By Tribune Sports Staff
January 2, 2020
HELENA – Brody Boyce tallied the game’s only goal in the first period and the Great Falls defense made it count as the Americans wrapped up the 2019 portion of their schedule with a 1-0 shutout over the Helena Bighorns Tuesday night at the Helena Ice Arena.
The victory move the Americans (23-3-4-0, 50 pts.) into outright possession of first place in the NA3HL Frontier Division, one point better than Bozeman (24-5-0-1, 49) and Sheridan (24-6-1-0, 49). Bozeman lost 4-3 in a shootout with the Yellowstone Quake, while Sheridan skated past Gillette 4-3 in regulation.
Boyce’s goal came with even strength and about 3 1 / 2 minutes left in the first stanza off assists by Henry Chavez and Harley Nyhuis. Great Falls outshot the Bighorns (5-25-0-0, 10 pts.) 15-3 in the first 20 minutes, and finished the game with a 42-20 shots-on- goal advantage.
Americans’ keeper Viktor Wennberg saved all 20 Helena shots for the win, while Rylan Labrie’s only blemush on a 41-save night was Boyce’s goal.
The Americans travel to Gillette to face the fourth-place Wild (15-15-0-0, 30 pts.) for a two-game series Friday and Saturday at the Spirit Hall Ice Arena. The puck drops both nights at 7:05.
Story Courtesy: Great Falls Tribune (January 2, 2020)