By Kevin Scott
BOZEMAN, Mont., October 24, 2014 — So far this season, the Great Falls Americans have done all the right things inside the hockey rink and on the scoreboard and have acquired a NA3HL Frontier Division best 10-0 record after five weeks of action.
Great Falls led throughout the game and downed the Bozeman Ice Dogs (1-7) in their second meeting of the year with a 4-2 victory at Bozeman’s Haynes Pavilion on Friday night. In their first meeting on September 26th, the Americans earned their only shut-out of the season with a 7-0 win at home.
The first period saw no points on the scoreboard for either team. The Ice Dogs and Americans failed to score on any of their combined three power play chances during the first twenty minutes of action. Great Falls could not get the puck by Bozeman goaltender Denijs Romanovskis as he had 11 opening period saves.
Nathan Zorbas got the first points of the evening for the Americans with 16:29 left in the second period off a pass from Wade Wylie, who leads the team in assists with nine. Robert Kalata chipped in his fifth goal for the Great Falls team six minutes later as he found the back of the net thanks to Michael Kliment and Lucas Stover. The Americans out-shot the host team after two periods of play 27-16.
Kyler Chartier cut the Americans lead to 2-1 as his shot from Kegan Couture and Kevin Steffey sailed past Great Falls goaltender Lauren Massie for the Ice Dogs first points in the NA3HL matchup during the first 88 seconds of the third period. Great Falls would score two out of the final three goals in the final 1:21 of the contest. Adam Apangalook and Lucas Stover picked up the assists on Kalata’s second score while Lomax’s goal to seal the victory went unassisted. Bozeman’s Coleton Anderson tallied the second score for the Ice Dogs.
Robert Kalata played a great offensive game and finished with two goals for coach Jeff Heimel’s squad. Lucas Stover provided the assists in both of Kalata’s successful second and third period scoring opportunities. Despite the loss, Bozeman was led by Kyler Chartier and Coleton Anderson who received the Bozeman goals and Kegan Couture ended the evening with two assists.
Lauren Massie, the Wasilla, Alaska product, added 25 saves to his season total of 110 saves in four games. Meanwhile, Denijs Romanovskis stopped 37 of the 39 shot attempts he faced by the Great Falls offense.
NOTE: The Great Falls Americans will celebrate “Kid’s Night” on Saturday, October 25th with the host team taking on the Helena Bighorns at 7:30 p.m. at the Great Falls Ice Plex. The first 150 kids who dress up in their Halloween costume will receive Free Goody Bags. The night will also feature a costume contest along with a variety of prizes. Kid’s Night with the Great Falls Americans is proudly sponsored by The Mobile Educator. It will also be Tammy Quintrell All State Insurance Night at the hockey game too.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls (10-0) will face a tough challenge when they face the other undefeated team in the Frontier Division in the Helena Bighorns (6-0). The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday, October 25th.
| Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 | Final | |
| Great Falls | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Bozeman | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
First Period – NO SCORING
Second Period – 1, Great Falls, Nathan Zorbas (Wade Wylie), 3:31. 2, Great Falls, Robert Kalata (power play) (Michael Kliment, Lucas Stover), 9:23.
Third Period – 3, Bozeman, Kyler Chartier (Kegan Couture, Kevin Steffey), 1:28. 4, Great Falls, Robert Kalata (empty net) (Adam Apangalook, Lucas Stover, 18:39. 5, Bozeman, Colteton Anderson (Kegan Couture, Gunnar Mogck), 19:21. 6, Great Falls, Lucas Lomax (empty net) (unassisted), 19:43.
Shots on Goal – Great Falls 41, Gillette 27.
Power-play Opportunities – Great Falls 1-for-4, Bozeman 0-for-2.
Attendance – 176
Box Score: Great Falls @ Bozeman
Additional Media Coverage: October 25, 2014: Great Falls Tribune: Americans capture tenth straight win