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BALDY’S PUCK DROP Weekly E-Newsletter (September – August) |
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Baldy’s Puck Drop” Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Volume 86: December 4, 2025
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: Another week is in the books as we close out the first half of the season and approach the NA3HL
Showcase in Minnesota followed by a nice break for Christmas. The Americans split last weekends games losing to Helena at home Friday night and beating Butte on the road Saturday. I want to personally thank all the fans who braved the weather last Friday and came out for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana Night at the Ice Plex. You were rewarded with a strong first period only to see the Americans take their foot off the gas and allowed Helena to take control of the game. They bounced back with a 4-3 win Saturday in Butte with Gordon Jennings notching two goals and earning “3rd Star of the Week” for the NA3HL’s Frontier Division.
The Americans finished the first half in 2nd place with 15 wins, 8 losses, 1 overtime loss and 1 Shootout loss – good enough for 32 points. Next up is a trip to Helena Friday night before hosting Bozeman on Saturday night at the Ice Plex. Saturday should be a fun night as we have partnered with Russell Country Federal Credit Union to not only host our first ever Teddy Bear Toss but also highlight 10U Hockey in Great Falls as the Great Falls Amateur Hockey Association hosts their annual “Hockey in the Rockies” 10U Tournament.
So, what does all this mean? First off, a “Teddy Bear Toss” is a longtime hockey tradition that has been made famous by the Hersey Bears of the American Hockey League. The premise is fans bring a plush toy to the game and receive a discounted ticket. Then, when the Americans score their first goal, the toys are thrown onto the ice to celebrate and then collected and donated to a children’s charity. The world record was recorded last January when the Hersey Bears collected 102,343 stuff toys during a single Teddy Bear Toss..
We are also pleased to have Russell Country FCU on board as we recognizer the 10U Teams from the surrounding areas that are participating in a local youth hockey tournament this weekend. The tournament will be running all day on Friday and Saturday and concludes Sunday
morning. The local 10U A team will be playing right before the Americans on Saturday – so come on out a little early and cheer on our future Americans. As part of the festivities, we will have a player from each participating team take part in a “Shootout” Competition during the first intermission as we showcase their skills and talent in front of our fans. We look forward to seeing you at the Ice Plex this weekend in what should be a special weekend of hockey before the holidays and your last chance to catch the Americans in action until New Year’s Eve. Don’t forget to join us at Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom after the game Saturday night.
Our Showcase schedule was announced this week and we are excited to see some teams from the other divisions. The Americans open with a 
game versus the Austin Ice Bats from the South Division on Sunday the 14th at 8:00 PM MT. We follow up with a 5:30 PM MT start on Monday the 15th versus the Alexandria Blizzard from the West Division and conclude with an 11:15 AM MT game on Tuesday the 16th with the Mason City Toros. The NA3HL Showcase is always a special time of the year as it is a chance for our players to perform in front of hundreds of Junior and College scouts from
throughout the country. With all 38 league teams in one location, it provides an easy and efficient means for scouts to see players from the league and some 18U and 16U games that are also taking place that weekend. We’ll have more on the Showcase in next week’s edition but set those dates and times aside and plan on watching all our away games at our official watch party taking place at Buffalo Wild Wings.
It is not too late to make your donation as the Americans continue their Polar Plunge support at Sacajawea Elementary School this afternoon.
The Americans are excited to support these students in their efforts to raise money for the Special Olympics of Montana. Just scan the QR code on the right and enjoy having one of your favorite players take the ice bucket challenge.
The Great Falls Americans special 12 Days of Christmas event where we will be drawing a mystery prize winner each day 
from December 13th-24th is live on DASH. Enter to win the Great Falls Americans “12 days of Christmas” by purchasing a special edition Baldy Christmas Ornament through DASH. We will also be running a “Jersey Off Our Back” auction presented by Russell Country Federal Credit Union with proceeds supporting the Josh Huestis Foundation, a local non-profit that supports youth programs and initiatives. A home jersey signed by the team will be auctioned off starting Friday morning and running through Tuesday evening. You can access both activations through DASH by clicking on the QR code to the left.
