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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 39: October 3, 2024
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: We’re through the first month of the season and must say things have gone pretty much as planned. We have learned a ton about our team and have faced off against the best teams in the Frontier Division. We have a pretty good idea of where we fit in and what it is going to take to reach our goals. We are also very pleased with this version of the Americans and confident they can achieve some special things this season while always looking to add a few missing pieces and depth to the roster. Of course, it will require them to put in the work and trust the process, but the character of this team has been off the charts good and allows us to continue to do things the right way.
With that being said, I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to four players we have added to our roster in the last week. Karanveer Kooner is a 05’ Goalkeeper from the Calgary area. Matthew Beazley is a 04’ Defenseman, plus Partick Forsythe a 05’ Goalkeeper, who both join us from the Thunder Bay North Stars of the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL). Finally, John Lang is a 04’ Forward from Fargo, ND that played 48 games for the Selkirk Steelers in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) last season. Please welcome all four new members of our family as they only make our team stronger and deeper while contributing to the positive culture we are creating.
Our players were involved in a couple of special events this past week. Last Friday, they set up shop at the Downtown Oktoberfest taking place on the 1st block of Central Avenue. They set up a little shooting area where attendees could take a shot on net for a chance to win prizes. They also walked around the crowd and handed out pocket schedules and game tickets. A very special thank you goes out to Annie’s Taphouse for welcoming us into the festivities as our players had a blast interacting with the community on a gorgeous Fall evening. Look for this event to get even bigger and better next year.
Yesterday, a handful of our players stopped my Morningside Core Elementary School to participate and support their K-6 students in a special
Walk-a-Thon to raise money for updated playground equipment for the school. Each class walked laps around their school track and each student had money pledged for each lap they completed within a certain amount of time. Our guys joined in to support their efforts and keep them company while also donating tickets and prizes to the students putting in the best effort. Thanks to our newest Billet Mom-Chelle Herbruger-for inviting us into this worthwhile cause. Our five players each walked 29 laps (estimated to be over 4 miles) in a little over an hour, which then equated to the Americans making a $145 donation to the Morningside PTA for their efforts.
Finally, thanks to all of those who stopped by Buffalo Wild Wings last night to enjoy some food and camaraderie as our Booster Club partnered with BWW for their ‘Eat Wings-Raise Funds” program. 15% of all food purchases from 4:00-9:00 PM last night is being donated to the Great Falls Americans HC Booster Club to offset expenses for all the special things they do for our players throughout the season. For more 
information on the Booster Club and to become a member, please contact Pam Stanczak at apstanczak72@gmail.com.
The team is off to Sheridan for their first overnight road trip this weekend to take on the Hawks both Friday and Saturday nights. The first trip is always special for the players as it provides an opportunity to bond and get to know each other even a little better. Join us at BWW for the official watch party both nights and enjoy the games with fellow passionate fans.
Player Profile – #19 Keegan Hanson (Fargo, ND) 6’2” 180 lbs. DEF – Shoots Left DOB 03/14/2005
Favorite Team: Colorado Avalanche Favorite Players: Cale Makar
Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting Actor/Actress: Jake Gyllenhaal
Favorite Food: Spaghetti Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Fruit, Peanut Butter Sandwich
If you were an animal: Bald Eagle-they are unique to the USA and GFA
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Motley Crue
Music Guaranteed to get you hyped: Rock, Rap
Person stuck with on a deserted Island: Levi Krantz
Hobbies other than Hockey: Riding Dirt Bikes, Construction Work
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Cale Makar, Donald Trump, My Father who passsed away last year
College/University of Choice: University of North Dakota
Like Most About Great Falls: The community is very nice and welcoming –smaller city environment!
How would you define a successful season: Bringing home the Fraser Cup to the City of Great Falls!
Here are the upcoming events for you to mark your calendars:
- Friday, October 4th 4:00 PM-7:00 PM – we’ll be setting up at Malmstrom AFB for their OKTOBERFEST. This is a great opportunity for the Americans to interact with the Airmen and Women from Malmstrom and expose them to our great game while enjoying more great German Food, music and beer.
- Friday and Saturday, October 4th & 5th – the Americans travel to Sheridan for a two-game set, so mark your calendars and plan to join us at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official watch party.
- Friday and Saturday, October 11th & 12th – We host the Badlands Sabres at the Ice Plex for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana Night on Friday and the 2nd of our Gills Point S Tire and Auto tricycle races on Saturday. 7:05 Puck Drop both nights.
- Friday and Saturday, October 18th and 19th – We host the Yellowstone Quake with a 7:05 puck drop on Friday and 3:35 PM puck drop on Saturday followed by the University of Providence versus Montana State game at 7:00 PM. The 18th we will welcome Great Falls Hospitals and Clinics as our presenting sponsor.
- Friday, October 25th – you won’t want to miss our special “Think Pink For the Girls” breast cancer awareness night sponsored by Benefis Health – Sletten Cancer Center.
- Saturday, October 26th – Americans travel to Butte for one game, so mark your calendars and plan to join us at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official watch party.
- Saturday, November 2nd – “Try Hockey for Free” for all kids 4-10 years
- Sunday, November 3rd – “Think Pink For the Girls” Special Jersey Auction closes.
Finally, I would like to remind all our partners that we are offering a new opportunity of hosting a corporate outing or special event during one of our home games. A specially priced ticket package will provide access to our VIP area during the game with dinner provided, a cash bar and a special area to host your guests while enjoying the game with colleagues, friends or family. The VIP package is designed to host all kinds of groups and we can accommodate up to 50 people. If interested, please reach out to me for more details and your requested dates so we can get your event locked in.
Thank you to all our existing Eagle’s Nest, Diamond and Platinum Level partners for their continued support.
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Look for our newest activations on DASH as we continue to provide new and unique items for our fan base. You can register for exciting opportunities at: https://fans.winwithdash.com/auctions/greatfallsamericans.
Gold, Silver and Bronze Level Partners (* new this season)
| 3D International Restaurant and Lounge | All-State Signs | Annie’s Taphouse |
| Comparion Insurance-Todd Neighbor | Automotive Machine | Beacon Ice House |
| Eagle Mount Therapeutic Recreation | Benski Towing & Recovery | Big Sky Harley Davidson* |
| Floors & More Abbey Carpets | Big Sky Laboratory | Bravera Bank |
| Hoglund’s | Cascade Electric | Central Avenue Meats |
| Hotel Arvon-Celtic Cowboy | Central MT Lock & Safe | Century Gaming |
| Life in Bloom Floral & Gift Boutique | Coca-Cola* | Craftmaster Cabinets |
| Montana Air National Guard* | Culligan Water | Ferrin’s Furniture |
| She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique | Great Falls Hospital | Hampton Inn & Suites |
| Stifel |Finnicum Financial Group | Highwood Creek Outfitters | Jersey Mike’s |
| Tilleraas Landscape & Nursery | Johnson Distributing | Karma Coffee* |
| Murphy Law | Open Door Wellness* | Play It Again Sports |
| Purvis Chiropractic* | Scheels | STARadio |
| Stockman Bank | TDS Fiber* | Teriyaki Madness |
| Traynor Capital | Visit Great Falls* | Westgate Repair Inc* |
| Mountain Title Company* |
Thank you for being a part of our family!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com