The first weekend battle of the season between the Helena Bighorns and the Sheridan Hawks proved to be a close one, but Helena managed to squeeze out two more wins, keeping them in the top spot of the Frontier Division.
Friday’s game ended with only one goal in net between both teams, thanks to Bighorn rookie Austin Uecker, assisted by Caden Feinstein and Owen Gruener. Helena outshot the Hawks 49-18, giving Helena goalie Malik Johnson a well-deserved shutout.
Saturday’s game was just as close of a battle, with a few more pucks in each opponent’s net, and pushing the tied 3-3 game into overtime. Jeffery Hershberger broke that tie with a breakaway opportunity, giving the Bighorns their fourth goal and win for the night. Finn Theriault was credited with Helena’s first two goals, assisted by Garrett Lindsey, Jason Hammett, Hunter Coulombe, and Kade Pareja, and Elijah Elmer was awarded the third goal of the night for the Bighorns, assisted by Kelton Chadwick and Kade Pareja. Malik Johnson was in net again for Helena with 27 saves out of the 30 shots on his net.
Helena will hit the road this weekend, heading to Rapid City, South Dakota, taking on the Badlands Sabres both Friday and Saturday night. The puck drops at 7:05pm both nights, watch it live at Buffalo Wild Wings (Helena).