NOTE: A Special Thanks to Tim Ljunggren (Gentle Thug Media) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
| Box Score |
Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
GREAT FALLS, Mont., September 21, 2024 — For the second consecutive night, the #3 Great Falls Americans (4-2-0-0) and the #1 Helena Bighorns (5-1-0-0) faced off against each other.
Entering this weekend, Great Falls had three victories in four games but on Friday (September 20) the Americans faltered on the road against the defending NA3HL National Champions from last season.
Ty O’Bey’s opening period goal gave the Americans a quick advantage three minutes into the contest. The Bighorns offense took off with seven consecutive scoring drives in the final 57 minutes winning 7-1 at Steed Arena. Finn Theriault racked up two goals in the Bighorns fifth straight win (game story).
Great Falls was looking to spoil the Bighorns weekend sweep by stealing a game at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday night.
The #3 Great Falls Americans never trailed against the top-ranked Helena Bighorns on Saturday night at the Great Falls Ice Plex as they scored a late goal in the third period to earn the 3-2 victory against the defending NA3HL Fraser Cup National Champions from 2023. Despite a failed comeback bid by the Bighorns, Great Falls defeated Helena for the first time in two years. Great Falls edged the Helena Bighorns 3-2 in Great Falls on January 28, 2022 (game story). Great Falls was the first opponent to defeat the Bighorns so far this season.
Great Falls Americans played a great first period scoring one goal and not allowing any from the Helena Bighorns. Great Falls forward Easton Kennedy attacked the net and scored his fourth goal of the season over Helena netminder Jeremy Carpenter with 8:46 on the clock. Ty O’Bey and Cal Laggis each earned their third assist of the year. Both teams totaled 20 shots-on-goal.
In the second period, the home team lit up the lamp to increase their lead (2-0) on n a goal by Sebe Perez. Perez’s first goal of the season occurred on a power play with helpers from newcomers Blayne Jusczak and Keegan Hanson five minutes into the stanza. Helena needed 28 minutes of game time before they put the puck in the net. Finn Theriault, the Bighorns leading scorer, gathered his ninth goal with eight minutes remaining off the stick of Kelton Chadwick, who secured his eighth assist. Finn Theriault’s offensive attack continued, and he answered 69 seconds (tenth goal) later with the game-tying goal with assistance from Kelton Chadwick and Hunter Coulombe. Both goals by the visitors came with Great Falls in the sin bin.
Cal Laggis’ goal set up by Ty O’Bey and Garren Narvaez with four minutes remaining served as the game-winning score to help the Americans break their drought against their Montana rivals.
Great Falls outshot Helena 20-15 in the second period and took one more shot (35-34) before the final buzzer sounded in the final period of regulation.
The heated rivalry saw ten minor infractions resulting in 20 minutes of penalty time. Both squads capitalized on two of their power play opportunities while the opposition was in the penalty box.
Kaden Rhyder improved to 4-2 on the season by stopping 42 shots for Great Falls. Helena’s Tyler Miller registered 32 saves in his first loss in three appearances.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #6 Gillette (WY) Wild (2-3-1-0) needed an overtime to settle their differences on the ice against the #4 Badlands (SD) Sabres (2-1-1-0) on Saturday night in Rapid City, South Dakota. After a scoreless first period, Gillette’s Chase Hapka lit up the lamp to give the Wild the early advantage. Badlands’ Zack Vockler evened the score in the third stanza to force the extra period. Gillette’s second victory came when Tai Kontrac scored his second tally of the season two minutes into overtime. Taite Cothern is now 2-1-0-0 with the overtime victory in his first season with the Wild. The Minnesota netminder swatted away 45 shots. Lochlin Jackson had his debut spoiled by the Wild but not before getting 28 saves (Box Score)
#2 Sheridan Hawks (5-1-0-0) cruised to a 9-1 victory over the winless #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-6-0-0) thanks to Josh Serino’s three successful scoring drives along with three assists. The Hawks led 7-0 after two periods and only a third period goal by Yellowstone’s Max Goulden prevented the shutout for Hawks goalie TJ Wonnacott (2-0-0-0), who finished with 29 saves. Yellowstone netminders Matthew Neeser and Nate Whitson combined for 43 saves. Neeser (0-3-0-0) was credited with his third loss in four appearances (Box Score).
Andrew Kaunas led the way for the #7 Bozeman Ice Dogs (2-2-0-0) with a hat trick (three goals) in a 5-1 victory over the #5 Butte Irish (2-4-0-0) during Saturday’s NA3HL action in Bozeman, Montana. Devin Bruns and Lex Steckelberg also added goals for the winning team. Butte’s Andrew Browe scored on the unassisted tally in the third period. Jack Ryan (1-1-0-0), the Denver, Colorado native, earned his first win for the Ice Dogs as he tallied 30 saves. Logan Hunter’s five miscues for the Irish led to 32 saves in his second loss this season (0-2-0-0) (Box Score).
NOTES: The Great Falls Americans Booster Club is raffling off “RTIC’ Coolers with three different prizes.