Finally, I want to thank and acknowledge our players for their enthusiastic help as we had the last session of House League (Learn to Play) and Sled Hockey on Tuesday afternoon. We ask our players to be involved in the community and one way they do is to help with these programs
when available. We had 25 participants in the House League Learn to Play Program and our players rotated through the nine Tuesday sessions in running these practices and providing these kids aged 4-11 a chance to learn to love the sport while developing skills. They shared the ice with the 4-6 sled hockey participants from Eagle Mount Therapeutic Recreation with their highlight of the season having Americans’ Goalkeeper Gunnar Bergo coming onto the ice in full gear and being used by the sled hockey players like a rented mule. I know I talk a lot about the hockey, the wins and the business side of things, but the reality is the most rewarding things are seeing our players be involved with the next generation of players and the smiles on the faces of the kids who are positively impacted by our players and staff. Thank you for this opportunity to make a difference.
Player Profile – #96 Tallen Caron (Kenora, ONT) 6’1” 180 lbs. FOR – Shoots Right DOB 06/29/2006
Favorite Team: New Jersey Devils 
Favorite Player: Timo Meier
Favorite Movie: Step Brothers
Favorite Actor/Actress: Adam Sandler
Favorite Food: Poutine
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Chicken Alfredo
If you were animal: A Lion – Fierce, Protective, Aggressive.
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Stone Temple Pilots
Pre-Game Hype Music: Metal, Rock
One Person to be stuck with on a deserted island: Gordon Ramsey
Hobbies other than Hockey: Golf, Guitar, Video Games
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Sidney Crosby, Jimmy Page, Ryan Reynolds
College/University of Choice: University of North Dakota
Like Most About Great Falls: The People and the Mountains.
How would you define a successful season: Having fun while winning the Fraser Cup!
Here are the upcoming dates to add to your calendar:
- December 4th – Special Olympics of Montana Ice Bucket Challenge at Sacajawea Elementary School.
- December 5th – Away game at 7:05 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- December 6th – Home game versus First annual “Teddy Bear Toss” presented by Russell Country Federal Credit Union and “Salute to 10U Hockey”!
- December 14th – Showcase game versus 8:00 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- December 15th – Showcase game versus 5:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- December 16th – Showcase game versus Mason 11:15 AM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- December 17th -26th – Christmas Break for all Americans players and staff.
- December 27th – Hockey Day in Americans Practice and youth hockey clinics.
- December 31st – New Years Eve Home game versus 6:05 PM Puck drop.
- January 3rd – Away game at 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- January 9th – Home Game versus 7:05 PM Puck drop as we wear our special edition Rodeo Jerseys.
- January 10th – Home Game versus 7:05 PM Puck drop as we wear our special edition Rodeo Jerseys.
Thank you to our corporate partners for their continued support.
Eagle’s Nest Level
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Diamond Level
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Platinum Level
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Tammy Quintrell-Stubbs
Gold, Silver and Bronze Level Partners (* new this season)
| All-State Signs | Beacon Ice House | Eagle Mount Therapeutic Recreation* |
| Floors & More Abbey Carpets | Central Avenue Meats | MNoel Photography |
| Havre Youth Hockey | Central MT Lock & Safe | Century Gaming |
| Life in Bloom Floral @ Gift Boutique | Hotel Arvon/Celtic Cowboy | Stifel l Finnicum Financial Group |
| Coca-Cola* | Craftmaster Cabinets | Culligan Water |
| Comparion Insurance | Play It Again Sports | Open Door Wellness |
| Big Sky Laboratory | Cascade Electric | Hampton Inn & Suites |
| Ferrin’s Furniture | Great Falls Hospital | She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique |
| Jersey Mike’s | Karma Coffee | Murphy Law |
| Scheels | Stockman Bank | Traynor Capital |
| Voices of Hope* | Johnson Distributing | Mountain Title Company |
| Fire Pizza* | Montana Rib & Chop House* | Visit Great Falls |
| Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory | Bish’s RV of Great Falls* | StaRadio |
| Benski Towing & Recovery | Westgate Repair, Inc. | Annie’s Taphouse |
| Sip-N-Dip Lounge* | Special Olympics of Montana* | TDS Fiber |
Thank you for being a part of our hockey family!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com