By Kevin Scott
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GREAT FALLS, Mont., November 24, 2018 — The Great Falls Americans (17-4-0-0) had no problem defeating the Gillette Wild (8-10-2-1) on Friday night by the score of 8-2. The Americans led 3-1 after the first period, one goal in the middle period and a four-goal third period.
Jens Juliussen scored four points (1 goal, 3 assists) and Payton McSharry accounted for three points (2 goals, 1 assist) and goaltender Victor Wennberg stopped 26 shots for the Americans tenth home win and 17th overall.
Tyler Kaminski and Ethan Becker each scored one goal and had one assist while Coleman Varty registered four assists to earn a 4-1 victory over the Great Falls Americans during Saturday evening at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Great Falls managed just one lone goal by Payton McSharry in the second period. The 820 spectators saw a different game from the Americans from the previous night when they defeated the Wild, 8-2.
The Gillette Wild scored the only goal for either team with 6:43 left in the opening period. Cam Macintosh got the start in the net for Great Falls but couldn’t handle a shot that sailed by him from Gillette’s Zach VanCompernolle, who put the fifth-place Wild in front 1-0. Forward Coleman Varty and defenseman Ethan Becker helped set up the first goal. Gillette held a 12-8 shots-on-goal advantage over the host team.
The Americans of head coach Greg Sears evened up the game seven minutes into the middle period. While the Americans were on a power play, California native Trent Cowden got the puck to teammate Payton McSharry for his 22nd goal of the season. Gillette regained the lead back from Great Falls with a successful shot by Tyler Kaminski off the stick of Gage Thompson with ten seconds left before the second intermission. Coleman Varty also collected his second of four assists on the night for the Wild.
The Wild, coached by Steve Kruk, tallied two goals in the final period. Nolan Conrad and Coleman Varty set up Ethan Becker for the third goal early on while Great Falls was in the penalty box. The 3-1 advantage over the second-ranked Americans increased to a three-goal lead (4-1) with 17 seconds remaining. Tyler Kaminski and Coleman Varty assisted on Parker Delong’s scoring drive. Great Falls’ offense had a difficult time trying to find the back of the net in the last twenty minutes.
The visiting team from Wyoming took 21 of their 38 shots before the second intermission to finish with 38. The Americans scored only once but added 12 shots in the final stanza after getting off 23 in the first two periods.
Three of the five tallies in the contest came while the opposing squad was in the penalty box.
The 2 hour and 17-minute junior hockey game featured many penalties with Great Falls suffering 12 of the 22 total penalties. There was 63 minutes spent in the penalty box between these two rivals.
Cody Grogan accumulated 34 saves in his fourth victory for the Wild. Cam McIntosh from Great Falls made 35 saves in only his second game of the season. He won his first appearance in September by cruising by Butte, 12-1.
NEXT CONTEST: Due to a hockey tournament taking place at the Great Falls Ice Plex, next Friday’s (November 30th) Great Falls Americans contest against the Helena Bighorns will start later than usual (8:15PM) as Great Falls concludes their month-long homestand.
Additional Media Coverage: November 24, 2018: MTN Sports (KRTV): Great Falls Americans fall to Gillette for fourth loss of the year