(Editor's note: Reports by Merrick Parnell)
The Bozeman Icedogs completed a series sweep this weekend in just the second week of the North American Three Hockey League (NA3HL) season. The Icedogs took both games on the road from the Sheridan Hawks, a new team in the Frontier Division.
In the first game, the Icedogs prevailed 3-2. Three different Icedogs would score in the game’s first two periods, with Duncan McGarrah scoring his first goal of the season in the first period while Hazen McKay and Christian Veneruzzo tallied in the second frame as both teams traded goals.
Defensively, the Icedogs would hold the Hawks to a scoreless third period and goaltender Domagoj Troha would make 47 saves.
Building off their win on Friday, the Icedogs would skate to a 5-2 win over Sheridan on Saturday. McKay would pick up his second hat trick performance this year, and Andrew Bertolini would score his first Icedog goal as Will Kutch chipped in another.
McGarrah led the team with two assists, and the defense would shutout the Hawks once again in the third. Troha would make 22 saves.
“We definitely ground out for a win this weekend. There were a lot of things to learn from for us, but we were able to find ways to win,” said McGarrah. “The third period of the last game, in my opinion, was one of our best periods so far and great to build off going forward. A lot of little things we need to fix, but overall a sweep is always a good weekend.”
Bozeman’s next game will be against the Butte Cobras in Butte on Sept. 27.
The Cobras are coming off a dropped series to Great Falls.
The Great Falls Americans were picked to be one of the contenders in the NA3HL's Frontier Division, and so far the Americans have not disappointed, proving to be a tough task for the Cobras in their recent series.
On Thursday, the Americans defeated the Cobras 5-2. Offensively, Kyler Garsjo scored for the Cobras, and Robby Arver would tally his first career junior hockey goal, while Butte goalie Colton Marcy made 71 saves.
In Game 2 on Saturday, the Cobras would fall 9-2 to the Americans. Garsjo scored the Cobras’ two goals in that contest.
