NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
CODY, Wyo., October 30, 2026 — The Great Falls Americans (8-5-0-1) led 4-3 with 46 seconds remaining in the third period before they allowed a score by the Yellowstone Quake (4-7-1-1) but the visitiors eventually pulled out a 5-4 road win in a shootout during Friday evening’s NA3HL junior hockey action in Cody, Wyoming. Keifer Lundmark tallied two goals and JD Stephens came away with 50 saves for his seventh win of the year.
Yellowstone forward Shayne Smith, one of four players on the Quake roster from Montana, scored the opening goal with 13 minutes to go in the first period with Mason Chapmon and Maddox Townsend securing the assists. Chapmon, a Miles City, Montana native played last season with the Bozeman Ice Dogs. Despite trailing on the scoreboard, Great Falls led 28-17 in the shots-on-goal category after the first twenty minutes.
Both squads traded goals throughout the first 17 minutes of the middle period. Yellowstone’s Carson Joersz accumulated his 14th lamplighter of the season for the Quake four minutes into the stanza off a pass from Shayne Smith with Great Falls in the penalty box. Great Falls cut their deficit to 2-1 with their first goal of the night going to EJ Sanchez 67 after Joersz scoring drive. Reid Lezubski and Wyatt Rust both were responsible for setting up the Americans first score of the night. Shayne Smith put Yellowstone back up by two goals (3-1) midway through the period when his shot went in the back of the net. The assists went to Mason Chapmon and Carson Joersz. Great Falls’ Keifer Lundmark finished the frame with two back-to-back scores six minutes apart to even the score (3-3) heading into the second intermission. Cooper Palazzolo assisted on both scores while Jarrett Parker and Austin Gibson each contributed a secondary assist.
The game remainied tied (3-3) through the first ten minutes of the final period of regulation before Gordon Jennings gave the visiting squad their first advantage (4-3) as the Alaska defenseman registered his fifth goal with assistance from Xander Troyer and Parker Jusczak as the Quake were down a man (penalty). Yellowstone did not surrender and just when it appeared that the Americans were going to pick up the regulation victory, the Quake’s Brayden Krous put the puck in the net off a pass from Anthony Moorehead with 46 seconds to go to force an extra period.
The five-minute overtime provided a total of 10 shots between both Frontier Division opponents but neither team scored so a shootout was necessary.
Ten players from each team participated in shootout with Great Falls winning the shootout on Paxon Sacre’s game-winner. In addition to Sacre’s score, Xander Troyer and Austin GIbson were also successful against Yellowstone netminder Damen Baxter. Shayne Smith and Davin Moeller provided the scores for the home team.
Great Falls created 71 shots-on-goal with 45 coming before the second intermssion. Yellowstone made 48 saves through the three regulation periods to end the game with 54.
Seven total penalties were made throughout the Americans and Quake’s second head-to-head meeting of the season with each club capitalizing on one power play. Great Falls defeated Yellowstone on their home ice, 3-0 in the season opener on September 11th in Great Falls. Neither team was able to pick up a score during any of the power play chances.
Keifer Lundmark scored two second period goals and teammate Cooper Palazzolo assisted on both scores to power the Americans to their eighth victory. Shayne Smith scored one goal in each of the first two periods and added one assist to pace the Yellowstone Quake.
JD Stephens, who successfully swatted away 50 shots, is now 2-0 against Yellowstone as he improved his record to 7-3-0-1. Yellowstone goaltender Damen Baxter (2-6-1-1) lost his first shootout contest of the season but not before making 67 saves in his second outing against the Americans.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls will make the 150 mile journey from Cody, WY to Sheridan, WY for a single contest against the Sheridan Hawks live from the Whitney Rink in the M&M’s Center on Saturday, October 31st with a start time of 7:30PM (MST). The game can be seen live on NATV.
Great Falls’ next home game is slated for Friday, November 6th when the Helena Bighorns come to town for the first time this season.
For complete schedules/results, promotions, team stats, rosters and much more information, please go to our official website: www.greatfallsamericans.com