NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
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GREAT FALLS, Mont., September 13, 2025 — The Great Falls Americans (1-3-0-0) were searching for their first victory on Saturday after they have fallen to the Helena Bighorns, Bozeman Ice Dogs and the Badlands (SD) Sabres after three starts.
In Friday’s contest against the Sabres, Badlands (3-0-0-1) scored once in the first and added another in the third frame for a 2-0 shutout against the Americans. Badlands forwards Wyatt Pink and Patrick Gosselin each scored and Maddox Harn assisted on both scoring plays. Jackson Roethler improved to 3-0 for Badlands by stopping 37 shots and Great Falls welcomed back netminder Kaden Rhyder back to the team. He gathered 26 saves in the setback.
A second showdown between Great Falls and Badlands occurred on Saturday night in Great Falls. They will have four more meetings this season with matchups on October 17th, January 16th and January 17th in Rapid City, South Dakota and a final matchup back in Great Falls on February 14th.
Jase Troyer scored the game-winning goal in a (4-3) shootout for Great Falls as they defeated the visiting Badlands (SD) Sabres to earn their first regular season win of the season in front of their home fans at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday evening. EJ Sanchez, Tallon Coron and Cooper Clouse each registered goals in regulation.
Great Falls tossed in the first goal of the night when Wyatt Hanna and Bryce Webb got the puck to EJ Sanchez for the one-on-one goal against Sabres goaltender Gavin Peery with 15:12 remaining. Before the opening period concluded, Cooper Clouse scooped the puck to Tallon Caron for the Americans second scoring drive of the period. The penalty-free stanza saw a combined 19 shots-on-goal between these two opponents.
The South Dakota squad cut the Americans lead in half (2-1) midway through the middle frame when Dayton Niedert tacked on his second goal of the season with helpers coming from Wyatt Pink and Peyton Kostad. Great Falls outshot the visiting team, 15-11 before the second intermission.
The host team maintained their lead until a pair of miscues 19 seconds apart early in the third period put the Sabres ahead, 3-2. Iowa natives Justin Reams and Wyatt Pink each tacked on their third goals of the season. Dayton Niedert, Gaven Marx, Nicklas Bacskai, and Rhylan Olson earned the assists. Five minutes later, Great Falls forward Cooper Clouse scored for the third time in four games when his shot richoted off the post and in the net to even the contest, 3-3. Gavin Denis collected his fourth assist and Wyatt Rust produced his first assist. The lack of scoring the final eleven minutes resulted in a five-minute extra period.
A shootout was needed after a scoreless overtime.
Great Falls native Jase Troyer provided the game-winning goal as he was the only player to score against the opposing goaltender in the shootout. Patrick Gosselin, Gaven Marx and Dayton Niedert of the Sabres missed on their one-on-one attempts against Americans goalie Cole Murphy.
Cooper Clouse (Great Falls) had one goal and dished out one assist for the winning team. Dayton Niedert also scored one goal and assisted on a scoring play for Badlands.
The Sabres finished with seven more shots (43-36) than Great Falls.
Both teams received no penalties during the first two periods. Badlands committed one infraction each in the third period and overtime that resulted in no goals scored for Great Falls while on the power play. Great Falls was whistled for one penalty in overtime.
First year goaltender Cole Murphy (1-1-0-0) was credited with his first win as a member of the Americans by swatting away 40 shots. Gavin Peery (0-0-0-1) made his first appearance in the net for Badlands and made 33 saves in the shootout loss.
NOTES: A new feature this season is the “Chuck-A-Puck” 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 and pick up your bag of Montana Air National Guard pucks. Thanks to the following sponsors including Play It Again Sports, Montana Rib & Chop House, Fire Pizza, Teriyaki Madness and the Sip-N-Dip Lounge who provide the targets and prizes for fans to win.
The Americans Booster Club is raffling off a Remote Controlled Zamboni Cooler with the ticket drawn at the October 25th contest against the Yellowstone (WY) Quake. Tickets are $10.00 each. Click here for more information. To purchase tickets, please see any of the Booster Club members at any of the home games or contact Adam Stanczak (406-564-6771).
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 profile, 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: After two weeks (four games) of being on home ice, the Great Falls Americans will make their first road trip of the 2025-26 season. Great Falls will play their in-state rivals. Great Falls will tangle with the Helena Bighorns on Friday, September 19th starting at 7:05PM (MST) from Helena’s Steed Arena. NATV is the official NA3HL streaming service where fans can watch home and away contests this season.
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom (1101 7th Street South) is the place to be after Friday and Saturday night home games where the Americans invite their fans and supporters to their post-game dinner.
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