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BALDY’S PUCK DROP Weekly E-Newsletter (September – August) |
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Baldy’s Puck Drop” Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Volume 32: July 25, 2024
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: Wow! Time sure does fly. Hard to believe that the ice making process will start one week from today, our Cornhole Extravaganza is just a little over three weeks away which then signals the start of our Maine Pre-Season Camp followed by our Red vs. White game exactly one month from now. Our schedule is out, we have renewed many different corporate partnerships while adding some new ones and am piecing together what we hope to be the most successful Great Falls Americans Season ever both on and off the ice. If you can sense I am excited – good read on your part! Although there are still a handful on contracts floating out there and waiting to be returned, commitments have been made and our team is pretty much set. The following have submitted their player contract and we want to
welcome the following to our family for the 2024-25 season (Those highlighted in Yellow were announced last month):
| Player | Position | Birth Year | Home | 2023-24 Team |
| Blake Komrofske | Forward | 2005 | Colorado Springs, CO | Great Falls Americans |
| Caleb Gamboa | Forward | 2005 | Anchorage, AK | Great Falls Americans |
| Garrett Driscoll | Defenseman | 2004 | Colorado Springs, CO | Great Falls Americans |
| Blake Blandon | Goalkeeper | 2006 | Kalispell, MT | Kalispell High School |
| Brody Richard | Forward | 2006 | Wasilla, AK | Team Alaska 18 AAA |
| Cole Molaski | Forward | 2006 | Suamico, WI | Bay Port High School |
| Gavin Denis | Forward | 2006 | Rhinelander, WI | Rhinelander High School |
| Ethan “EJ” Sanchez | Forward | 2008 | Great Falls, MT | Sioux Falls Power 15 AAA |
| Ty Brander (Pictured) | Defenseman | 2005 | Airdrie, AB | Great Falls Americans |
| Macen Heisler | Forward | 2005 | Horace, ND | Bottineau/Rugby Braves HS |
| Mercer Twomey | FOR/DEF | 2004 | Charleston, SC | Atlanta Capitals (NA3HL) |
| Jace Troyer | Forward | 2006 | Great Falls, MT | Wasatch Renegades 18 AAA |
| Keegen Hanson | Defenseman | 2005 | Fargo, ND | Colorado Springs Tigers 18 AAA |
| Fisher Hannesson | Defenseman | 2005 | West Fargo, ND | Fargo South Shanley HS |
| Zac Orwig | Forward | 2004 | Rogers, MN | Great Falls Americans |
| Masen Kerr | Forward | 2004 | Kenosha, WI | Great Falls Americans |
| Blayne Jusczak | Forward | 2005 | North Pole, AK | Team Alaska 18 AAA |
Several other players are in the process of signing their contracts, including many of our fan favorites from last season as they complete their summer tryout process. I look forward to providing our full roster with the next edition in two weeks and for you to be able to see everyone in action the week of the 19th. And don’t forget to mark August 24th on your calendar as our Red vs. White game is free to the public and will be your opportunity to meet your 2024-25 Americans along with several other future prospect players participating in our week-long Main Camp.
Matt Tranmer from the Tool Box joined us at Annie’s Taphouse on the 4th to draw the winner of the Milwaukee Tool Package raffle with the
winner being Warren Welte from Richmond, Saskatchewan. Warren bought his ticket while watching his nephew participate in our Prospect Camp in early May. Congratulations to Warren and thanks to Matt for his contribution from the Tool Box!
I also want to thank our Booster Club and several of our players in contributing to two special events over the last Month. Adam and Kinley Stanczak joined Coach Sears, myself and players EJ Sanchez, Owen Cronk and Masen Kerr in creating a fun little street hockey area during Alluvion Health’s “Get Out and Play” festivities at Lion’s Park at the end of June. Over 500 participants attended the event with many of the kids giving hockey a try. It also gave us an opportunity to hand out our season schedule for the first time and promote our “Try Hockey for Free” event on November 2nd.
