By ABC/FOX Montana Sports Staff
March 29, 2016
GREAT FALLS, MT — Just like last season, the Great Falls Americans are one of the last eight teams still with a chance to capture the NA3HL’s Silver Cup Title. And Great Falls hopes the experience gained in last years trip to the finals pays off with a better showing this time around.
The Americans arrived in Romeoville, Illinois on Monday, and practiced Tuesday in preparation of Wednesday night’s opener against Point Mallard in Pool-A play. Last season, Great Falls went 0-3 in pool play, failing to advance to the four team semifinals.
Head coach Jeff Heimel says about a third of this years roster played in the Silver Cup a season ago and that everyone, including himself, learned exactly what it takes to be successful in dealing with all the elements.
“It’s a learning experience for so many people, including myself,” Heimel says. “Like when to travel and how to travel and what to do and what not to do in an event of that magnitude carries a lot of variables and moving parts. I just think that experience of how to have our team functioning at all capacities, and just think that a locker room that has been there before and is itching to have a much better result and to win a championship and to not be satisfied with just a Division title.”
Fifth seeded Great Falls will open play Wednesday night at 6:30pm Montana Time against a Point Mallard team that is seeded fourth in the tournament and won the South Division Title. On Thursday, the Americans face top seeded North Iowa. Then on Friday, Great Falls will play Frontier Division rival Yellowstone, which was one of two Wild cards to qualify for the tournament. Both those games will also be 6:30pm starts.
Story Courtesy: ABC/FOX Montana (KFBB): Americans Hope Experience Pays off at Silver Cup (March 29, 2016)