By Kevin Scott
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CODY, Wyo., December 8, 2023 — Four months ago when the 2023-24 NA3HL junior hockey season began, the Great Falls Americans (14-10-0-0) opened the season at the Great Falls Ice Plex against tonight’s opponent, the #8 Yellowstone Quake (0-22-1-0).
Great Falls prevailed by scoring five goals each night for a 5-4 win (September 8th) and a 5-3 win on September 9th. A few things have changed since their initial meeting. Zac Orwig and Sebe Perez were still members of the Quake and now they are with the Americans. The Americans have won 13 games while the Quake are still searching for their first victory.
The Americans trailed the Quake 4-3 after two periods on September 8th but then outscored the visitors, 2-0 in the third for the 5-4 win. Ty O’Bey made his debut and scored two goals and dished out one assist for Great Falls. Kaden Ryhder made his debut in the net and stopped 24 shots while his counterpart with the Quake, John Hughes recorded 31 saves (game story).
Ty O’Bey had a repeat performance in his second game with Great Falls by adding two scores and helping on another to lead the Americans to their second straight win (5-3) after the home team led 4-2 after the first period. Returning goalie Ryan Stowe had 23 saves in his season debut. Max Rotsaert had two goals and one assist for the Quake (game story).
This weekend will mark the final time this year that Great Falls and Yellowstone will clash on the ice. They are not scheduled for any more matchups in the regular season.
The #3 Great Falls Americans scored nine goals enroute to a 9-1 dominating victory over the last place Yellowstone (WY) Quake on Friday night inside Wyoming’s Riley Arena. Ty O’Bey led both teams with two goals and one assist and Great Falls netminder Kaden Ryhder recorded 27 saves for the Americans 14th win of the 2023-24 season.
The Americans offense raced out to a three-goal lead after the first period. The Montana visitors received scoring drives from Aaron Leaf, Cade Bendigo, Dmitri Kuleshov and Phil Harrell. Caleb Gamboa and Tariq Khan each made two assists each while Jacob James, Aiden Kennedy, Aaron James, and Ty O’Bey also helped set up the four scores. Yellowstone’s Wesley Amos put the biscuit in the basket for the Quake’s lone score with 5:41 remaining. Dawson William and Joey Good each provided their second assists of the year. Great Falls took twenty more shots than Yellowstone, 32-12.
After the first break, the Americans contained the Quake’s defense and outscored the host team, 2-0. Great Falls’ Ty O’Bey and Masen Kerr each added a lamplighter in the middle period. Aiden Kennedy and Phil Harrell assisted on O’Bey’s score with six minutes remaining and newcomer Zac Orwig, who came over in November from the Quake, made his first assist in a Great Falls uniform for the 6-1 lead. Blake Komrofske also added a helper.
After making his first assist in the second stanza, Zac Orwig was the recipient of his first goal of the season with assistance from Ty Brander and Masen Kerr 6:48 into the third frame. The 7-1 advantage last nearly nine minutes before the visitors tacked on two more goals in the final 4:25 when Ty O’Bey collected his second score and Sam Duehlmeier chipped in his first of the night. Ty Brander and Aaron James created their second assists of the night and Dmitri Kuleshov garnered his first.
One of the differences in the game occurred when the Americans scored on four of their five power play opportunities. Yellowstone’s first period goal came when Great Falls was in the sin bin as they finished 1-for-4.
Kaden Ryhder (9-4-0-0) won his second game against the Quake this season as he redirected 27 of 28 shots sent by Yellowstone’s offense. He accrued 24 saves in a 5-4 victory in the season opener at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
Fargo, North Dakota goalie John Simon saw his record drop to 0-6-0-0 despite gathering 40 saves in his first year with the Quake.
NOTES: In this week’s “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletter, Americans team owner Matt Leaf has a player profile of forward Aaron James, Americans team Christmas party, sponsor information, and recognition of Ty O’Bey, Kaden Ryhder and Phil Harrell as November Honorable Mention “Stars of the Month” honors in the NA3HL. Click here to view this past week’s newsletter and all the weekly “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletters.
As mentioned above, the Americans had three players receive Honorable Mention honors for November’s “Stars of the Month.” Forward Ty O’Bey, defenseman Phil Harrell, and goaltender Kaden Ryhder were the honorees for Great Falls. Click here for more information.
