Friday Finals: Bighorns return from break with big win
Billings 2 @ Bozeman 4 - In a game where neither team could get a cushion, Bozeman escaped with a 4-2 victory over Billings. Bozeman gained the winning advantage on a goal by AJ ODell 5:44 into the third period and hung on until final buzzer. Bozeman additionally got points from Gunnar Mogck, who also finished with one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Bozeman included Dylan Michaud and John Dixon, who scored one goal each. More assists for Bozeman came via Daniel Liberko, Kegan Couture, and Nicholas Thompson, who each chipped in one and Elliott Hopkins and Steven Nisbet, who contributed two each. Billings was helped by Chris Nicolai, who grabbed one goal. Nicolai scored 12:27 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Billings. Jacob Yoho assisted on the tally. Edward Hoppmann also scored for Billings. In addition, Billings received assists from Tristan Henrichs, who had one. Benjamin Sakaria recorded 22 saves for Bozeman. Billings' Gage Overby stopped 30 shots out of the 34 that he faced.
Great Falls 6 @ Gillette 1 - Tanner Congdon was all over the ice for Great Falls, as he tallied one goal and three assists in Great Falls' 6-1 win over Gillette. Congdon scored on the power play 2:27 into the third period to make the score 2-0 Great Falls. Ricards Bernhards picked up the assist. Congdon dished an assist on Bernhards' goal that made the score 1-0 Great Falls at 14:29 into the first period. He then added assists on Josh Larson's goal at 5:15 into the third and on Stevan Goran's goal at 6:20 into the third. Gillette was stymied by Great Falls' netminder Jake Stephan, who stopped 30 shots during the victory. Great Falls also got points from Bernhards, who also registered two goals and one assist. Blake Miller also scored for Great Falls. Other players who recorded assists for Great Falls were Miles Giorgione, who had two and Jesse Johnson, Reed Link, Wade Wylie, Malachi Bushey, Connor Barta, and Adam Apangalook, who each chipped in one.
Glacier 1 @ Helena 9 - Helena jumped out to a four-point advantage by the end of the first period and beat Glacier, 9-1. Jarrett Scheibel had two goals and three assists to lead Helena. Scheibel scored the first of his two goals at 2:47 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Helena. Arin Bondurant picked up the assist. Scheibel's next tally made the score 6-0 Helena with 8:06 left in the second period. Ryan Daugherty assisted on the tally. Helena additionally got points from Bondurant, who also registered one goal and one assist and Daugherty, who also grabbed two goals and two assists. Helena also had goals scored by Jay Forbes, who had two and Wyatt Stotts and Riley Keays, who scored one goal each. In addition, Helena received assists from Johnny Bonta, who had four and Bryan Knesel, Brandon Mills, Tom Pratl, Drake Hill, Matt Blassic, and John Greer, who contributed one each. Alex Kruger recorded 18 saves for Helena.
Louisiana 1 @ Texas 5 - Ryan Dunner had one point to lead Texas to a 5-1 victory over Louisiana. Texas kept Louisiana's goalie busy throughout the game, and Sean Angle made 51 saves on 56 shots. Texas additionally got points from George Hansen, who also grabbed one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. Texas also got a goal from Victor Ekk as well. In addition, Texas received assists from Jacob Elrod, Kyle Torgerson, Brock Brown, Niklas McCallum, Kyle Galloway, and Garrett Culps, who contributed one each. Brandon Perrone rejected 11 shots on goal for Texas.
La Crosse 7 @ Rochester 1 - La Crosse had a two-goal lead after two periods and cruised the rest of the way en route to a 7-1 win over Rochester. Matt Wolter had one goal and two assists to lead La Crosse. Wolter scored on the power play 19:05 into the first period to make the score 2-0 La Crosse. Daniel Toycen provided the assist. La Crosse also got points from Toycen, who also tallied one goal and one assist and Jerame Schuetzle, who also racked up two goals and one assist to lead the team in points. Hunter Breza also scored for La Crosse. In addition, La Crosse received assists from Daylon De Souza, who had two and JP Eykyn, Ben Johnson, Jared Bromberg, Ben Henderson, and Kadin Machusak, who contributed one each. Rochester was led by Dominik Bogdzuil, who scored the team's only goal. Bogdzuil scored 5:57 into the second period to make the score 2-1 La Crosse. Colby DeCarlo picked up the assist. Andrew Wagner recorded 24 saves for La Crosse.
