By Kevin Scott
| Box Score | Game Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
GREAT FALLS, Mont., September 21, 2018 — The Great Falls Americans (4-0-0-0) and the Yellowstone Quake (0-3-0-0) played each other twice last weekend in Cody, Wyoming.
The Americans edge the Quake 3-2 on Friday night before the Americans ran their record to 3-0 after a dominating 13-1 victory the following evening. Forward Lindros Beard capitalized on four goals for Great Falls in Saturday’s NA3HL contest.
The Great Falls Americans remained undefeated after four games by overwhelming the Yellowstone Quake and earning a 6-0 shutout over last year’s Frontier Division champions on Friday night as over 1,000 spectators enjoyed the home opener for the Americans.
The fans were rewarded with a win by receiving Free Big Mac coupons to McDonald’s as they exited the Ice Plex.
The Americans offense produced 22 shots and came away with two goals during the opening period. Matt Janke and Jens Juliussen created the play that Payton McSharry scored on. The Alaska native secured his third goal in four games during the final 75 seconds. McSharry’s scoring drive was followed by Alexi Suchomlin goal with 12 seconds remaining to give the home team a two-goal lead going into the first intermission. Jack Olson added the assist. Great Falls put up 22 shots against the Yellowstone while holding the Quake to 7.
The Americans, playing at home for the first time this season, received another score by Payton McSharry midway through the middle period. Matt Janke gathered his second assist while Great Falls native Braxton Lorenz picked up his first tonight on the Americans power play scoring drive. Five minutes later, Great Falls lit up the lamp again. Sean McLean, who came to the Americans from Australia, extended the lead for the host team (4-0) with help from newcomer Brindimere Beard. Great Falls added 18 shots in the period for a total of 40 after forty minutes of ice time. The Quake took five shots without finding the back of the net.
Payton McSharry could not be contained as he scored his third goal of the contest two minutes in the final period. Garrett Peters and Jens Juliussen helped set up the scoring drive for coach Greg Sears’ undefeated squad. Garrett Peters rounded out the scoring for the Americans off the pass from Levi Mese and Jens Juliussen.
Great Falls created an additional 25 shots to finish the sixty-minute contest with 65. The Wyoming-based Quake took five to end their night with 17.
Great Falls concluded the night with three penalties each in the final two periods resulting in 12 minutes of time in the penalty box. The visiting team committed seven infractions for 35 minutes.
Great Falls netminder Drew Scites is now 3-0 in the goal for the Americans. The Minnesota player prevented 17 shots from going through him. Michael Allman, a goalie from Norway, took his second loss for Yellowstone and recorded 59 saves.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls and Yellowstone will meet for the fourth time this season on Saturday, September 22nd in Great Falls. The puck drops at the Great Falls Ice Plex at 7:30PM.
Additional Media Coverage: September 21, 2018: Great Falls Tribune: New Coach optimistic as Americans open home hockey season
Additional Media Coverage: September 21, 2018: Great Falls Tribune: McSharry stars as Americans win home opener