Glacier looks to keep momentum at home

After a slow start to the 2014-15 season, the Glacier Nationals of the North American Tier 3 Hockey League are picking up steam. And even though their number of losses still greatly outnumbers their wins, they are playing their best hockey of the season — just in time for their most grueling stretch of their schedule.

The Nationals, who have earned points in three of their last four games, will look to build on their recent string of strong play as they host the Great Falls Americans tonight at the Havre Ice Dome. Then, Sunday, they will head to Blaine, Minnesota, where they will compete in the annual NA3HL Showcase.

The Nationals, who play in the Frontier Division of the NA3HL, won just one of their first 16 games and during that same time earned just five points in the Frontier standings. Yet, in their last four games, the Nationals have won two games and lost in a shootout in another, meaning they have picked up as many points in their last four games as they did in their first 16.

One of those wins came against the Great Falls Americans, who have dominated the Frontier this season and find themselves atop the standings at 17-2. Glacier defeated the Americans in Great Falls 2-1 back on Nov. 21.

Following their win over Great Falls, the Nationals lost in a shootout to the Helena Bighorns 4-3 on Nov. 28 and then knocked off the Billings Bulls 3-2 Nov. 29. So, while the Nationals currently sit sixth out of seven teams in the standings, they own victories over two of the top four teams in the division, which has given the team plenty of confidence going forward into their rematch tonight with Great Falls as well as the showcase.

"Obviously, it can't hurt, the big thing now is the guys are starting to buy in to what needs to be done, they are doing it and seeing success with it," Nationals head coach Rob Powell said. "So hopefully, we can continue to build on that. We have always been a good team, age has always been a factor with some of the ups and downs. I think the guys are starting to realize what it takes to be successful day in and day out, and I think some of the younger guys are seeing how some of the older guys are taking care of their business and its starting to rub off on them."

One reason for the Nationals’ success recently has been the strong play of goaltender Ryan Lund, who started in the wins over Great Falls and Billings. Over the course of the season, he has played much better than his 2-8-3 record would indicate and has a goals against average of 3.39 and a save percentage of 92 percent.

Another revelation for Glacier has been the play of forward Joshua Larson, who has quickly become the Nationals top offensive threat. In 11 games, Larson has a team-high six goals and scored the game-winner in the final minute to secure the victory over Great Falls in the last meeting between the two teams.

While, the Americans will certainly be focused on stopping Larson and other prominent offensive threats for Glacier such as Tyler McMahon, Karson Frisk and Tommy Kaddatz, the Nationals will need to concern themselves with stopping a dominant Americans' offense that includes a pair of double-digit goal scorers, led by Lucas Lomax, who has a team-high 12 goals and Robert Kalata, who has 10.

Yet, as good as the Americans are on offense, they are even better defensively, thanks in large part to the spectacular play of their goaltenders Lauren Massie, who has a 7-2 record and 1.67 goals against average, and Evan Hauser, who has a perfect 10-0 record and a goals against average of just one per game.

Following their matchup against Great Falls, the Nationals will travel to Minnesota where they will take on Dallas in their opening game of the NA3HL Showcase. Dallas resides in the South Division and brings a 6-15-2 record into the showcase. After squaring off against Dallas, the Nationals will take on a team from New York that is from the East Division and currently sports a 12-9 record. That game will be played Monday. And to round out their showcase, the Nationals will take on Cleveland Dec. 9. Cleveland is also in the East Division and currently has a 8-11-4 record.

The NA3HL showcase will not only give the Nationals a chance to play against some different opponents, it also gives the players an opportunity to get noticed by teams from the North American Hockey League, the junior league above the NA3HL, and colleges as well.

"It's the closet to playing real, professional hockey these kids will get," Powell said. "The biggest challenge is going to be playing four games in five days and games in three straight days. But, it's a great opportunity. I am on the phone all the time with coaches and scouts and it just gives them a chance to get more exposure."

The Nationals and Americans will drop the first puck tonight inside the Havre Ice Dome at 8.