Butte Irish completed their first road trip of the new season on Saturday with a Frontier Division tilt against the Bozeman Icedogs. Just one night after an 8-3 loss in Great Falls, the Irish played their most complete game of the season and were rewarded with a 3-1 victory over the Icedogs.
17-year old rookie goaltender Jackson Wagner made his first start of his NA3HL career and was excellent throughout. He stopped 23 of 24 shots to help lead the Irish defense.
After having a first period goal waved off for a hand pass, Kaleb Ivens opened scoring early in the second period with assists from Jacob Avgustovskiy and Jack Whitelaw. Later in the frame Bozeman would tie it before a late period powerplay marker by Avgustovskiy would restore the lead. That goal turned out to be the game winner as Wagner kept the Icedogs off the scoreboard for the final 28 minutes.
Jack Whitelaw secured the victory with an empty net goal in the final minute. It was his third point of the night after assisting on both prior goals.
Up next
Friday at Badlands Sabres, 7:05 PM
Saturday at GIllette Wild, 7:05 PM
Ludwig Media 