NOTE: Photo Courtesy of the Great Falls Americans
By Kevin Scott
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CODY, Wyo., January 4, 2025 — The Great Falls Americans (20-10-1-0) and the Wyoming-based Yellowstone Quake (1-31-1-0) met on the ice for the final time during the 2024-25 NA3HL junior hockey season on Saturday.
In their three previous matchups, Great Falls has outscored Yellowstone, 32-4 in the Americans three victories against the Cody, Wyoming NA3HL franchise.
In Friday’s 9-3 victory in Wyoming, Great Falls exploded for seven goals over the first two periods. Ty O’Bey (Great Falls) and Jordan Murray (Yellowstone) each scored three goals apiece for their respective teams. Aiden Kennedy put in two lamplighters for the Americans. Starting goaltender Karanveer Kooner earned his first victory as a member of the Americans by swatting away 23 shots (game story).
The Quake are still seeking their first win in the Frontier Division after getting a win against a Selects team made up of NA3HL players at the NA3HL Showcase in December.
The Great Falls Americans hung on for a 3-2 victory over the Yellowstone (WY) Quake as the host team came up short in their comeback attempt in the third period during Saturday’s NA3HL junior hockey action at Riley Arena in Cody, Wyoming. Ty O’Bey and Aiden Kennedy each scored a goal and delivered one assist for Great Falls.
Four minutes into the first stanza, Great Falls native Owen Kronk made his first goal with the Americans. Kronk, who appeared in three games last season, saw his first action on Saturday with the Americans this season. He did suit up for the NA3HL Selects squad at the NA3HL Showcase last month but did not score. Defenseman Fisher Hannesson and goaltender Kale Witt were responsible for setting up the lone goal in the first twenty minutes of action. Despite 29 shot attempts by the visiting Montana team, only one goal occurred.
Aiden Kennedy and Ty O’Bey paced the Americans in the middle stanza as they each found the back of the net. Ty O’Bey and Chase Hapka each assisted on Kennedy’s score while John Lang and Aiden Kennedy helped O’Bey get his 24th goal.
Jordan Murray, who scored three goals in Friday’s loss to Great Falls, scored his tenth goal of the season four minutes into the last period of regulation to cut the deficit to 3-1. Sam Goulden and Wesley Amos added the assists. Sam Goulden (Yellowstone) pulled the Quake to within one goal (3-2) with 2:11 remaining as the scored his second goal of the year with helpers from Tucker Sarkisian and another assist by Wesley Amos. The home team could not find a way to put in the equalizer before time expired.
Great Falls took 57 of their 73 shots-on-goal before the second intermission. Yellowstone combined for 14 of their 16 shots-on-goal after the first period.
Both second period scoring opportunities came while the Quake was in the sin bin. Great Falls connected on two of their six power play chances. Yellowstone failed to come away with any goals during their three power plays.
Kale Witt (1-1-0-0) gathered his first win for Great Falls after playing in his fourth contest. The Detroit Lakes, Minnesota goaltender rejected 14 shots. Yellowstone’s Chase Ebeyer (6-3-0-0) was busy making 70 saves during the sixty-minute contest.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns (24-3-1-1) hosted the #4 Badlands (SD) Sabres (15-13-3-2) in Helena, Montana on Saturday. After a scoreless first period, Badlands grabbed the first lead on a goal by Dawson Wirth, who scored his first goal of the season with 43 seconds left in the middle period. The visiting Sabres were under a minute away from getting a regulation victory when Finn Theriault of the Bighorns scored on an unassisted play with 18 seconds left to send it to an overtime. Badlands and Helena did not come away with a goal in the five-minute extra frame, so a shootout was necessary to declare a winning team. Badlands won the shootout 3-2 for a 2-1 win thanks to goals by Grady Nygaard, Dawson Wirth, who scored twice on Helena netminder Malik Johnson for the road victory. Helena received shootout goals from Finn Theriault and Trey Pareja. On Friday, Helena picked up the 5-4 win. Jackson Roethler won for the third time in ten appearances this season (3-5-0-0) by stopping 36 of 37 shots. Helena goalie Malik Johnson had 28 saves but suffered his first loss (11-0-0-1) (Box Score)
The #7 Gillette Wild (13-17-1-0) and the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs (15-12-1-1) were tied at 3-3 after two periods before the Wild shut out the Ice Dogs 3-0 in the third period for the 6-3 win in Gillette, Wyoming on Saturday night. On Friday, Bozeman topped Gillette, 6-3. Gillette’s Brady Johnson scored two goals and dished out two assists in the win. Devin Bruns, Andrew Kaunas, and Lex Steckelberg all tallied goals for the Ice Dogs in the middle period. Gillette’s Tate Cothern added his fifth win of the season (5-8-0-0) stopped 43 of the 46 shots sent by Bozeman. Brett DeVincent fell for the sixth time this season (9-6-0-0). The San Jose, California netminder finished with 38 saves (Box Score).
The third period was the difference in the Butte Irish’s (15-15-1-0) road game in Sheridan, Wyoming on Saturday against the #2 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (20-9-2-0). Both teams scored two goals each in the first stanza and one apiece in the second period before the Irish rebounded from their 12-3 setback to the Hawks on Friday by posting a 7-5 win thanks to four goals in the last period of regulation. Easton Langemo led the Irish with three goals (hat trick) while Sheridan’s Josh Serino also scored three goals, but Langemo’s team picked up the victory. Manny Pantow improved to 6-5-0-0 for the Irish with 47 saves. John Simon dropped to 9-6-0-0 with 27 saves in 56 minutes. Jaxon Stiller stopped all four shots by Butte in the final three minutes (Box Score).
NOTES: 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 returns to the Great Falls Ice Plex for a single game against the #1 Helena Bighorns on Friday, January 10th starting at 7:05PM (MST) live on the NA3HL’s official streaming service, NAHLTV. On Saturday, January 11th, the Americans will face the #6 Butte Irish in Butte, Montana at 7:30PM (MST).
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.