We also had several Booster Club members, players and Baldy walk with a decorated car during the 4th of July parade. A
special thanks goes out to Wendy Dick for the use of her car and for Pam Stanczak and Krista Smith for doing the decorations. The group 
walking logged a little over 3 miles over the course of the 3 hours of prep and parade action with Baldy losing about 8 pounds while being a huge hit with the parade attendees. I want to give a special thanks to Baldy – but staying consistent with the Mascot code we cannot divulge his/her identity.
There are a few other events/dates that I want to be sure to get on your calendar as we prepare for the season:
• Season and individual game tickets are now on sale at www.greatfallsamericans.com
• Thursday, August 1, 2024 – Look for info on the latest Booster Club Raffle where the winner will be drawn during our home game on September 14th. It is going to be a good one!
• Saturday/Sunday August 10th and 11th. Ice Plex Paint Party. Our Arena staff will be painting the ice this weekend in preparation for the season. If painting is not your thing, there will be plenty of other projects where we could use volunteers to help get the rink ready. Also, a
good chance to get out of the heat!
• Thursday, August 15th – Look for our pre-season fan activation on DASH with a special promotion to get you ready for the season!
• Saturday, August 17th. 2nd Annual Cornhole Extravaganza at the Beacon Ice House. A full afternoon of cornhole fun followed by the Steve Keller Band playing live at 7:00 PM. Come out an enjoy a family friendly afternoon and meet many of our players away from the rink. Register at www.greatfallsamericans.com
• Monday, August 19th Pre-Season Main Camp begins with 2 sessions per day.
• Monday, August 19th 12:00 NN Great Falls Americans Press Conference with Myself, the Coaching Staff and some returning players answering questions about the season. All media and public are welcome.
• Tuesday, August 20th 7:30 PM Team dinner and chance for fans to meet and greet our players at Buffalo Wild Wings.
• Saturday, August 24th 7:05 PM Red vs. White Game
• Friday, September 6th Home opener versus Sheridan 7:05 PM – stay tuned for a Special Fan giveaway.
• Saturday, September 7th 5:00 PM The Booster Club Tailgate Party prior to our 7:05 PM game versus Sheridan.
• Saturday, September 14th 7:05 PM versus Bozeman. Harley-Davidson Biker Night presented by Big Sky Harley. Special Booster Club raffle drawn during 2nd intermission.
That should be enough to fill your schedule for now and, hopefully, you can see why I am so excited to get the season started both on and off the ice.
We still have some time to renew corporate partnerships for next season and I have reached out to many of you with a little sense of urgency as we will need to go to print with our inventory in the next couple of weeks. For those who have waited until the last minute – no problem and feel free to reach out at your earliest convenience and I will likely reach out to you one more time. Our corporate partners play such an important role in allowing us to do what we do by helping us keep player tuition down and continue to improve the atmosphere we can provide our players and fans. A special thanks goes out to the following partners for getting the ball rolling with their commitments for next
season (* new this season)
| City Toyota | Murphy Law | The Peak Health & Wellness |
| Jersey Mike’s | Century Gaming | 3D International Restaurant and Lounge |
| Culligan Water | Buffalo Wild Wings | Great Falls Hospitals and Clinics |
| Teriyaki Madness | Craftmaster Cabinets | Floors & More Abbey Carpets |
| Ferrin’s Furniture | Scheels | Gils Point S Tire and Auto |
| Central MT Lock & Safe | Highwood Creek Outfitters | All-State Tammy Quintrell-Stubbs |
| Stockman Bank | Traynor Capital | Best Western Plus Riverfront Hotel |
| Automotive Machine | All-State Signs | Big Sky Laboratory |
| Cascade Electric | Buffalo Wild Wings | Gusto Distributing |
| Hampton Inn & Suites | Hoglund’s | Central Avenue Meats |
| Bravera Bank | Jersey Mike’s | She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique |
| Montana Air National Guard* | Karma Coffee* | Big Sky Harley Davidson* |
Thank you for being a part of our family and enjoy your summer!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com