By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., November 2, 2013 — After suffering back-to-back losses against the Helena Bighorns, the Great Falls Americans rebounded to defeat the visiting Billings Bulls 4-2 as 799 spectators watched the AWHL contest on Saturday night at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
Colter Endy’s short-handed goal for the Bulls eight minutes into the first period put the visitor’s ahead. Christian Akita and Ralfs Karelis assisted on the play. Great Falls scored the last goal to tie the game on a Cody Page goal from Bryan Larson and Lucas Stover. Billings out-shot Great Falls 14 to 10.
Before the second intermission, Great Falls picked up a pair of goals from Aaron McInnis and Great Falls native Connor Barta. Austin Krantz assisted on the McInnis goal while Lucas Stover’s pass on a power play set up Barta’s score.
Great Falls led 3-1 before Billings cut the deficit on an Orri Haman goal 39 seconds into the last period of play. Aaron McInnis capped off the night for the Americans with his second goal that went by Billings goaltender Cole Semchak.
The Americans capitalized on two of their ten power play opportunities with Barta and McInnis’ goal in the second and third periods. Meanwhile, Billings failed to answer on their 11 power play chances.
Both teams combined for 52 minutes of penalties on the night. Erik Powell recorded 50 of his 196 season saves while Cole Semchak stopped 39 of the 43 shot attempts by Great Falls.
The Americans have now won 11 of their 13 games this season while Billings drops to 4-9.
NEXT CONTEST: The Great Falls Americans play the Helena squad twice this week beginning in Helena on Wednesday night before returning to the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday night. Both games begin at 7:30PM.
|
Period 1 |
Period 2 |
Period 3 |
Final |
| Great Falls |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
| Billings |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
First Period – 1, Billings, Colter Endy (short-handed) (assisted by Christian Akita, Ralfs Karelis), 8:44. 2, Great Falls, Cody Page (Bryan Larson, Lucas Stover), 13:01.
Second Period – 3, Great Falls, Aaron McInnis (shorthanded) (Austin Krantz), 4:57. 4, Great Falls, Connor Barta (power play) (Lucas Stover), 16:22.
Third Period – 5, Billings, Orri Haman (Cody Phillips, Aaron Rio), 0:39. 6, Great Falls, Aaron McInnis (power play) (Steven Goran, Dylan Garton), 2:05.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 43, Billings 52.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 2-for 10, Billings 0-for-11.
Attendance – 799
Box Score: Billings @ Great Falls
| Billings |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Great Falls |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
| Billings |
14 |
15 |
23 |
52 |
| Great Falls |
10 |
22 |
11 |
43 |
|
|
|
| Billings 0 – 11 : Great Falls 2 – 10 |
|
|
Billings – TJ Theodosopoulos – (Tripping), 2 MIN, 6:54
Billings – Orri Haman – (Slashing), 2 MIN, 10:30
Great Falls – Steven Goran – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 MIN, 14:00
Great Falls – Steven Goran – (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Misconduct), 10 MIN, 14:00
Great Falls – Cody Page – (Slashing), 2 MIN, 15:56 |
Billings – Josh Pena – (Head Contact), 2 MIN, 0:26
Great Falls – Lucas Stover – (Elbowing), 2 MIN, 4:01
Billings – Orri Haman – (Cross Checking), 2 MIN, 8:20
Billings – Dixon Whitehead – (Tripping), 2 MIN, 8:42
Great Falls – Bridger Strong – (Boarding), 2 MIN, 11:09
Billings – Josh Pena – (Checking from Behind), 2 MIN, 14:33
Billings – Nikolas Nasby – (Interference), 2 MIN, 15:06
Great Falls – Jonnathan Carpenter – (Interference), 2 MIN, 19:28
Billings – Ralfs Karelis – (High Sticking), 2 MIN, 19:58 |
Billings – Colter Endy – (Hooking), 2 MIN, 0:55
Billings – Orri Haman – (Checking from Behind), 2 MIN, 1:41
Great Falls – Bridger Strong – (Tripping), 2 MIN, 5:02
Great Falls – Bryan Larson – (Head Contact), 2 MIN, 9:34
Great Falls – Connor Barta – (Interference), 2 MIN, 10:06
Great Falls – Austin Krantz – (Checking from Behind), 2 MIN, 11:25
Great Falls – Bridger Strong – (Holding), 2 MIN, 15:55
Great Falls – Connor Barta – (Tripping), 2 MIN, 19:25 |
|
| # |
NAME |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
S |
PIM |
| 1 |
Semchak, Cole |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2 |
Endy, Colter |
1 |
0 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
2 |
| 3 |
Karelis, Ralfs |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
2 |
| 5 |
Akita, Christian |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
0 |
| 6 |
Myers, Matt |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 7 |
Orth, Sam |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 8 |
Rio, Aaron |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+2 |
0 |
0 |
| 9 |
Nealy, Dexter |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 10 |
Phillips, Cody |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 11 |
Haman, Orri |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
6 |
| 12 |
Thompson, Steven |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 16 |
Jensen, Bryce |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 18 |
Theodosopoulos, TJ |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 19 |
Foundos, Torin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 20 |
Mata, Joe |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 21 |
Pena, Josh |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-2 |
0 |
4 |
| 24 |
Henrichs, Tristan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 27 |
Nasby, Nikolas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 28 |
Whitehead, Dixon |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 30 |
Smith, Ray |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| # |
NAME |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
S |
PIM |
| 00 |
, Bench |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1 |
Powell, Erik |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3 |
Strong, Bridger |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
6 |
| 4 |
Sartuche, Paul |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 5 |
Krantz, Austin |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
2 |
| 6 |
Garton, Dylan |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
0 |
| 7 |
Page, Cody |
1 |
0 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
2 |
| 9 |
Goran, Steven |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
12 |
| 10 |
Keller, Doug |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 13 |
Mattfeldt, Donovan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 14 |
Carpenter, Jonnathan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 16 |
Mese, Zack |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
| 19 |
Larson, Bryan |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
2 |
| 23 |
Stover, Lucas |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 26 |
Bushey, Malachi |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 29 |
Barta, Connor |
1 |
0 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
4 |
| 30 |
Hauser, Evan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 93 |
McInnis, Aaron |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Billings 20 minutes on 10 infractions Great Falls 32 minutes on 12 infractions |
|
Game Length: 2:28
Attendance: 799 |
|
Billings 2
Great Falls 4