By Kevin Scott
| Box Score |
Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
BOZEMAN, Mont., January 27, 2024 — The Great Falls Americans (17-16-0-1) have not fared well in the win column in the NA3HL Frontier Division standings since the middle of December at the NA3HL Showcase Tournament in Blaine, Minnesota.
There last victory came on the first day of the tournament when they defeated the New Jersey Titans, 2-1 on December 17th. Since then, Great Falls finished out the tournament with losses to the Alexandria (MN) Blizzard (West Division) and the Louisiana Drillers (South Division) in December and Frontier Division setbacks in January to the Butte Irish (two games) and Bozeman Ice Dogs (three games). To see the full schedule, results and game summaries, please click here.
In the Frontier, the Helena Bighorns (34-2-0-0, 68 pts.) lead the pack followed by the Gillette (WY) Wild 32-4-0-1, 67 pts.) and the Bozeman Ice Dogs (22-14-0-1, 45 pts.). The Americans are currently in third place (17-16-0-1, 35 pts.) in the Frontier Division with the Sheridan (WY) Hawks (15-19-2-1,33 pts.) not far behind in fourth place. The Badlands (SD) Sabres sit in fifth with a record of 13-16-3-3 (32 pts).The top four teams when the season ends in the first week of March head to the playoffs. Click here for updated league standings.
Great Falls Americans head coach Greg Sears has been waiting awhile to pick up his 300th career win in the junior ranks as he needs just one victory to reach that accomplishment. He will have to wait at least another week as he was not coaching in tonight’s game.
The #4 Great Falls Americans looked like a different team on Saturday night after falling to the #3 Bozeman Ice Dogs on Friday, 4-2. Great Falls scored three goals in the first period for the 5-1 victory on Saturday in the final meeting between these two clubs in the regular season. Ty O’Bey, one of the top scoring leaders for the Americans, scored his first hat trick (three goals) of the season.
The Great Falls defensive efforts kept Bozeman’s offense from successfully finding the back of the net during the first period. Ty O’Bey, Sebe Perez, and Zac Orwig each put in one goal apiece for the 3-0 advantage. Aaron James contributed his 24th assist and Dmitri Kuleshov assisted for the 14th time this year. Great Falls took twice as many shots (21-9) against the Ice Dogs.
The scoring was quiet after the first intermission. The lone scoring drive was made by Great Falls’ Ty O’Bey with his second score of the night. Dmitri Kuleshov and newcomer Hayden Grabas ensured the goal happened by setting up the fourth score. Grabas made his first assist in his fourth game with the Americans.
Ty O’Bey lit up the lamp for the third time tonight for his first hat trick of the season to give the Americans a 5-0 advantage with 5:56 remaining in the third period. Bozeman’s Bodie Shepardson prevented the shutout win for Americans goaltender Kaden Ryhder with 1:44 left on the game clock. Dylan Miller was responsible for the Ice Dogs lone goal.
Great Falls accumulated 29 of their 40 shots-on-goal before the second intermission. The host team finished with 30 shots.
Great Falls went 1-for-6 on power play chances and accrued six minor infractions in their road victory. Bozeman was whistled for nine penalties with 34 minutes spent in the penalty box.
Kaden Ryhder (10-7-0-1) picked up his third win this season against the Ice Dogs (3-2-0-1). The Pennsylvania goaltender recorded 29 saves. Sean Smer is now 2-2-0-0 when playing Great Falls. Smer, who is from Mission Viejo, California, made 25 saves and is now 7-2-0-0 on the season. Matthew Ryynanen, who earned the victory on Friday, stopped ten of the eleven shots for Bozeman.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns (34-2-0-0) downed #7 Butte Irish, 6-2 to keep their top spot in the Frontier Division standings alive. Braden Cunningham led the way for the Bighorns with two goals. Patrick Crooks scored once in the second and another goal in the third for Butte. Alex Lamont won for the twelfth time in 13 games (12-1-0-0) by swatting away 26 of the 28 shots sent his way. Braylon Rogers (9-9-1-0), a third-year goalie for Butte, gathered 53 saves in the loss (Box Score).
The #2 Gillette (WY) Wild (32-4-0-1) simply outplayed the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-34-3-0) in all areas of the game on Saturday night in Cody, Wyoming. A trio of players led the Wild in scoring. Matt Siems, Cade Voge and Isaac Young combined for six goals as Gillette earned the 15-1 win over the Quake. Former Great Falls American player, Austin Blackner scored the only goal for Yellowstone in the third frame. Some of the stats were not finalized as of Saturday night (Box Score).
The #5 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (15-19-2-1) were looking for the series sweep against the #6 Badlands (SD) Sabres (13-16-3-3) in Rapid City, South Dakota on Saturday. The Hawks defeated the Sabres, 4-3 on Friday. Sheridan’s offense looked good during the first period as they led 3-1 but the host team scored once in the second and another in the third to send the contest into an extra frame. Brooks Roaldson put in the game-winner with ten seconds left in overtime for the Sabres. Kiefer Dunham, Kyler Couture and Makhai Sparks had the goals for Sheridan. Aden Cobbs, Ian Vannelli and Benjamin Larson were credited with the regulation scores for Badlands. Easton Eriksmoen (9-7-1-0) stopped 35 shots in 64 minutes for his ninth victory this season for the Sabres. John Simon (Sheridan) continues to struggle (0-8-1-0) in the net as he registered 38 saves in the setback (Box Score).
NOTES: Americans forward Dmitri Kuleshov got back this week from playing for Team Australia at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championships (Division II, Group B) held in Belgrade, Serbia from January 14-20. Team Australia In five contests, Kuleshov, originally from Sydney Australia, scored three goals and dished out two assists to lead his country to a 2-3-0-0 record (fourth overall finish). Congrats to Dmitri for representing his country.
In this week’s “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletter, Americans team owner Matt Leaf has a player profile of Aiden Kennedy, another “mystery box” promotion and a special Valentine’s Day auction. Check out the newsletter for more information. Click here to view this past week’s newsletter and all the weekly “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletters.
Great Falls Americans Team Owner and President Matt Leaf was the special guest during Comparion Insurance’s “In Our Neighborhood” visual podcast that was done recently at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Co-Hosts Todd Neighbor and Janet Duffy talked with Matt about a variety of topics regarding Great Falls Americans hockey and the Great Falls Ice Plex. A Special Thanks to Todd Neighbor and Janet Duffy of Comparion Insurance, one of the Americans proud supporters and sponsors this season. Be sure to check them out for any of your insurance needs!!! Click here to watch the videos.
The NA3HL released their all-new and updated App this week for the App Store and Google Play. Download and 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).
Check out all the Americans photos throughout the season including some taken by Americans photographer, Dustin Bauer. Click here to view all the photos from the 2023-24 season.
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. 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 Great Falls Americans will play eleven games during the month of February with just three contests at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
The Americans play the top team in the Frontier Division this week when the Helena Bighorns come to Great Falls on Friday, February 2nd for a 7:00PM (MST) start at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Both teams will play at Steed Arena in Helena, Montana on Saturday, February 3rd at 7:05PM (MST). All games can be seen live on NAHLTV. To learn more about how to watch the Americans in action on NAHL TV, please click here.
Click here for the 2023-24 Great Falls Americans schedule and results.