With just one game on the Butte Cobras schedule last weekend all focus was on Saturday where the team hosted the Bozeman Icedogs. With a total team effort, and some stellar play by goaltender Caleb Cross, the Cobras were victorious 4-2.
Butte (5-4-1-0) currently sit in the fourth spot of the eight-team NA3HL Frontier Division, one point back of the Great Falls Americans (6-4-0-0).
Two players are among the top 10 in league scoring with Nick Bradshaw (nine goals, 12 assists) third overall and Cade Wessman (three goals, 14 assists) tenth. Their usual linemate – Luke Schleusner – has missed a handful of games early this season, but does have eight goals along with three assists in seven games played.
All three were in the lineup on Saturday, but it was their teammates who stepped up in this one. Carter Large scored the opening goal of the game, his first career Junior hockey goal, at 7:02 of the opening period. Dylan Walton and Jonathan O’Brien assisted on the play.
Bozeman would tie the game later in the frame before Quinn Nichols found the back of the net for the first time this season scoring on the powerplay. Patrick Crooks and Micah Williamson assisted on the powerplay tally.
🚨 Carter Large scores on a long shot for the first goal of the game!
Jonathan O’Brien with the assist. #NA3HL pic.twitter.com/g5SGGxb1sY— Butte Cobras (@Butte_Cobras) October 16, 2022
After the teams played a scoreless second period the Cobras took a 3-1 advantage just 2:16 into the third when Williamson score his fifth of the season. O’Brien earned his second helper of the game while Kazden Stineff picked up his first point of the campaign.
Bozeman would score on a powerplay at 11:12 to make the score 3-2, but the Cobras controlled play for much of the final frame to hold on. An empty net goal by Crooks sealed the victory in the final seconds.
Goaltender Caleb Cross did the job in the net this evening turning away 39 of 41 shots. He earned his third victory in six starts while improving his GAA to 3.00. His .932 save% is currently tenth best among NA3HL goaltenders with at least four games played.
A road trip to Rapid City, South Dakota is on tap this weekend for Butte. They will face the Badlands Sabres (2-7-1-0) who will be looking to snap a six-game losing streak.