice during the first 2:31 of the third frame to cut the deficit to 4-2. Aiden Kennedy and Ty O’Bey each put the puck in the net for their 13th and 18th goals, respectively. Sebe Perez and Fisher Hannesson set up Kennedy’s score 73 seconds into the final period. Cal Laggis and John Lang added another assist to their resume on the first of two Ty O’Bey scoring drives. Ty O’Bey put the biscuit in the basket again for the Americans third score with under seven minutes left but the visiting squad could not find a way to add another lamplighter before the end of regulation.
Great Falls attempted 16 shots each in the second and third frames to finish with 45. Bozeman tallied 37 shots with 24 coming after the first intermission.
Four combined power play chances went unanswered between these two Montana rivals. The fifth meeting between these two clubs saw eight total penalties committed resulting in 58 minutes spent off the ice.
In his seventh appearance in the net for Bozeman, Jack Ryan picked up his third victory (3-3-0-0). The Denver, Colorado netminder stopped 42 of the 45 shots sent his way. Patrick Forsythe played the first 32 minutes adding 14 saves and a second regulation loss to his resume (2-2-1-0). Karanveer Kooner also saw action for Great Falls rejecting all 19 shots by Bozeman’s offense.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns (21-2-0-0) scored four of their five goals in the middle period to skate past the #6 Butte Irish (11-12-1-0), 5-1 during Friday’s NA3HL action inside Steed Arena in Helena, Montana. The Bighorns got scores from Jason Hammett, Austin Uecker, Jeffrey Hershberger, Trey Pareja and Kade Pareja. Brennan Morgan scored with 45 seconds left in the second period for Butte to prevent the shutout. Neither team found the back of the net in the final period. Branson Appelman (1-0-0-0) added 21 saves in his debut with Helena. Tim Nanson is now 0-2-0-0 against the Bighorns. He made 43 saves in his sixth regulation loss (6-6-1-0).
The #2 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (17-6-2-0) cruised by the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-24-1-0), 10-0 at Whitney Rink in the M&M’s Center in Sheridan, Wyoming on Friday. Josh Serino had another hat trick (3 goals) and Anthony DiCola and Kiefer Dunham provided the winning team with two goals apiece. Ryan Rainey (4-1-0-0) is now 3-0-0-0 against the Quake this season as he stopped all 30 shots. Hayden Laforet (20 saves) fell to 0-4-1-0 including his second loss to the Hawks. Matthew Neeser saw 28 minutes of action for the Quake and finished with 28 saves.
Max Arlt helped the #7 Gillette (WY) Wild (10-14-1-0) defeat the #4 Badlands ISD) Sabres (11-9-3-2), 4-3 in overtime. Arlt saved the night for the Wild scoring the game-tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation and then added the game-winning goal in overtime for Gillette’s tenth win of the season. Hudson Fisher and Riley Schmidt also made goals for Gillette. Zach Vockler, Jaden Flor, and Rhylan Olson tallied the first three goals for Badlands. Gillette netminder Austin Trieber improved to 2-4-0-0 with 42 saves. Lochlin Jackson (4-2-2-2) made 39 saves for South Dakota.
