NOTE: A Special Thanks to Pam Stanczak for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
| Box Score |
Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
SHERIDAN, Wyo., March 16, 2025 — It all came down to the final game of the 2025 NA3HL Frontier Division Semi-Finals with one goal; win the game and move on to face the #1 Helena Bighorns in the NA3HL Frontier Division Finals starting on March 19, 2025.
The Americans and Sheridan Hawks each won a game this week in their best-of-three series with Sunday afternoon’s finale in Sheridan, Wyoming.
During the opening game on Thursday (March 13th) of the Frontier Division Semi-Finals played inside Sheridan’s Whitney Rink in the M&M’s Center, both teams spent the first twenty minutes scoreless. Sheridan’s offense scored the first two goals in the second period as Hawks forward Josh Serino lit up the lamp twice and Zach Longnecker collected assists on both scoring drives. Sheridan added two more goals by Anthony Lauderville and Kiefer Dunham in the final period for the 4-0 shutout victory over Great Falls. Both teams combined for just six infractions. Sheridan outshot the Americans, 46-41. John Simon was unstoppable in the net for the Hawks as he swatted away all 40 shots attempted by visiting Montana squad. Kaden Rhyder of the Americans contributed 42 saves in the Game 1 loss (game story).
Both teams made the long trip back from Sheridan, Wyoming for Friday’s Game 2 in Great Falls where the Americans needed to win to survive. Great Falls scored two goals in the first and third periods and held Sheridan to two goals in a 4-2 win that set up Sunday afternoon’s showdown back in Wyoming. Aiden Kennedy racked up two scoring plays while goaltender Kaden Rhyder stopped 43 shots. Kiefer Dunham and Vlad Zubriichuk scored for Wyoming in the second period. TJ Wonnacott picked up the loss despite his 28 save performance (game story).
The #1 Helena Bighorns and #4 Badlands (SD) Sabres met for Game 3 of their series after each team was victorious in one of the previous two Frontier Semi-Final contests. Marcus Fritel had a hat trick (3 goals and teammate Trey Pareja added two goals as the Bighorns won their second consecutive playoff game to stave off elimination in a 7-2 romp over the Sabres at Steed Arena on Saturday night in Helena, Montana. Badlands got goals from Rhylan Olson and Dawson Wirth in the first and second stanzas. Branson Appelman (2-0 in the playoffs) was the winning goaltender for Helena as he redirected 32 shots. Jackson Roethler, who finished the season with an 8-7-1-0 record, made 15 saves in the first and second periods before backup Hunter Oger took over and finished with 18 saves (Box Score).
Great Falls Americans forward Blayne Jusczak provided the game-winning goal in the middle period as the visiting team defeated the Sheridan (WY) Hawks, 1-0 in Game 3 of the Frontier Division Semi-Finals on Sunday afternoon in Wyoming. Kaden Rhyder played flawless in the net for Great Falls by providing 31 saves as the American advance to play the top-ranked Helena Bighorns starting on Wednesday night in Great Falls in the Frontier Division Finals.
Both teams combined for 21 first period shots but none went into the net.
Blake Komrofske and Gavin Denis were responsible for getting the puck to Blayne Jusczak for what would be the game-winning tally thirteen minutes into the second period.
Both offenses produced just 18 total shots in the third frame as both teams’ defenses held up and did not allow any successful scoring drives.
Great Falls took 28 of their 36 shots before the second intermission. Sheridan made eleven attempted shots in the first period and then took ten shots in the second and third periods to finish with 31 in their last game of the 2024-25 season.
Great Falls stayed out of the penalty box for most of the game. They had four minor penalties called against them. Sheridan ended their afternoon contest with nine infractions resulting in 26 minutes spent in the penalty box.
Kaden Rhyder proved why he is one of the elite goaltenders in the NA3HL this season. The Americans starting netminder gathered 31 saves in his second postseason win this season. John Simon of the Hawks had only one blemish to finish with 35 saves.
The Frontier Divisional Finals are played between March 19-23 in a best-of-three series. The winning team in each of the divisions plus one wild card team will be participating at the 2025 NA3HL Fraser Cup (National) Championships slated to start on March 26-30, 2025, in St Peters, Missouri at the St. Peters Rec Plex. The national tournament features each team playing two (round robin) games followed by a semifinal round (two games) and the national championship game.
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans and Bighorns Frontier Division Finals series starts on Wednesday, March 19th at 7:05PM (MST) at the Great Falls Ice Plex for Game 1 of the best-of-three series. Game Two will be played inside Helena’s Steed Arena on Friday, March 21st. If a third game is needed, Helena will also host the winner-take-all game on Saturday, March 22nd.
NAHLTV will provide the coverage for the Frontier Division Finals and the NA3HL Fraser Cup National Tournament starting on March 26-30th in Missouri.
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.
(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.