NOTE: A Special Thanks to Tim Ljunggren (Gentle Thug Media) for providing the photo (above).
By Kevin Scott
| Box Score |
Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
SHERIDAN, Wyo., October 5, 2024 — After four head-to-head meetings, the Great Falls Americans (5-4-0-0) and the Sheridan (WY) Hawks (7-2-1-0) each have topped their Frontier Division opponent twice.
On Friday in Sheridan, Wyoming, Zac Orwig, and the Great Falls wore down Sheridan, 5-1 as the Americans forward scored three goals and dished out one assist. Easton Kennedy and Garren Narvaez each totaled three assists apiece. Sheridan’s Vlad Zubriichuk the lone puck in the net for the Hawks (game story).
The Sheridan Hawks scored two goals in the first period and one in the second stanza to claim a 4-2 win over the Great Falls Americans on Saturday evening at Whitney Rink in the M&M’s Center in Wyoming. Josh Serino scored half of his team’s goals while Elijah White and Zach Longnecker contributed two assists for the win. John Lang scored his second goal in as many nights for Great Falls in his first weekend with the squad. Blayne Jusczak was credited with his first goal as an American player.
Drake Dunphy (Sheridan) broke the scoreless first period drought with six minute remaining with Kadin Edwards and Elijah White providing the helpers. Zach Longnecker’s pass to Josh Serino with 38 seconds remaining in the opening period gave the home team the lead before the first intermission.
Despite both teams combining for 28 shots-on-goal, Elijah Farris was the only player from either team to successfully put the puck in the net during the second period. Zach Longnecker and Elijah White added another assist to their season total.
During the first 13 minutes of the third period, Great Falls cut their deficit to 3-2 with goals coming from Blayne Jusczak and John Lang. Cal Laggis and Sebe Perez set up Jusczak’s score and Ty O’Bey and Aiden Kennedy on Lang’s goal. Great Falls attempted 25 shots but could not find a way to score a third goal. Josh Serino put the game away for the Hawks with his eighth goal with under one minute remaining.
Great Falls outshot Sheridan in their fourth meeting, 56-33.
Great Falls failed to convert their three power play chances and finished with three infractions. Sheridan went 1-for-3 on the power play.
John Simon, who is now 3-1-0-0 against Great Falls, stopped 54 of the 56 shots sent from Great Falls’ offense. Kaden Rhyder accumulated 29 saves but dropped his record to 5-3-0-0 on the year.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns ran their record to 8-1-0-0 by edging the #5 Gillette (WY) Wild, 3-2 (4-5-1-0) to earn the weekend sweep over their Wyoming foes on Saturday night in Gillette, Wyoming. Gillette’s Tai Kontrac and Ryan Kirkman and Helena’s Chase Berg and Elijah Elmer all scored as both teams were tied (2-2) after two periods of play. Cam Young of the Bighorns provided the eventual game-winning tally in the third. Malik Johnson’s record (5-0-0-0) remains unscathed as he made 17 saves. Tate Cothern (2-3-0-0) allowed three goals but still finished with 36 saves (Box Score).
The #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-10-0-0) played much better offensively on Saturday night than they did in their 11-2 loss to the #7 Butte Irish (4-5-0-0) on Friday night but failed to pick up their first win. Butte led 5-4 after the first period with five different players seeing the lamp light up including Bobby Anselmo, Alexander Clark, Easton Langemo, Zachary Pilkinton, and Rocco Watson. Max Goulden, Jake Ricci, and Logan Nichols paced the Quake with one goal each. The final two periods saw Butte outscore Yellowstone, 3-1. Easton Langemo finished with two goals for the winning side. Logan Hunter got the start and made 10 saves in 18 minutes on the ice. Manny Pantow (1-1-0-0) replaced Hunter and redirected 18 of 20 shots. Nate Whitson (0-2-0-0) had a busy night recording 49 saves (Box Score).
After the #6 Bozeman Ice Dogs (4-3-0-0) defeated the #4 Badlands (SD) Sabres (4-2-1-1) in a shootout on Friday, the Sabres took care of business on Saturday, winning 4-0 over the host team. Badlands scored two goals in the first (Ole Svangstu and Charlie Lorbiecki) and two more in the third (Ryan Jordan and Zach Vockler). Hunter Oger (2-1-0-0) earned the shutout win with 15 saves. Isaac Weatherford (0-1-0-0) of Bozeman swatted away 30 shots in the loss in his first appearance this season (Box Score).
NOTES: During the last week, Coach Greg Sears and the Americans added four new players to the team including forward John Lang (Fargo, ND), defenseman Matt Beazley (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada) and goaltenders Patrick Forsythe (Balmertown, Ontario, Canada) and Karanveer Kooner from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The Great Falls Americans Booster Club is raffling off “RTIC’ Coolers with three different prizes.
FIRST PRIZE: 52 Quart Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler with freezable divider, 30 can soft pack cooler, large ultra tough tote, (4) 30 oz. tumblers, and Meat Package from Central Avenue Meats.
SECOND PRIZE: 32 Quart Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler with freezable divider, 20 can soft pack cooler, small ultra tough tote, (2) 30 oz. tumblers, and Meat Package from Central Avenue Meats.
THIRD PRIZE: 22 Quart Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler, 12 can soft pack cooler, small ultra tough tote, (2) 30 oz. tumblers, and 10 lbs. of burger from Central Avenue Meats.
The drawing will be held at the October 25th home game against the Butte Irish and you don’t have to be present to win. All proceeds go to the Great Falls Americans hockey team.
Contact Adam Stanczak for tickets at 406-564-6771.
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, Aiden Kennedy and Sebe Perez. Click here to learn more about Sebe Perez 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.
Click here to view the other upcoming events for the Americans.
NEXT CONTEST: The Great Falls Americans return to Great Falls for the first of five home games in October starting on Friday, November 11th when the South Dakota-based Badlands Sabres come to the Great Falls Ice Plex for two games. The action at the rink begins at 7:05PM (MST) on Friday (Blue Cross Blue Shield Night) and Saturday, November 12th (Gills Point S Tire and Auto Night with tricycle races). Ryan Siders will provide the streaming coverage for the Americans broadcast 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.