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 Friday’s road loss to the Bozeman Ice Dogs and previews the two-game series against the Yellowstone Quake. 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.
On Thursday, November 30th, the NA3HL announced their game schedule for the upcoming 2023 NA3HL Showcase occurring on December 17-19, 2023, at the NSC Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. Many scouts in the NCAA and ACHA scouts attend and recruit at this prestigious once-a-year event. The Showcase pairs up evenly matched teams against one another based on the current standings and features balanced competition with cross-divisional games. Great Falls will play the New Jersey Titans (4:15PM MST on Sunday, December 17), the Minnesota-based Alexandria Blizzard (5:15PM MST on Monday, December 18) and will finish out the event with a 11:00AM (MST) contest battling the Louisiana Drillers. Click here to read the full story.
Check out all the Americans photos throughout the season with many of the game action photos 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.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The Gillette (WY) Wild (23-1-0-1) continues to be the top team in the NA3HL’s Frontier Division as they hosted the #7 Butte Irish (8-15-0-0) on Friday night in Wyoming. Jace Johnson (Gillette) scored twice, and teammate Adam Severson scored a goal and dished out two assists as the duo helped the Wild pick up a 5-2 win over the Irish. Andrew Browe secured both scoring drives for the Irish in the setback. Third-year goaltender Cole Wheaton improved his record to 9-1-0-1 with his 26 save performance for Gillette. Joshua Horacek (0-4-0-0), who made 55 saves on Friday, is still searching for his first win in his second season with the Butte junior hockey franchise (Box Score).
The second-ranked Helena Bighorns (20-2-0-0) outshot the fifth-ranked Badlands (SD) Sabres (9-10-2-2) 44-14 as they easily prevailed over the host team 7-0 in Rapid City, South Dakota on Friday for their 20th win of the season. The visiting Bighorns were sparked by Camden Cunningham’s two second period goals. Second year netminder Jesse Schindel picked up his seventh win (7-0-0-0) to keep him undefeated in the net for Helena. Hunter Oger and Easton Eriksmoen combined for 37 saves, but Eriksmoen was credited with his fifth loss (6-5-0-0) for the Sabres (Box Score).
The #4 Bozeman Ice Dogs (13-11-0-1) scored the final three goals as they defeated the #6 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (8-15-1-1) on the road, 4-1 in Sheridan, Wyoming on Friday. Andrew Kaunas, Spencer Wilkinson, Chris Porciuncula, and Casey Sturm scored for the visiting Montana squad. Ayden Attungana scored the lone second period goal for the Hawks as they fell short. Bozeman netminder Matthew Ryynanen had 41 saves for his ninth win (9-9-0-1) while his counterpart in Sheridan, Aiden Knox (39 saves) fell to 2-3-0-0 on the year (Box Score).
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls will stay in Cody, Wyoming and play one more time against the Quake this season on Saturday, December 9th. The second game of the weekend series is set for 7:05PM (MST) from Riley Arena.
Great Falls and the rest of the NA3HL teams will all meet in Blaine, Minnesota for the 2023 NA3HL Showcase (December 17-19), where teams will play three other teams not in their division during the three-day tournament with scouts in attendance. Click here to see the press release and schedule.
AMERICANS WATCH PARTY: The Stadum Bar and Casino, located at 1121 5th Street South 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.
After the Christmas break, the Americans will travel to Butte, Montana for two games against the Irish on January 5-6 before Great Falls returns to the friendly confines of the Great Falls Ice Plex for two games against the Bozeman Ice Dogs on January 12-13. Click here for the 2023-24 Great Falls Americans schedule and results.
NAHLTV is the place to catch all the Great Falls Americans contests all season long. Click here to learn more about how to watch any of the Americans NA3HL junior hockey games on NAHL TV during the 2023-24 season.
Additional Media Coverage: December 6, 2023: Americans Podcast with Jim Quick: Americans defenseman Masen Kerr talked hockey with Jim. Click here to listen to all episodes.
Additional Media Coverage: December 7, 2023: Staradio: Weekly Radio Interview by Staradio Sports Director Troy Mellinger with Great Falls Americans Head Coach Greg Sears every week. Click here to listen to the full interviews.
Additional Media Coverage: December 7, 2023: Baldy’s Puck Drop: Weekly Americans Newsletter by Team Owner, Matt Leaf, Volume 14. Click here to view the entire inaugural newsletter.