By Kevin Scott
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GILLETTE, Wyo., February 9, 2024 — For just the third time this season, the #4 Great Falls Americans (18-19-0-1) and the #2 Gillette (WY) Wild (35-4-0-1) squared off on the ice on Friday evening in Wyoming.
Due to the NA3HL scheduling, Great Falls hosted Gillette back in September (22-23) at the Great Falls Ice Plex for the only head-to-head meetings prior to tonight’s contest in Gillette, Wyoming. The Wild, under former Great Falls Americans assistant coach Ethan Hayes, was the top seed in the Frontier Division at that time and outscored Great Falls 11-2 over the two weekend contests. Ryan Hipsag was one of six players who put the puck in the net in a 7-0 romp over Great Falls on September 22nd (game story). The Americans played better in the second game, falling 4-2 with Ty O’Bey and Dmitri Kuleshov scoring for the host team. Great Falls attempted a comeback that fell short after trailing 3-0 after two periods (game story).
Since their first encounter in late September, Great Falls went 16-16-0-1 and Gillette won 30 of their 35 contests (30-5-0-0) with four losses coming from the Helena Bighorns.
Six different Gillette Wild players earned goals as the #2 Gillette Wild handed the #4 Great Falls Americans a 6-0 shutout loss during Friday’s NA3HL junior ice hockey contest at Spirt Hall Ice Arena in Wyoming.
The first period saw 32 shots-on-goal being taken but neither team allowed their opponent to light up the lamp. The Americans had three power play opportunities that were denied by Gillette’s defense.
After a slow first period, the Wild’s offense scored three times during the second period. Wylee Gladen and Landon Thiessen both got the puck in the net for the 2-0 lead within the first nine minutes. Isaac Young picked up his 48th assist and Adam Severson dished out his 42nd assist on Gladen’ score 33 seconds into the stanza and Gavin Black and Wyatt Schmitz received the assist on Thiessen’s scoring drive at the midway through the period. Gillette waited until the final 24 seconds when Great Falls was down a man (penalty) before the second intermission to ring up their third score when Blake Biermaier found Cade Voge open near the goal. The home team attempted 38 shots over two period while the American produced 19.
In the third frame, Chase Hapka, Jacob Guitard and Isaac Young each added a goal to their resume for the host squad. Payton Kor, Adam Severson and Wylee Gladen gathered the assists.
The third period saw 14 penalties being called between both Frontier Division squads. The nineteen total infractions resulted in 62 minutes spent in the sin bin. Great Falls came up empty in their six power play chances while the Wild took advantage of the Americans penalties by going 3-for-6.
Gillette’s offense attempted 20 shots in the first and third periods to finish with 58. Great Falls had 12 of their 28 in the scoreless first period.
Third season netminder, Cole Wheaton won his twelfth game of the season (12-3-0-1) by remaining perfect in the net with 28 saves. Meanwhile, Anyon Bennett, seeing his first action with Great Falls after coming over this past week from the NA3HL’s Granite City Lumberjacks, took the loss in his first start (0-1-0-0). He went 7-4-0-1 with the Lumberjacks. The Minnesota native had 35 saves before being replaced by Noah Van Herik, who had 17 saves in the final 12:45.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #6 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (15-21-2-2) hung with the top-ranked Helena Bighorns (37-2-0-0) through the first 46 minutes as they traded (three) goals with the home team. The Bighorns pulled away and scored two goals over the final six minutes for the 5-3 decision and kept their win streak alive. Owen Gruener, Gavin Barr, Tim Mattingly, Cai Robinson, and Mason Eggen scored for Helena while Tanner Freed led the Hawks in scoring with two goals. Forner Great Falls American Aaron James scored once for Sheridan. Malik Johnson recorded 13 saves to remain perfect (13-0-0-0) in the net for the Bighorns. Johnson’s counterpart, Zach Broxterman stopped 37 shots as his record dropped to 5-11-1-2 (Box Score).
