NOTE: A Special Thanks to Dustin Bauer for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
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Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
GREAT FALLS, Mont., September 30, 2023 — The #4 Great Falls Americans (3-3-0-0) entered their second game of a three-game series on home ice against the #5 Badlands (SD) Sabres (1-3-0-0) on Saturday looking for their fourth overall victory in six games.
During their first matchup on the season on Friday (Sept. 29th), the Americans and Sabres traded goals throughout the first two periods before the host team pulled away with a 4-3 decision. The Americans outscored their opponent, 2-1 in the final twenty minutes for their third win. Dmitri Kuleshov, Christian Crutcher, Jacob James, and Aaron James all chipped in goals for coach Greg Sears’ team. Meanwhile, Brady Ridnour, Aden Cobbs and Carter Kilen all registered goals for the South Dakota NA3HL franchise coached by Brooks Mitzel (game story).
The Badlands Sabres redeemed their opening night loss to Great Falls by outscoring the Americans 3-0 over the final two periods for a 3-1 win at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday night. This was the Sabres’ first victory after four games. Hotel Avron and Celtic Cowboy were the sponsors for the Saturday contest.
Just when it looked like it might be a scoreless first period, the Great Falls Americans answered with 1:48 left as Dmitri Kuleshov accrued his third goal as Luke Pizzey and Joseph Buschmann were credited with the assists. The first twenty minutes saw 29 shots-on-goal taken between these two Frontier Division opponents. Kuleshov also had a goal in Friday’s 4-3 win against the Sabres.
The Sabres did not give up offensively during the second frame. The Rapid City, South Dakota team scored twice to take the 2-1 lead before the second intermission. Aden Cobbs, who also scored on Friday’s contest, recorded his second scoring drive of the weekend as Jack Walters and Dylan Woolstenhulme each collected the assists to even the score 1-1 four minutes into the period. All three players for Badlands were on the roster last season. Ryan Jordan, who suited up for the Gillette (WY) Wild last season, broke the tie thanks to assistance from Thayne Coston and Peyton Wilson halfway through the period for Badlands. After two periods, the Sabres amassed 33 shots-on-goal while the Americans attempted 26.
Badlands took thirteen minutes off the clock in the third period before they added their third goal and a two-goal advantage. Brooks Roaldson put in his third goal with helpers from Aden Cobbs and Laurence Lundberg to ensure the Sabres tasted their first victory of the 2023-24 season.
Despite coming up on the short end of the scoreboard, Great Falls took nine more shots (50-41) than the visitors.
Easton Eriksmoen, the Crosby, North Dakota product, took his first win of the season (1-1) as a member of the Sabres in his first year with the team. After allowing one goal by the Americans in the first period, he was perfect in the net by acquiring 49 saves. Adler Hoagland (0-2-0-0), the Minnesota goaltender for Great Falls, failed to pick up his first win as he added 31 saves to his two-game total of 75. He lost last weekend to the Gillette (WY) Wild at home, 4-2 in his first outing.
NOTES: On Sunday, October 1st, fans with paid admission can “Skate with the Americans” players after the Noon contest against the Badlands (SD) Sabres concludes. Bring your skates or get them at the rental shop for FREE on Sunday. The Americans have two special guests coming to watch and ice skate afterwards including the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB) and the Galloping Guns 4-H Club. Earlier this week, a few Americans players toured the MSDB campus and met with students and staff to answer questions about hockey as part of the Americans community outreach program and will have around 25 guests in attendance.
The Americans have a new online team store this season with a variety of items to buy. Click here to buy online or purchase your Americans souvenirs at any of the home games.
Please check out the Americans website at www.greatfallsamericans.com for all your updated news, game summaries, rosters, photo galleries, etc.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: An exciting game took place in Helena, Montana on Saturday night. The #2 Helena Bighorns saw themselves trailing 4-0 during the first 37 minutes of the contest before lighting up the lamp with four consecutives goals and then traded one goal apiece with the #3 Gillette (WY) Wild with a tie game after three regulation periods. After a five-minute overtime period, neither teams could not find the back of the net and a shootout was necessary. Only one goal was successful during the one-on-one shootout with the opposing goaltender. Helena’s Jack Lambert provided the game-winning goal to keep the Bighorns without a loss (6-5 win). Camden Cunningham of the Bighorns led all scorers with a hat trick (three goals) and Jack Lambert provided the winning tally. Wyatt Schmitz led the Wild with one goal and one assist for their second weekend loss. First year netminder Alex Lamont survived in the net by picking up his second win (2-0) on the season for the home team. Cole Wheaton of Gillette took his second loss of the weekend (1-1-0-1) (Box Score).
The Bozeman Ice Dogs jumped up to the top spot after being ranked #2 in the Frontier Division before Saturday’s contest against the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake by running away with a 10-0 dominating win over their Wyoming counterparts in Cody, Wyoming. Kody Wallenberg led the way (2 goals, 1 assist) for the Ice Dogs weekend sweep over the Quake. Sean Smer, the second-year player for Bozeman, saw his record go to 3-0-0-0 by preventing all 25 shots he faced from getting into the net. Roman Von Der Heide (0-2-0-0) allowed ten goals in his 55-save performance for the Quake, who are still seeking their first win (Box Score).
The #6 Butte Irish (1-3-0-0) secured their first victory of the season after three losses when they downed the #7 Sheridan (WY) Hawks, 4-2 at Whitney Rink in the M&M’s Center in Sheridan, Wyoming on Saturday. On Friday, it was the host team winning 4-2 over Butte. Loghan Weber scored twice, and former Great Falls American Patrick Crooks tossed in another for the winning side. Nicholas Ulyanov (1-0-0-0) accrued 41 saves in his first appearance with the Irish. Sheridan scored once in the first period (Brady Sisto) and in third frame (Daniil Viscu). Aidan Knox, who played in his first game with the Hawks, made 33 saves in the loss (Box Score).
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans start out the month of October at home as they finish their weekend series against the Sabres on Sunday, October 1st at 12:00PM (MST) at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Great Falls will make their first road trip of the season on Sunday, October 8th when they visit Haynes Pavilion in Bozeman, Montana to face the Bozeman Ice Dogs. The action gets started at 4:30PM (MST).
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.
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 2023-24 Great Falls Americans schedule and results.