Sheridan Hawks Win Game 1 Of NA3HL Frontier Division Finals Series At Helena

The Helena Bighorns and Sheridan Hawks made it to the Frontier Division finals, facing off Wednesday night (March 18th) in their first game in another best-of-three round.

Vincent Leaf brought the action early, recording a goal and an assist in the first.

Leaf struck for Sheridan just 30 seconds into play before assisting on Max Krueger’s goal along with Jameson Clark later in the period.

This is Krueger’s third goal of the postseason after he scored twice in the Hawks’ last game against the Badlands Sabres in the division semifinals.

But Helena late in the first, getting the Bighorns on the board to finish off the period.

The Bighorns opened the second, tying the score for the and then added another to give them three unanswered goals and a one-point lead.

However, the Bighorns’ lead was short-lived and Elijah Farris added a third tally for the Hawks to finish off the middle frame.

The final twenty minutes of regulation kept things close.

The Hawks upped the offensive pressure but the Bighorns responded with strong defense to keep this game lively.

Then Helena scored early in the third period before Leaf evened the score later and sent these teams to overtime.

The Hawks would ultimately come out on top with Zachary Marsell scoring a heroic overtime goal to seal Sheridan’s first win of the series, 5-4.

The Hawks return to home ice Friday night and, if needed, Saturday night as they push for a Frontier Division Playoff Championship to top of their Division Regular Season Championship. 

The winner of this best of three series then immediately head to Saint Louis for the NA3HL Fraser Cup Championship Playoffs.