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 |
SHERIDAN, Wyo., February 8, 2025 — The #3 Sheridan Hawks (24-12-2-1) were trying to get revenge on the #4 Great Falls Americans (23-13-3-2) at Whitney Rink on Saturday night after the Americans came away with a 4-2 decision on Friday night.
Chase Hapka, who started the season on the Gillette (WY) Wild roster, scored two goals and Ty O’Bey assisted on two scoring plays to defeat the home team. Kaden Rhyder got the start and finished with 41 saves for the Americans during Friday’s performance (game story).
The Hawks and the Americans have each won four of their matchups this season. Although both clubs could see each other in the NA3HL Playoffs in March, this was the final regular season game between these two foes.
The Sheridan (WY) Hawks blanked the Great Falls Americans, 3-0 during Saturday night’s NA3HL action at Whitney Rink in the M&M’s Center in Sheridan, Wyoming. A night after the Americans moved up to the third position in the NA3HL Frontier Division standings, they have now switched places with Sheridan and are now back to fourth place.
Sheridan’s Elijah White and Vincent Leaf both scored during the opening period as the Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 advantage prior to the first intermission. Daniel Shelden and Jeff Slivon assisted on Elijah White’s lamplighter with 12:35 remaining. Vincent Leaf’s tally came less than two minutes later with helpers from Charles Stow and Logan Hume. The Montana team held a 19-14 advantage in the shots-on-goal category.
After a scoreless second period where the home team outshot the visitiors, 18-7, both teams headed into the locker room to regroup.
Ernest Allen needed three minutes into the third frame to record his fifth scoring drive of the season. Logan Sidlauskas and Anthony Launderville assisted on what would be the final goal for either team as both squads skated out the remaining 17 minutes.
The Hawks combined for 37 shots during the second and third periods to end the game with 51. Great Falls registered 20 shots after the first stanza to finish with 39.
Saturday’s affair saw five power play chances missed and eleven total minor penalties between the Frontier Division squads.
Francesco Sciabbarrasi (1-0-0-0) played in his first game with the Hawks and picked up the shutout victory. The Canadian netminder was perfect in the net stopping all 39 shots by the Americans. Kaden Rhyder (19-9-1-0) suffered his ninth regulation loss by swatting away 48 shots for Great Falls.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: Andrew Kaunas scored a hat trick and the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs (22-15-1-1) redeemed themselves from the 6-1 loss to the #2 Badlands (SD) Sabres (23-13-4-3) on Friday by escaping with a 6-5 win in a shootout in Rapid City, South Dakota on Saturday evening. Tyler Klingbeil and Dan Upton outscored the Sabres, 2-0 in the shootout. Dawson Wirth scored two of the five goals for Badlands. Brett DeVincent stopped 38 shots as he improved to 14-8-0-0 on the season for Bozeman. Hunter Oger (8-3-1-1) had 35 saves but suffered his first shutout loss of the year for the host team (Box Score).
The #1 Helena Bighorns (33-3-1-1) and the #6 Gillette (WY) Wild (17-22-1-0) finally got to meet on the ice on Saturday after the Wild had trouble making the trip to Helena, Montana on Friday due to the road closure getting to Montana. Marcus Fritel scored two goals and dished out one assist and goaltender Malik Johnson stopped 22 of 23 shots as the Bighorns proved to be the better team in a 6-1 win over the Wild at Steed Arena. Helena led 4-1 after the first two periods and then added two goals in the third. Riley Schmidt scored the lone tally for Gillette in the second period. Malik Johnson (12-0-0-1) added another win to his resume in the net with his 22 save performance. Gillette’s Austin Trieber (5-8-0-0) allowed five goals and finished with 38 saves. Backup Wylen Cambensy swatted away four shots in two minutes of action (Box Score).
The #7 Butte Irish (16-21-1-2) also had trouble due to winter weather conditions in Montana and Wyoming as both teams were scheduled for a Friday game but had to postpone. Butte and the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (1-38-1-0) tangled on Saturday and the Irish built a 7-0 lead after two periods to easily defeat the Quake, 10-2 inside Riley Arena in Cody, Wyoming. Easton Langemo scored a hat trick (three goals), and goaltender Nicolas Ulyanov (1-6-0-1) acquired 27 saves in Butte’s 16th win of the year. Cooper Cunningham and Tucker Sarkisian each scored for the Quake in the third period. Tucker Bayly (0-2-0-0) got the start and played 30 minutes for the Irish preventing eight shots, but Chase Ebeyer finished the game with 15 saves (Box Score).
NOTES: Don’t miss the Great Falls Americans Fan Activation through DASH for your chance to win one of three Valentine’s Day packages up for auction. Packages are now live through February 14th.
Package #1: 1 dozen Roses from Life In Bloom Floral and Gift Boutique, 1 box of chocolates, two VIP passes for the Valentine’s Night Game versus Helena, a Valentine’s Red Baldy Hoodie and some other Americans swag with a total value over $150.
Package #2: Skin care products and gift certificate for “Spring Break” Tan from She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique, two VIP passes for the Valentine’s Night Game versus Helena, a Valentine’s Red Baldy Hoodie and some other Americans swag with a total value over $150.
Package #3: A pair of heart shaped Montana bee rib-eye steaks and some hamburger from Central Avenue Meats, two VIP passes for the Valentine’s Night Game versus Helena, a Valentine’s Red Baldy Hoodie and some other Americans swag with a total value over $150.
All surprises will be delivered in the Great Falls area to your special Valentine by Baldy on Valentine’s Day. Scan the QR code to activate your fandom and take advantage of this unique opportunity to surprise your special Valentine with a package made for them.
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: The Americans and the #1 Helena Bighorns will meet for the final time during the 2024-25 NA3HL regular season on Friday, February 14th at 7:05PM at the Great Falls Ice Plex. On Saturday, February 15th, Great Falls will challenge the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs in Bozeman, Montana at 7:30PM (MST).
The final home date will be on Saturday, March 8th when the NA3HL regular season concludes against the Butte Irish. Fans can tune into the home and away contests through NAHLTV, the NA3HL’s official streaming service.
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.