Friday Finals: Butte Scores Opening Night Victory
by NAHL Writing Team
Finn Theriault and the defending champion Helena Bighorns were triumphant in their opener against Yellowstone
Gillette 3 @ Butte 5 - A battle between two familiar foes in the Frontier Division, the Gillette Wild and the Butte Irish matched up in a the season opener. A short-handed goal from the Irish off the blade of Brennen Morgan would place them ahead, not before Beau Delich would even up the score before the first frame was completed. The Irish would come out firing in the second period, with three consecutive goals within the first 9 minutes, to give Butte a 4-1 lead. Logan Weber, Toby Kerr and Weston Villers were the goal scorers. Gillette would respond with a goal in the latter stage of the second from Hudson Fisher and an early third-period goal from Rocco Curl to cut the lead to one, before an eventual empty net goal from the Irish’s Villers, his second of the game. Andrew Browe would lead the charge with four assists on the night, backed by Tim Nanson’s 26 saves in the win. The Wild’s Josh Bieniewicz would take the loss with 22 saves, as the Wild look for revenge tomorrow night.
Helena 6 @ Yellowstone 0 - Friday’s season-opening contest featuring the Helena Bighorns and Yellowstone Quake got off to a quick start as the Bighorns took control early. First period goals by Finn Theriault, Austin Uecker, Warren Ryder, and Owen Gruener put Helena up big heading into the first intermission. The Bighorns would continue to add on in the second period with a goal by Trey Pareja followed by another late in the third period courtesy of Clint Isakson. A final score of 6-0 gave Helena their first win of the season and a red-hot way to keep the momentum rolling from last year’s championship.
Sheridan 4 @ Great Falls 3 - With just over 12 minutes remaining in the first period, a point blast from Cody Hogan put Sheridan on top. Just 11 seconds into the 2nd, Zac Orwig would wrap one in to tie the game for Great Falls. Just three minutes later, however, Leaf would tally his first of the night off of a deflection to put Sheridan back on top. Just past the five minute mark, Ty O’Bey would snipe one to tie the game back up, 2-2. Just before the midway point of the 2nd, Elijah White would capitalize on the power play on a loose puck in front to put Sheridan back up 3-2. Just three minutes into the 3rd, Easton Kennedy would capitalize on a beautiful cross ice feed to tie the game for Great Falls. Leaf would add his second of the night just past the midway point of the third to make it 4-3, and that would prove to be the difference. Kaden Rhyder stood tall in net for Great Falls, tallying 43 saves on the night. His counterpart, John Simon, tallied 32 in the win
