By Tribune Sports Staff
March 30, 2016
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Malachi Bushey scored with 12:09 left in the third period, and the Great Falls Americans edged the Point Mallard (Ala.) Ducks 2-1, taking their first game of the North American 3 Hockey League’s Silver Cup on Wednesday night.
Adam Apangalook was awarded the assist.
Despite registering just 19 shots on goal, Great Falls improved its record to 39-11-2 on the season as net minder Jake Stephan shielded away 23 of the Duck’s 24 attempts. It marks the fifth straight victory for the Americans.
Jeff Heimel’s crew will take on the North Iowa Bulls, a team who’s won two out of the last three Silver Cups, Thursday night at 6:30. Great Falls, winless in this event last season, will take on the Yellowstone Quake, the final team in the four-team Pool A, on Friday night.
Eight teams, split into a Pool A and Pool B, are skating for the championship, to be played Sunday, at this year’s national tournament. The top two finishers in each group will compete against each other Saturday for the right to battle for the title.
Forward Tyler Garcia opened the scoring in the first frame, when Wade Wylie found him for a tally with 13:05 remaining. Outshot 14-3 in the first 20 minutes, Great Falls went into the locker room up 1-0.
Point Mallard’s Josh Hamilton deadlocked the game at 1-all with 1:08 left in the second period, a stanza in which Great Falls outshot its opponent 13-3.
Americans 2, Ducks 1
Great Falls 1 0 1 — 2
Point Mallard 0 1 0 — 1
First period – 1. Great Falls, Tyler Garcia (Wade Wylie), 6:55.
Second period – 2. Point Mallard, Josh Hamilton (unassisted) 18:52
Third period – 3. Great Falls, Malachi Bushey (Adam Apangalook) 7:51.
Shots on goal – Great Falls 3-13-3—19. Point Mallard 14-3-7—24
Power play opportunities – Great Falls 1-for-3. Point Mallard 0-for-6.
Goalies (Shots-saves) – Great Falls, Jake Stephan (W, 24-23). Point Mallard, Cooper Seedott (L, 19-17).
T – 2:05
Story Courtesy: Great Falls Tribune: Americans win in Chicago, beat Point Mallard (March 30, 2016)