By Kevin Scott
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GREAT FALLS, Mont., October 21, 2017 — The Great Falls Americans (9-1-1-0) are having another great season in the win column. Great Falls has won nine out of their eleven games with a one loss to Gillette and Yellowstone.
Great Falls rode a three-game winning streak entering Saturday’s fourth matchup against these two elite squads.
Anaheim, California product Michael Fary completed a hat-trick by scoring once in each of the three periods as the Great Falls American upended the Gillette Wild 6-1 during NA3HL hockey action from the Great Falls Ice Plex.
The American raced out to a 2-0 advantage before Gillette could answer. Cody Dearing and Michael Fary each lit up the lamp. Assisting on both scoring drives were Weston Goodman, Payton McSharry and Ben Rinckey. Brooks Mitzel put the biscuit in the basket for the Wild with just over 13 minutes left in the opening period.
The home team continued to score in the following period. Michael Fary and Payton McSharry found a way to get the puck in the net over Gillette netminder Gabriel Lepper. After the Americans took a three-goal lead (4-1), the Wild changed goaltenders with Cody Grogan replacing Lepper in the net. Great Falls took 28 shots after two periods while allowing 19 for the Wyoming NA3HL club.
Michael Fary achieved a hat-trick two minutes into the final stanza. Matt Larson and Nate Simpson helped their teammate get his sixth goal. Adam Vandenbos tallied the final points of the game later in the third. Matt Janke gathered his tenth assist while Payton McSharry received his eighth. Great Falls was able to run out the clock with a great defensive effort the final ten minutes.
The sixty-minute hockey game saw 10 penalties resulting in 20 minutes of penalty time. The only power play goal that was successful was the first period goal by Gillette’s Brook Mitzel.
Bryan Sharp played an outstanding game for the Americans. He swatted away 30 of the 31 shots the Gillette offense sent towards him. Goaltenders Gabriel Lepper and Cody Grogan combined for 35 saves with Lepper picking up the loss.
NEXT CONTEST: Next Friday and Saturday, the Missoula Junior Bruins invade the Great Falls Ice Plex for a weekend series with the Americans. The puck drops at 7:30PM each night.