NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photo.
By Kevin Scott
| Box Score |
Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
BOZEMAN, Mont., December 6, 2024 — This weekend is the final weekend of competition before the winter break with matchups against their Frontier Divisions foes for the #3 Great Falls Americans (15-8-1-0) before next week’s (December 15-17) NA3HL Showcase tournament in Blaine, Minnesota that features opponents from the NA3HL’s other divisions in the West, East, Central and South Divisions (see story about who the Americans will play).
But first, Great Falls challenged the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs, who are 12-9-1-1 in 23 contests so far this season. Both Montana squads have played each other three times since November 15th with the Americans picking up two straight wins including an overtime win. Overall, they are 4-1-0-0 against the Ice Dogs.
The #3 Great Falls Americans allowed four unanswered goals by the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs after two periods of play, but their third period comeback attempt fell short in a 4-3 road loss at Haynes Pavilion in Bozeman, Montana on Friday evening.
Bozeman native Lex Steckelberg scored his eleventh goal six minutes into the first period to give the Ice Dogs an early advantage. Tyler Klingbeil and Andrew Kaunas, who spent time last season with Bozeman along with Steckelberg, earned the assists . The Ice Dogs tacked on their second scoring drive of the night ten minutes later when Devin Bruns lit up the lamp off with one assist apiece from Spencer Wilkinson and Baron Masopust. The Americans were kept off the scoreboard with each squad producing 13 shots.
Bozeman denied any scoring from Great Falls in the middle stanza as they tacked on two more goals for the four-goal lead. Andrew Kaunas and Dan Upton were awarded the goals for the host team. Lex Steckelberg and Michael Reich assisted on the Kaunas score with 18 minutes remaining and then Matthew Stamp assisted on Upton’s score that occurred with eight minutes left on the clock.
The Americans stopped their scoring drought by scoring twice during the first 2:31 of the third frame to cut the deficit to 4-2. Aiden Kennedy and Ty O’Bey each put the puck in the net for their 13th and 18th goals, respectively. Sebe Perez and Fisher Hannesson set up Kennedy’s score 73 seconds into the final period. Cal Laggis and John Lang added another assist to their resume on the first of two Ty O’Bey scoring drives. Ty O’Bey put the biscuit in the basket again for the Americans third score with under seven minutes left but the visiting squad could not find a way to add another lamplighter before the end of regulation.
Great Falls attempted 16 shots each in the second and third frames to finish with 45. Bozeman tallied 37 shots with 24 coming after the first intermission.
Four combined power play chances went unanswered between these two Montana rivals. The fifth meeting between these two clubs saw eight total penalties committed resulting in 58 minutes spent off the ice.
In his seventh appearance in the net for Bozeman, Jack Ryan picked up his third victory (3-3-0-0). The Denver, Colorado netminder stopped 42 of the 45 shots sent his way. Patrick Forsythe played the first 32 minutes adding 14 saves and a second regulation loss to his resume (2-2-1-0). Karanveer Kooner also saw action for Great Falls rejecting all 19 shots by Bozeman’s offense.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns (21-2-0-0) scored four of their five goals in the middle period to skate past the #6 Butte Irish (11-12-1-0), 5-1 during Friday’s NA3HL action inside Steed Arena in Helena, Montana. The Bighorns got scores from Jason Hammett, Austin Uecker, Jeffrey Hershberger, Trey Pareja and Kade Pareja. Brennan Morgan scored with 45 seconds left in the second period for Butte to prevent the shutout. Neither team found the back of the net in the final period. Branson Appelman (1-0-0-0) added 21 saves in his debut with Helena. Tim Nanson is now 0-2-0-0 against the Bighorns. He made 43 saves in his sixth regulation loss (6-6-1-0) (Box Score).
The #2 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (17-6-2-0) cruised by the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-24-1-0), 10-0 at Whitney Rink in the M&M’s Center in Sheridan, Wyoming on Friday. Josh Serino had another hat trick (3 goals), and Anthony DiCola and Kiefer Dunham provided the winning team with two goals apiece. Ryan Rainey (4-1-0-0) is now 3-0-0-0 against the Quake this season as he stopped all 30 shots. Hayden Laforet (20 saves) fell to 0-4-1-0, including his second loss to the Hawks. Matthew Neeser saw 28 minutes of action for the Quake and finished with 28 saves (Box Score).
Max Arlt helped the #7 Gillette (WY) Wild (10-14-1-0) defeat the #4 Badlands ISD) Sabres (11-9-3-2), 4-3 in overtime. Arlt saved the night for the Wild, scoring the game-tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation and then added the game-winning goal in overtime for Gillette’s tenth win of the season. Hudson Fisher and Riley Schmidt also scored goals for Gillette. Zach Vockler, Jaden Flor, and Rhylan Olson tallied the first three goals for Badlands. Gillette netminder Austin Trieber improved to 2-4-0-0 with 42 saves. Lochlin Jackson (4-2-2-2) made 39 saves for South Dakota (Box Score).
NOTES: Great Falls Americans goaltender Kaden Rhyder left last Saturday to skate and practice with the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Watertown (SD) Shamrocks this past week. Many NA3HL players get the opportunity to practice or play at a higher junior level (NAHL) throughout the season as players look to advance their hockey careers.
Read about all the Americans hockey action in print through the Great Falls Gazette, a newspaper that is published on Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday each week with game recaps written by Kevin Scott, the Great Falls Americans Public Relations/Media Coordinator. Click here for more information on how to subscribe.
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. Other players featured this season include Ty O’Bey, Easton and Aiden Kennedy, Sebe Perez, Mercer Twomey, Zac Orwig, Cal Laggis and Blayne Jusczak. Click here to learn more about Blayne Jusczak 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.
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.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls will travel to Montana’s capital of Helena, Montana to take on the top-seed in the Frontier Division, the Helena Bighorns for a Saturday (December 7) showdown starting at 7:05PM (MST) contest inside Steed Arena. Great Falls is 2-2-0-0 against Helena this season and they are the only team to defeat the Bighorns so far this season.
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.