The #3 Bozeman Ice Dogs (25-14-0-1), behind their home fans, racked up a 4-1 win over the #5 Badlands (SD) Sabres (15-17-3-3) in Bozeman, Montana on Friday night. Bozeman’s Tyler Kingbeil, Andrew Kaunas, Bodie Shepardson, and Joe Kline lit up the lamp while Aden Cobb scored for Badlands. Matthew Ryynanen (Bozeman) posted 33 saves to improve his record to 17-11-0-1 in 31 appearances. Easton Eriksmoen (9-9-0-1) made 37 saves in the setback for the first-year netminder for the Sabres (Box Score).
Brennen Morgan scored two goals in the second period to ignite the #7 Butte Irish (15-24-1-0) to a 5-0 lead after two periods over the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-37-3-0) in Butte, Montana. Logan Nichols scored two goals for the Quake, but Weston Villers, Toby Kerr and Andrew Browe all put the puck between the pipes in the third for the 8-2 victory by Butte. Adler Hoagland started the season with four losses while playing for the Americans but since he took the reins in Butte, he is now 2-1 in his fourth outing of the Irish. He is now 2-5-0-0 on the season thanks to his 16 saves. No goalie stats were available for Yellowstone (Box Score).
NOTES: In Friday’s 4-2 win in Rapid City, South Dakota against the Badlands (SD) Sabres, Great Falls Americans Head Coach Greg Sears got his 300th career junior hockey win, Congratulations Coach Sears!
Forward Dmitri Kuleshov and goaltender Kaden Ryhder received Honorable Mention honors for the weekly “NA3HL Stars of the Week” for the week ending February 4, 2024, for their play last week against the Helena Bighorns. Click here for more information.
In this week’s “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletter, Americans team owner Matt Leaf has a player profile of Austin Trout, a special Valentine’s Day auction and a quick recap of two-game series last weekend against the Helena Bighorns and we welcome new netminder Anyon Bennett, who comes from the Granite City Lumberjacks to the team. Check out the newsletter for more information. Click here to view this past week’s newsletter and all the weekly “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletters.
Be sure to check out Staradio’s Weekly Interview with Greg Sears hosted by Troy Mellinger. The short radio interview gives a recap of last weekend’s home and road games against the Helena Bighorns. Listen live every Monday throughout the season at 12:20PM (MST) on FOX SPORTS RADIO (98.3FM/1400AM) and on Q106.1 FM on Wednesday mornings at 10:00AM (MST). To listen to this interview and the previous others from the 2023-24 season, please click here.
This week, another episode of the “Americans Podcast with Jim Quick” was completed with his guest being goaltender Kaden Ryhder. Quick has done eleven podcasts this year featuring the history of the Americans, interviews with former American and now Associate Coach, Alex Leaf, and some current players. Fans can listen to the full podcasts by clicking here.
The NA3HL released their all-new and updated App this week for the App Store and Google Play. Download and 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).
Check out all the Americans photos throughout the season including some taken by Americans photographer, Dustin Bauer. Click here to view all the photos from the 2023-24 season.
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. 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.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls and Gillette will face off for the last time in the 2023-24 regular season when they meet again at the Spirit Hall Ice Arena in Gillette, Wyoming for a Saturday (February 10th) showdown against the Americans starting at 7:05PM (MST) on NAHLTV. To learn more about how to watch the Americans in action on NAHL TV, please click here.
Next week, Great Falls will play three games against the #1 Helena Bighorns with two of them taking place at the Great Falls Ice Plex. On Wednesday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day), Great Falls will host Gillette at 7:00PM (MST) and also on Friday, February 16 at a special time of 12:00PM (MST) (see article). Great Falls will travel to Helena’s Steed Arena on Saturday, February 17th for a 7:05pm start time.
Click here for the 2023-24 Great Falls Americans schedule and results.