GREAT FALLS – Brett Mathews netted a hat trick Friday night as the Missoula Bruins high school hockey team posted a 5-2 victory over the Great Falls Americans at the Great Falls Iceplex.

With the win, the Bruins, who finished third in the state last season, bumped their record to 2-0-0 in Montana Amateur Hockey Association play and 5-1-1 overall.

Paige Maul and Castle Creighton also found the back of the net for Missoula and Cody Skilling contributed a pair of assists. Mathews, Camp Kenyon and Casey Higgins added assists for the Bruins.

Mathews and Maul scored in the first period as Missoula went into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.

Mathews and Dalton Garton of the Americans traded goals in the second period before Mathews and Creighton closed the scoring in the third.

Aaron Schwartz made 29 saves in goal for the Bruins, who face the Americans in their final game of the weekend Saturday morning in Great Falls.

Missoula    2    1    2    –    5

Great Falls    1    1    0    –    2

First period

M –Brett Mathews (Cody Skilling), 8:57

M – Paige Maul (Skilling, Mathews), 9:25

GF – Jordan Van Son (Jordan Jennings, Logan Schermele), 14:07

Second period

M – Mathews (unassisted), 0:55

GF – Dalton Garton (unassisted), 12:10

Third period

M – Mathews (Camp Kenyon), 2:45

M – Castle Creighton (Casey Higgins), 6:15

Missoula goalie – Aaron Schwartz, 29 saves.

Great Falls goalie – Mike McDaniel, 29 saves