NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
| Box Score |
Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
GREAT FALLS, Mont., September 12, 2026 — The Great Falls Americans (1-0-0-1) were looking to go to 2-0 on the season with a weekend sweep of their second opponent in two days.
On Friday, Great Falls received two goals from Xander Troyer and netminder JD Stephens recorded 29 saves as the home team scored one goal in each period for the 3-0 win over the Yellowstone Quake.
The Gillette (WY) Wild (1-1-0-0) was Saturday’s opponent for Great Falls with 13 returning players coming back from last season’s squad that finished in sixth place in the eight-team Frontier Division with a 21-24-2-0 record. The Wild traveled to Bozeman, Montana for their first contest on Friday and fell 3-2 to the Bozeman Ice Dogs. All five goals were scored in the middle period. Greyson Ecker and Jay Reese each scored once and accumulated one assist apiece in the loss. Andrew Knox took the loss but gathered 17 saves.
The “After Five” Band performed at the Great Falls Ice Plex at the Americans Tailgate Party on Saturday night (Photo Courtesy of Kevin Scott)
Prior to Saturday’s game, the Americans Booster Club held their 4th Annual Tailgate Party in the parking lot of the Great Falls Ice Plex where fans enjoyed food and beverages from 5:00PM until 6:45PM with local band, “After Five” providing the entertainment.
The Great Falls Americans let a 2-1 lead slip away in the third period against the Gillette (WY) Wild and after a scoreless overtime, the Wild managed to win the shootout to pull out a 3-2 victory during Saturday’s NA3HL showdown at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
Despite a total of 25 shots-on-goal being taken, neither squad was able to find the back of the net during the first period.
Great Falls tailied their first goal two minutes into the middle stanza when Jarrett Parker and Keifer Lundmark assisted on the tally by Paxon Sacre. Parker and Sacre are both from Iowa and playing in their first season with the Americans. The lead lasted until the final 4:54 of the period when Gillette’s Jacen Rustand evened the score with an unassisted goal near the net. Before the period concluded, Great Falls’ Jarrett Parker skated the length of the arena and answered with his first scoring drive with his new team while his team was on the power play. Austin Gibson registered his second assist after getting his first during Friday’s 3-0 win over Yellowstone. The home team took a 2-1 advantage into the locker room for the second intermission after outshooting the Wild, 17-12.
The Wild took seven minutes off the clock in the third frame to put in the equalizer. Dylan Herold took advantage of the Americans turnover and got the puck by Americans netminder, JD Stephens with helpers from Dylan Crossley and Donovan Balek. Both teams skated the rest of the way without scoring to set up a five-minute extra period.
Both clubs were denied any scoring opportunities during the the five-minute overtime.
A shootout was needed to declare a winning team and the Gillette Wild won the shootout with goals scored by Jay Reese and Donovan Balek. Jase Troyer and Austin Gibson were unsuccessful for Great Falls.
Great Falls led Gillette in the shots-on-goal category as they led throughout the three regulation periods and overtime to finish with 59. Gillette attempted 16 of their 42 in the third period.
Each team committed just two minor penalties with Great Falls going 1-for-2 on the power play thanks to Jarrett Parker’s goal near the end of the second stanza. The Wild could not convert on both of their power play chances.
Andrew Knox (1-1-0-0) made 57 saves in 65 minutes of action to get his first victory of the season for the Wild. JD Stephens was denied his second win in as many starts for the Americans. The first-year goalie from Aurora, Colorado allowed a goal in the second and third periods to end his first weekend as a member of the Americans with 40 saves in 65 minutes.
NOTES: 
“Chuck-A-Puck” is back again occurring at the second intermission at all home games this season. Fans can secure their pucks before each game through the DASH QR Code (right). On game night, stop at the chuck-a-puck table at the merchandise table and pick up your bag of Montana Air National Guard pucks. Thanks to the following sponsors including Play It Again Sports, Teriyaki Madness, Fire Pizza, and the Sip-N-Dip Lounge who provide the targets and prizes for fans to win.
Our “Lucky Program” continues with prizes from Americans sponsors, Scheels, Howard’s Pizza and Annie’s Taphouse. Fans can purchase tickets online or at the door. Scan the QR Code (Left) to purchase tickets and merchandise.
Check out the new merchandise this season at the merchandise table by the Beer Garden.
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 profiles, 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).
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls continues their four straight home games to begin the 2026-27 season with a matchup against the Butte Irish on Friday, September 18th and a date with the Sheridan (WY) Hawks on Saturday, September 19th. The puck drops for both NA3HL contests at 7:05PM (MST) from the Great Falls Ice Plex. Ryan Siders, the Americans Play-By-Play Announcer, will have the call for both games on the NA3HL’s official streaming service, NATV.
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.
NATV 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.
For complete schedules/results, promotions, team stats, rosters and much more information, please go to our official website: www.greatfallsamericans.com
2026 Great Falls AmericansTailgate Party Photos (Photos By Kevin Scott)