Photo: Courtesy of Laura Richesin
By Kevin Scott
| Box Score | Game Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
CODY, Wyo., October 13, 2017 — The Great Falls Americans (6-1-1-0) and the Yellowstone Quake (7-2-0-0) met for the first time tonight since last March when they faced off against each other for the Frontier Divisional championship series in which the Quake won 2-1 for the right to advance to the 2017 Silver Cup National Tournament.
The Yellowstone Quake trio of Cole Stewart, Riley Buller, and Ian Doner each scored to provide the home team with a 3-1 victory over the Great Falls Americans during Friday’s action at the Riley Arena in Wyoming.
Cole Stewart and Riley Buller tacked on goals for the Quake during the opening period. Stewart scored 26 seconds into the game as he got the puck by Americans goalie Mack Willy. Eight minutes later, Buller recorded his 10th goal in nine games to put the Wyoming team ahead 2-0. The Quake took six more shots (16-10) than Great Falls did.
A quiet second period saw the Riley Arena crowd watch the Americans cut the deficit to 2-1 with Adam Vandenbos’ score with 3:36 remaining before the second intermission. Ben Rinckey assisted for the second time this season while Michael Fary chipped in his fifth assist.
The host team capped off the scoring with a lone goal by Ian Doner late in the final period. The empty net goal during the final 37 seconds ensured Yellowstone would win for the seventh time in nine games.
Penalties were kept to a minimum with eight total stoppages of play with half of them coming in the middle period.
Both teams finished the contest with 39 shots. Great Falls out-shot Yellowstone 29-23 in the final forty minutes.
Reid Waszczenko ended his night with 38 saves ran his record to 6-2. Mack Willy played 58 minutes for the visiting team and finished up the night with 36 saves.
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans will stay the night in Wyoming and finish off their two-game series with the Quake on Saturday, October 14th. Game time is set for 7:30PM at the Riley Arena.