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., February 2, 2025 — The most recent contest between the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs (21-14-1-1) and the #4 Great Falls Americans (22-12-3-2) occurred on Wednesday, January 29th when both teams traveled for a neutral site game in Havre, Montana for a regular season NA3HL contest. The game served as a home date for Great Falls but was played at the Havre Ice Dome since they could not have the game inside the Great Falls Ice Plex on January 25th due to a youth hockey tournament.
Bozeman’s offense took control and held a 3-1 advantage before the third period began. Tyler Klingbeil, Dan Upton, and Matthew Stamp all scored for the Ice Dogs. Aiden Kennedy, with helpers from Chase Hapka and Fisher Hannesson, accounted for the Americans lone scoring drive. Bozeman outscored Great Falls 2-1 in the final period for the 5-2 victory. Spencer Wilkinson and Preston Wight tallied the third period goals for the visitors while Garren Narvaez, the Americans assist leader, added the Americans score. Jack Ryan made 29 saves for the winning side. Kaden Rhyder, who took the loss for the Americans, ended up with 27 saves while backup netminder Patrick Forsythe stopped 16 of 17 shots (game story).
Great Falls has won four of their six head-to-head matchups (3-1 at home and 1-1 on the road) prior to Sunday’s showdown on the ice in Bozeman, Montana.
The Great Falls Americans trailed 5-2 on the road against the Bozeman Ice Dogs after the first forty minutes but scored four straight goals to even the score but the Ice Dogs tacked on a goal with under 30 seconds remaining to force an overtime and shootout. Bozeman’s Spencer Wilkinson scored the lone goal in the shootout in the 7-6 victory. This was the second straight shootout for both clubs. Bozeman defeated the Butte Irish, 6-5 in Bozeman on Saturday and the Helena Bighorns downed Great Falls, 4-3 in a shootout at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday night.
Bozeman raced out to score three unanswered goals during a 1:39 span within the first five minutes of the opening period. Tyler Klingbeil scored the first two goals with Spencer Wilkinson and Matthew Stamp assisting on the first score and Stamp earning another assist on the second score. Devin Bruns, the leading scorer for the Ice Dogs, delivered his 22nd goal with 15:13 remaining off a pass from Andrew Kaunas and Cole Schowengerdt. Great Falls stopped the shutout quickly by scoring 12 seconds later when Ty O’Bey found John Lang for the lamplighter. Great Falls and Bozeman combined for 22 shots-on-goal.
The Ice Dogs offense quickly scored to open the second period. Lex Steckelberg during the first 24 seconds off the stick of Andrew Kaunas. The host team would have a four-goal advantage (5-1) eight minutes later when Spencer Wilkinson would light up the lamp for his 14th goal off a pass from Tyler Klingbeil, who started the game with two goals in the first. Before the period concluded, the Americans were able to get their second goal when Cal Laggis put the puck in the net. Ty O’Bey and Garrett Driscoll set up the final scoring tally of the stanza.
If you were a Great Falls fan, the game got exciting in the third frame. The Americans answered with four consecutive successful scoring drives and took the lead with 65 seconds left in regulation. Four different players scored including Fisher Hannesson, Jase Troyer, Jayden Rogen, and Ty O’Bey with Chase Hapka assisting on two scores and Ty O’Bey, EJ Sanchez, Aiden Kennedy, and Garrett Driscoll providing the assists. The Ice Dogs would not be denied as they went down the ice and scored with 28 seconds left to send it to overtime. Bozeman’s Reid Wilkinson saved the game for the Ice Dogs that was set up by Matthew Stamp and Michael Reich. After three periods, Great Falls attempted 38 saves and held Bozeman to 27.
After the five-minute overtime was completed with no scoring, a shootout would determine a winner.
In the shootout, Spencer Wilkinson produced the only score for either team to give the Ice Dogs the 7-6 win in a shootout. Teammate Tyler Klingbeil came up short but Wilkinson’s one-on-one goal with the Americans netminder proved to be the game winner after unsuccessful tries from Ty O’Bey, John Lang and Zac Orwig.
Despite the loss, Great Falls outshot the home team, 47-30 with 26 shots coming after the first stanza.
Bozeman went 1-for-3 on the power play and committed four minor infractions during the Sunday night contest. Great Falls made one of their four power play opportunities and had three minor penalties.
Tyler Klingbeil turned in a great performance for the Ice Dogs as he amassed two goals and dished out one assist. Ty O’Bey, the Americans team leader, had one goal and three assists.
Brett DeVincent now has 13 victories in 21 games for Bozeman. He is now 1-2 when facing the Americans and finished Sunday’s win with 38 saves. Isaiah Paulnock started his second game with Great Falls but finished with four saves before Kale Witt took over and stopped 20 of 23 shots. Witt, who has been in six games this season, is now 1-1-1-1.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: No other Frontier Division contests took place today.
NOTES: Don’t miss the Great Falls Americans Fan Activation through DASH for your chance to win one of three Valentine’s Day packages up for auction. Packages are now live through February 14th.
Package #1: 1 dozen Roses from Life In Bloom Floral and Gift Boutique, 1 box of chocolates, two VIP passes for the Valentine’s Night Game versus Helena, a Valentine’s Red Baldy Hoodie and some other Americans swag with a total value over $150.
Package #2: Skin care products and gift certificate for “Spring Break” Tan from She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique, two VIP passes for the Valentine’s Night Game versus Helena, a Valentine’s Red Baldy Hoodie and some other Americans swag with a total value over $150.
Package #3: A pair of heart shaped Montana bee rib-eye steaks and some hamburger from Central Avenue Meats, two VIP passes for the Valentine’s Night Game versus Helena, a Valentine’s Red Baldy Hoodie and some other Americans swag with a total value over $150.
All surprises will be delivered in the Great Falls area to your special Valentine by Baldy on Valentine’s Day. Scan the QR code to activate your fandom and take advantage of this unique opportunity to surprise your special Valentine with a package made for them.
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: The Americans will be on the road for a two-game series against the #3 Sheridan (WY) Hawks on Friday and Saturday, February 7-8, 2025, in Sheridan, Wyoming. NAHLTV will have the streaming coverage starting at 7:30PM (MST) both nights. Great Falls is 3-3 this season when facing the Hawks.
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.