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 |
HELENA, Mont., December 7, 2024 — The rivalry between the top-ranked Helena Bighorns (22-2-0-0) and the #3 Great Falls Americans (15-9-1-0) continued Saturday night in Helena, Montana. Prior to tonight’s fifth meeting, both in-state rivals have won two of their four previous contests this season.
Three weeks ago, the Americans needed just a single goal to get past the Bighorns on the road inside Helena’s Steed Arena. Great Falls and Helena were scoreless through the first two periods before Americans forward Blayne Jusczak buried his sixth goal of the season four minutes into the third period (game story).
The Americans also won their September 21st rivalry at the Great Falls Ice Plex by posting a 3-2 victory (game story). The Bighorns topped the Americans 7-1 on September 20th (game story) and 6-2 on September 28th (game story). Both matchups were in Helena, Montana .
The #1 Helena Bighorns scored twice in the third period to hand the #3 Great Falls Americans their third straight loss at Steed Arena in Helena, Montana. The 3-1 win gave the Bighorns their 22nd victory in 24 games. Cam Young, Jason Hammett and Kade Pareja provided the scoring for the host team. Garren Narvaez tacked on the lone score for the Americans.
Each NA3HL squad scored once before the second intermission. Helena’s offense struck first on Cam Young’s (unassisted) fifth scoring opportunity of the season during the first stanza.
The Americans rebounded to score a goal of their own in the second period. Americans leading assist leader, Garren Narvaez put the puck between the pipes to even the game (1-1). Zac Orwig contributed his 22nd assist while newcomer Cooper Clouse was credited with his second assist. After forty minutes, the home team led the visitors, 31-13 in the shots-on-goal category.
In the final frame, Helena’s Jason Hammett needed three minutes to help his team retake the lead. Owen Gruener and Colin Becker provided the assists. The Americans took out starting goaltender Kaden Rhyder to add another offensive player during the final minutes. Helena took advantage and Kade Pareja scored the empty net goal off the stick of Colin Becker to ensure Helena would get their 22nd win.
Helena’s offense led to them attempting 47 shots while Great Falls was held to 20.
Each team had four power play opportunities but only Helena third period lamplighter by Jason Hammett was successful. Five minor infractions were called on both teams.
Branson Appelman now has two wins in two games (2-0-0-0) in his first weekend with the top-ranked squad in the Frontier Division. The Maple Grove, Minnesota netminder ended with 19 saves. Great Falls’ Kaden Rhyder (13-6-0-0), who spent time practicing with the NAHL’s Watertown (SD) Shamrocks this past week, swatted away 44 shots.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: Zack Vockler scored two goals to guide the fourth-ranked Badlands (SD) Sabres (12-9-3-2) to a 5-2 romp over the #7 Gillette (WY) Wild (10-15-1-0) on Saturday night. The Sabres led 3-2 before the second intermission. Brady Johnson and Dylan Peterson answered for the Wild. Lochlin Jackson added his fifth win of the season (5-2-2-2) by accumulating 24 saves. Tate Cothern (4-7-0-0) is now 2-2-0-0 against the Wild this season. Cothern added 27 saves in the loss (Box Score).
The #2 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (18-6-2-0) raced out to a 4-2 advantage after the first forty minutes of action against the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-25-1-0) and went on to defeat the Quake, 7-4 in Sheridan, Wyoming. Sheridan outshot Yellowstone 48-23. Elijah Farris led all scorers with two goals for the Hawks. Yellowstone received goals from Macen Heisler, Logan Nichols, Jordan Murray, and Wesley Amos. Sheridan netminder John Simon won his ninth game in 12 appearances. He is 2-0-0-0 against the Quake this season as he redirected 19 of the 23 shots he faced. Matthew Neeser recorded 41 saves for the Quake (0-13-0-0) (Box Score).
The #6 Butte Irish (11-13-1-0) scored first but the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs (13-19-1-1) dominated as they scored nine unanswered goals for the 9-1 win at the Butte Community Ice Center on Saturday evening. Bobby Anselmo scored the lone goal in the first period for the Irish. Devin Bruns received a hat trick (3 goals, 2 assists) and Spencer Wilkinson added two more goals for Bozeman’s 13th victory of the season. Isaac Weatherford (2-1-1-1) stopped 57 shots for the Ice Dogs. Butte’s Tim Nanson (6-7-1-0) got the start and registered 27 saves over the first two period before backup Manny Pantow made 15 saves in the third frame (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 will now get ready to play at the 2024 NA3HL Showcase Tournament in Blaine, Minnesota starting on Sunday, December 15th at 7:30PM (MST) against the Texas RoadRunners, based out of College Station, Texas. The South Division squad is 11-13-2-0 and sits in fifth place in the division standings. On Monday, December 16th, they will challenge the New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings (12-10-2-1, fourth in the South Division) for an afternoon tilt starting at 2:00PM (MST). The Americans will close out the three-day tournament with an early game (8:30AM MST) versus the New Mexico Ice Wolves, who are in third place in the South Division with a 16-4-2-1 record. Click here for more information about the Minnesota tournament.
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.