Playoff Bound Americans Down the Butte Irish in the Regular Season Finale

Photo Courtesy of the Great Falls Americans. After 47 regular season games in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), this is the last game of the year for the teams that don’t qualify for the playoffs next week. There are three games (none in the Frontier Division) that will finish their season on Sunday, March 9th but most of the squads in the five-division North American 3 Hockey League ended their regular season on Saturday. During Friday’s last road trip to Butte, Montana, the Americans trio of Aiden Kennedy, Ty O’Bey and Garren Narvaez combined for four of the Americans six goals as they defeated the #6 Butte Irish (19-24-1-3), 6-3 at the Butte Community Ice Center in Butte, Montana. The win helped solidify a spot in the playoffs next week as three teams in the Frontier Division each had 55 points with only two spots available for postseason play. Bobby Anselmo, Toby Kerr and Zachary Nimetz recorded the three goals for the Irish as they will not be going to the playoffs this year. The Americans (27-14-4-2, 60 pts.) finished in third place behind the #1 Helena Bighorns (41-4-1-1, 84 pts.) and the #2 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (28-15-3-1, 60 pts.). The Americans won over half (15) of their 26 games in front of the home spectators at the Great Falls Ice Plex this season. During the 2023-24 season, Great Falls went 22-23-0-2 during the regular season. The #3 Great Falls American had nothing to lose as prior to Saturday’s contest they had already clinched one of the four playoff spots in next week’s NA3HL Frontier Division semifinals. Great Falls outshot Butte 64-30 and came away with a 4-2 decision over the Butte Irish in the 2024-25 NA3HL regular season finale on Saturday night at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Jayden Rogen, one of nine players finishing out his junior hockey career for the Americans, lit up the lamp eight minutes into the first period for the early lead. EJ Sanchez and Cal Laggis collected the assists. Easton Langemo recorded his 35th goal off the stick of Bobby Anselmo and Kazen Stineff minutes after the Americans scored to even the game at 1-1. Great Falls took twice as many shots (24-12) as the visitors. The home team added two more goals in the second period as Chase Hapka and Zac Orwig each put the puck in the net. Cooper Clouse assisted on both goals while Gavin Denis also earned an assisted on Hapka’s score and Chase Hapka made the secondary assist on Orwig’s scoring drive. Zachary Pilkinton scored while Easton Langemo and Bobby Anselmo set up the Irish’s second goal. Two minutes into the third frame is when Garren Narvaez produced his fifteenth goal of the season with helpers coming from Aiden Kennedy and Zac Orwig. The goal proved to be the only successful scoring drive from either team in the final period. The Americans offensive attack helped earn them the sweep over their Montana rivals by compiling 64 shots-on-goal including 46 before the third period. Butte ended their final contest of the season by acquiring 30 shots. Both teams were whistled for a combined 18 penalties with 123 total minutes spent off the ice. Easton Langemo’s first period score came with the Americans in the penalty box as they ended the game by going 1-for-7 on the power play. Great Falls failed to score on their three opportunities. Isaiah Paulnock from Eden Prairie, Minnesota was the goaltender for the Americans tonight. In 60 minutes of action, he gathered 28 saves for his first win as the Americans netminder (1-0-0-1) in three appearances. Logan Hunter concluded his season with Butte with three wins, five regulation losses, and one shootout loss. The Colorado native created 60 saves in 60 minutes.,