By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., November 15, 2014 — The Great Falls Americans (15-1) have out-scored the Bozeman Ice Dogs 15-3 in their first three matchups of the season including a 7-0 shutout at the end of September.
Would the Americans get their fourth straight victory over the Bozeman (2-12) franchise? That was the question coming into Saturday’s NA3HL game at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
The answer is YES, but it wasn’t easy.
After falling behind early in the NA3HL contest, the Americans scored three goals in the final period to keep their winning streak alive with a 5-3 comeback victory over the Bozeman Ice Dogs in front of over 700 fans at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday night. This was their fourth win over the Bozeman franchise this season.
Bozeman forward Gunnar Mogck scored off of Americans goaltender Lauren Massie in the first four minutes of action. Kegan Couture and Colteton Anderson collected the assists for the Ice Dogs. Kegan Couture quickly increased the lead to 2-0 on the power play score with help from Coleton Anderson and Gunnar Mogck with 14:40 left in the first period. Before the end of the period, Lucas Lomax was able to cut the Americans deficit to 2-1 with his team-leading tenth goal. Arseny Ivanov and Dylan Garton provided the assists for Great Falls. Great Falls did out-shoot the visiting team 16-10.
Bozeman took advantage of the Americans defense as Kyler Chartier and Kegan Couture got the puck to Gunnar Mogck for his second score of the night during the first minute of the middle period. The Americans battled back for a score of their own as Craig Hayes was the recipient of the goal with 17:53 left until the second intermission. Malachi Bushey and Marvin Simmons were each credited with an assist on Hayes first goal of the 2014-15 season. The Americans and Ice Dogs took 56 total shots on goal after the first two periods.
Great Falls’ Michael Kliment tied the contest early in the third period off a pass from Austin Krantz. The Colorado native added his fourth assist in 15 games. After getting his first goal in the second period, Craig Hayes found the back of the net again as he gave the American their first lead of the game (4-3) midway through the last period. Zack Mese tacked on a final goal with 56 seconds remaining to ensure a Great Falls victory. The empty net goal was assisted by Lucas Lomax and Arseny Ivanov.
Anchorage, Alaska native Craig Hayes led the Americans with two goals while Marvin Simmons, Malachi Bushey and Arseny Ivanov each finished with two assists apiece. Meanwhile, Gunnar Mogck finished with two goals and one assist and Kegan Couture and Coleton Anderson dished out two assists in the loss.
Goaltender Lauren Massie had 32 saves and picked up his sixth victory of the season for Great Falls. Steven Frank stopped 45 of the 49 shot attempts that he faced against Great Falls. Great Falls wasn’t able to connect on either of their two power plays against the Ice Dogs.
Each team finished with just 3 infractions for six minutes of total penalty time.
NEXT CONTEST: The Glacier Nationals, from Havre, Montana, will be in town to challenge the Great Falls Americans on Friday, November 21st at 7:30PM. It will be “McDonald’s We Win, You Win” night at the Ice Plex.
| Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 | Final | |
| Great Falls | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Bozeman | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
First Period – 1, Bozeman, Gunnar Mogck (Kegan Couture, Coleton Anderson), 4:04. 2, Bozeman, Kegan Couture (power play) (Gunnar Mogck, Coleton Anderson), 5:20. 3, Great Falls, Lucas Lomax (Arseny Ivanov, Dylan Garton), 17:12.
Second Period – 4, Bozeman, Gunnar Mogck (Kyler Chartier, Kegan Couture), 1:14. 5, Great Falls, Craig Hayes (Malachi Bushey, Marvin Simmons), 2:07.
Third Period – 6, Great Falls, Michael Kliment (Austin Krantz), 2:33. 7, Great Falls, Craig Hayes (Marvin Simmons, Malachi Bushey), 9:43. 8, Great Falls, Zack Mese (empty net) (Lucas Lomax, Arseny Ivanov), 19:03.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 50, Bozeman 35.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 0-for-2, Bozeman 1-for-2.
Attendance – 749
Box Score: Bozeman @ Great Falls
Additional Media Coverage: November 16, 2014: Great Falls Tribune: Late rally gives Americans 15th win