By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., November 1, 2014 — The undefeated Great Falls Americans hockey team (12-0) faced the upset-minded Bozeman Ice Dogs (2-9) on Saturday night in the first of a three game home-stand at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Great Falls will play next weekend against Billings and Helena.
Bozeman picked up their second win of their season the previous night against the Yellowstone Quake by the score of 4-2.
Great Falls jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two periods before Bozeman found the back of the net in the final period. The Americans added a final goal and downed the Ice Dogs 4-1 in front of 705 fans at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday night.
Great Falls took the early lead as a shot by Lucas Lomax sailed by Bozeman goaltender Denijs Romanovskis for the first points of the NA3HL contest. Dylan Garton and Lucas Stover delivered the assists. The Americans offense took control in the opening period by firing 16 shots against Romanovskis. Americans goaltender Lauren Massie stopped both of the shots taken by the Ice Dogs.
The Americans out-scored Bozeman 2-0 in the middle period behind goals by Connor Barta and Adam Apangalook. Robert Kalata and Dylan Garton set up Barta’s scoring drive while Miles Giorgione and Austin Krantz added one assist apiece on the final tally of the period. Lauren Massie only faced four shots (on goal) after the first forty minutes of action for the Great Falls franchise as Great Falls maintained a 36-4 advantage.
The Ice Dogs registered their first points of the night in the third as Coleton Anderson found an open Kegan Couture to cut their deficit to 3-1. Dylan Garton connected on a pass from Zack Mese and Lucas Stover with 8:18 left to give the Americans their final goal of the game.
Great Falls and Bozeman were unsuccessful on their combined 0-for-4 in power play opportunities.
The Americans out-shot the visitors from Bozeman, Montana 47-13 including having 36 of those in the first two periods.
Great Falls finished with 5 infractions for ten minutes of penalty time while the Ice Dogs ended their night with 3 infractions for 6 minutes.
Dylan Garton led the way for the Americans with a goal and two assists. Lucas Stover provided two assists for coach Jeff Heimel’s squad.
Lauren Massie picked up his fifth win of the season with 12 saves. The Alaska native has allowed nine goals in the five games he has played in. Bozeman’s Denijs Romanovskis stopped 43 of the 47 shots that he faced against the Americans offense.
NEXT CONTEST: The Billings Bulls (7-4) will be coming to Great Falls to face the Great Falls Americans on Friday, November 7th. The action starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Great Falls Ice Plex. It will be “McDonald’s We Win, You Win” and BioLife Plasma Services Night too. If the Americans win, fans will receive FREE coupons for Big Macs at participating McDonalds in Great Falls.
| Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 | Final | |
| Great Falls | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Bozeman | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
First Period – 1, Great Falls, Lucas Lomax (Dylan Garton, Lucas Stover), 8:54.
Second Period – 2, Great Falls, Connor Barta (Robert Kalata, Dylan Garton), 4:54. 3, Great Falls, Adam Apangalook (short-handed) (Miles Giorgione, Austin Krantz), 16:32.
Third Period – 4, Bozeman, Kegan Couture (Coleton Anderson), 2:35. 5, Great Falls, Dylan Garton (Zack Mese, Lucas Stover), 8:18.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 47, Bozeman 13.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 0-for-1, Bozeman 0-for-3.
Attendance – 705
Box Score: Bozeman @ Great Falls
Additional Media Coverage: November 1, 2014: Great Falls Tribune: Great Falls Americans improve to 12-0 on the season