NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
| Box Score |
Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
GREAT FALLS, Mont., September 14, 2024 — During their first two weeks of the 2024-25 NA3HL junior hockey regular season, the Great Falls Americans (3-1-0-0), currently ranked #2 in the Frontier Division behind the Helena Bighorns, have acquired victories over the Sheridan (WY) Hawks (winning one of their two encounters) and the Bozeman Ice Dogs (0-2-0-0).
Great Falls forward Ty O’Bey scored two goals and goaltender Kaden Rhyder picked up his second win of the season in the net as he stopped 29 shots by Bozeman Ice Dogs offense in a 5-2 victory on the road on Friday night. Seth Hanson, from Billings, Montana and Lex Steckelberg accounted for both scoring drives for the Bozeman Ice Dogs. Brett DeVincent made 28 saves in his first appearance for Bozeman (game story).
The Americans played their third home game this season as they faced the Bozeman Ice Dogs for the first time this season.
Ty O’Bey scored his fifth and sixth goal of the season while goaltender Kaden Rhyder stopped 32 of 33 shots as the #2 Great Falls Americans swept the weekend series with the #7 Bozeman Ice Dogs by posting a 4-1 victory at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday evening. Great Falls has now won three of their four games heading into their upcoming showdown with the undefeated Helena Bighorns (4-0) on Friday.
Despite Bozeman taking 16 of the 25 shots, Great Falls led 2-0 before the first intermission. Zac Orwig connected for his third goal of the season off the stick of Sebe Perez six minutes into the Americans fourth game of the year. While the Ice Dogs were in the sin bin with two minutes remaining, Ty O’Bey took advantage of a power play and made his fifth lamplighter with help from Aiden Kennedy.
Americans scored twice before the halfway point of the middle stanza. Easton Kennedy’s slapshot that went passed Bozeman netminder Jack Ryan increased the lead for the home team (3-0). Zac Orwig assisted on the power play scoring opportunity. Americans standout Ty O’Bey continued to produce on the offensive end as he received a pass from Garren Narvaez and Aiden Kennedy with the Ice Dogs in the penalty box for the Americans fourth score with 10:49 left. Minutes later, Preston Wight of the Ice Dogs scored his first goal for Bozeman with a helper coming from Tyler Klingbeil as Bozeman trailed 4-1 heading into the third frame. Great Falls produced nine second period while the visiting Montana team was held to five.
Both teams skated the final twenty minutes without creating any scoring opportunities. Bozeman and Great Falls combined for 22 third period shots-on-goal.
The Americans accumulated 28 shots-on-goal with 18 coming before the third period. The Ice Dogs were active during the first and third periods as they gathered 28 of their team-high 33 shots during that time.
The Americans utilized the power play throughout the game accruing three of their four goals while the Ice Dogs were down a man (penalty). Bozeman squandered their six power play chances. The showdown between these two Montana junior hockey clubs saw a combined 22 infractions that resulted in 94 minutes spent off the ice.
Kaden Rhyder is now 3-1-0-0 on the season after four contests for the home team. The Pennsylvania goalie totaled 32 saves. Denver, Colorado native Jack Ryan (0-1-0-0) took his first loss (24 saves).
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns (4-0-0-0) offense was determined to keep the win streak alive, and they downed their rivals, the #5 Butte Irish (2-2-0-0), 8-4 at Steed Arena in Helena, Montana during Saturday’s NA3HL action. Helena’s Kade Pareja scored two goals and one assist while teammates Hunter Coulombe, Owen Gruener, Clint Jackson, Finn Theriault, Elijah Elmer, and Cam Young each recorded one goal apiece for the host team. The Bighorns led the Irish 5-3 after two periods. The Irish received three scores in the second period from Tucker Sarkisian, Kazden Stineff, and Andrew Browe with Loghan Weber scoring in the final period. No goaltender stats were available (Box Score).
Most of the scoring occurred in the third period for the game between the #3 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (3-1-0-0) and the #6 Gillette (WY) Wild (0-3-1-0). Josh Serino and Vlad Zubriichuk each put the biscuit in the basket twice to help guide the #Hawks to a 5-2 win over the Wild. Chase Hapka was the shining star for Gillette as he prevented the shutout by getting the puck in the net twice. TJ Wonnacott (1-0-0-0) played a great game swatting away 46 shots in his first appearance for Sheridan. Noah Hacker made 35 saves but his record fell to 0-1-1-0 after two games for the Wild (Box Score).
Thayne Coston had a breakout night for the #4 Badlands (SD) Sabres (2-0-0-0) as he scored four goals and teammate Carter Kilen added two as the Sabres earned a two-game sweep over the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-4-0-0) with a convincing 10-1 victory in Rapid City, South Dakota on Saturday. Yellowstone’s Logan Verville prevented the shutout by adding his first goal five minutes into the third period. Tagger Tamburo is now 1-0-0-0 with Badlands as he redirected 14 shots. Yellowstone netminder Nate Whitson (0-1-0-0) was kept busy between the pipes as he ended the night with 70 saves (Box Score).
NOTES: Big Sky Harley-Davidson Night: It was Big Sky Harley-Davidson Biker’s Night at the Great Falls Ice Plex tonight as the Great Falls Americans Booster Club was selling raffle tickets that were drawn during the second intermission for a gift basket. Area bikers met at the Big Sky Harley-Davidson on 10th Avenue South at 5:00PM and cruised up to the Great Falls Ice Plex to watch hockey. There were Baldy bandanas that were up for auction and admission tickets for the bikers were half off.
As part of the Americans promotion with Big Sky Harley-Davidson, members of the hockey team had a “Meet and Greet” on Thursday, September 12th from 2PM-5PM to meet fans and sign autographs along with registering for the gift basket raffle.
Season Two of the “Americans Podcast with Jim Quick” premiered last week (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. The second episode featured forward Ty O’Bey from Ashland, Wisconsin. Click here to learn more about Ty 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.
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Americans launch their “Sled Hockey Program” with Eagle Mount Therapeutic Recreation on Thursday, September 12th, September 19th and Thursday, September 26th. The ice session starts at 5:00 PM and will involve our players working with these athletes to hone their skills and enjoy the sport. These will run the next three Thursdays before we get into a slightly different schedule in October. We can always use volunteers to assist with equipment and getting players on and off the ice, if available.
NEXT CONTEST: The Great Falls Americans will play a home-and-away series with their Frontier Division rivals, the #1 Helena Bighorns next weekend (September 20-21). Great Falls travels to Helena, Montana on Friday, September 20th and then will host the Bighorns on Saturday, September 21st. Both games are slated to start at 7:05PM (MST) with the games available to stream on NAHLTV.
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.