FIRST PRIZE: 52 Quart Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler with freezable divider, 30 can soft pack cooler, large ultra tough tote, (4) 30 oz. tumblers, and Meat Package from Central Avenue Meats.
SECOND PRIZE: 32 Quart Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler with freezable divider, 20 can soft pack cooler, small ultra tough tote, (2) 30 oz. tumblers, and Meat Package from Central Avenue Meats.
THIRD PRIZE: 22 Quart Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler, 12 can soft pack cooler, small ultra tough tote, (2) 30 oz. tumblers, and 10 lbs. of burger from Central Avenue Meats.
The drawing will be held at the October 25th home game against the Butte Irish and you don’t have to be present to win. All proceeds go to the Great Falls Americans hockey team.
Contact Adam Stanczak for tickets at 406-564-6771.
Season Two of the “Americans Podcast with Jim Quick” premiered on September 5, 2024, with his first guest of the season, Cole Molaski, a forward from Suamico, Wisconsin, who is in his first season with Great Falls. The second episode featured forward Ty O’Bey from Ashland, Wisconsin on September 9th and this week, Easton and Aiden Kennedy, two brothers from Minnesota were on the September 15th episode. Click here to learn more about Easton and Aiden on the official podcast of the Great Falls Americans. Each podcast will feature one American player as we get to know the team this season. Jim completed 13 episodes during his first season. Fans can listen to the full podcasts from Seasons One and Two by clicking here.
560AM KMON Weekly Radio Interview with Coach Greg Sears: Join KMON Radio Sports Director “Baker Bob” McNamee every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings during the 2024-25 season with Great Falls Americans Head Coach and General Manager, Greg Sears as he talks about the Americans. The Weekly Radio interview on 560AM KMON in Great Falls can be heard locally every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings during the Hourly Sports Report (6:15AM (MST), 7:15AM (MST), and 8:15AM (MST) live. Click here to listen to the current and previous radio interviews.
AMERICANS PHOTOGRAPHER: Look for game photos from all of the home games from Michael Noel, the Americans Official Photographer by clicking here.
AMERICANS E-NEWSLETTERS: The Americans have two email newsletters for fans to receive in their inbox this season. Kevin Scott, the Americans Media Coordinator, has an Americans E-Newsletter that you can get on Sunday’s during the regular season filled with game summaries, press releases, links, schedule, etc. Click here to subscribe (if you haven’t already).
Americans Owner Matt Leaf creates and sends out a weekly email called “Baldy’s Puck Drop” that features team news, player profile, sponsor information and lots of other tidbits relating to Americans hockey that is published on Thursday mornings. Click here to receive the weekly newsletter (if you haven’t already).
NA3HL MOBILE APP: If you haven’t already, download the NA3HL App available at the App Store and Google Play. Fans can set your favorite team to the Great Falls Americans today and stay up to date with the NA3HL. Click here to download from the App Store (Apple) or click here to download from the Google Play Store (Android).
2024-25 PHOTOS: Check out all the Americans photos throughout the season including some taken by Americans photographer, Michael Noel and Gentle Thug Media’s Tim Ljunggren. Click here to view all the photos from the 2024-25 season.
AMERICANS TEAM STORE: Click here to view the Americans online team store that features a variety of different souvenirs to purchase. A store is available at all home games. AMERICANS GAME TICKETS ONLINE: Fans can also buy game day tickets on the website prior to the game by clicking here.
Please check out the Americans website at www.greatfallsamericans.com for all your updated news, game summaries, rosters, photo galleries, etc.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Americans launch their “Sled Hockey Program” with Eagle Mount Therapeutic Recreation on Thursday, September 12th, September 19th and Thursday, September 26th. The ice session starts at 5:00 PM and will involve our players working with these athletes to hone their skills and enjoy the sport. These will run the next three Thursdays before we get into a slightly different schedule in October. We can always use volunteers to assist with equipment and getting players on and off the ice, if available.
Oktoberfest: Since Great Falls is not playing on Friday, September 27th, the team will participate in a Block Party for Oktoberfest in downtown Great Falls that night (4PM-10PM) with Annie’s Taphouse, The Kellergeist, and Tracy’s Family Restaurant. The first block of Central Avenue will be blocked off for an evening of German beer, food, and music along with the Americans players promoting the team and giving all attendees a chance to win prizes.
Click here to view the other upcoming events for the Americans.
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans will meet up with the Bighorns on Saturday, September 28th for a 7:05PM (MST) contest in Helena, Montana. This is the only scheduled game for the week for each squad. The game will be streamed online at NAHLTV.
P. Gibson’s Sports Grill and Casino (1600 Fox Farm Road) is the place to be after Friday and Saturday night home games where the Americans invite their fans and supporters to their post-game dinner.
Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 17 Northwest Bypass in Great Falls, hosts the “Americans Watch Party” this season when the Americans are on the road. Fans are invited to get food and drinks and watch the game.
NAHLTV is the NA3HL’s new streaming platform and is the place to catch all the action for fans that are unable to attend the home and away games this season. Click here to learn more about how to view any of the Americans home and away contests.
Click here for the 2024-25 Great Falls Americans schedule and results.