NOTE: A Special Thanks to Great Falls Americans Facebook for providing the photo.
By Kevin Scott
RAPID CITY, S. Dak., October 2, 2026 — The Great Falls Americans (4-1-0-1) defeated the Badlands (SD) Sabres (3-2-1-0), 6-4 for their second road win of the season and fourth overall during Friday’s NA3HL action from the Roosevelt Park Ice Arena in Rapid City, South Dakota. The visiting Montana team led 5-3 after two periods.
The Americans team poses in front of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. (Photo Courtesy of GF Americans Facebook)
Great Falls was able to add one scoring drive in the first twenty minutes for the early lead. Jacob Weber buried the puck in the net with 9:24 remaining with assistance from Riley Hattan and Paxon Sacre. The Americans and Sabres combined for 22 shots-on-goal.
After the first intermission, both club combined to score seven goals in the middle period. Great Falls led 5-3 thanks to goals by four different players including Jase Troyer, Reid Lezubski, Jordan Antar and Xander Troyer. Gordon Jennings and Jase Troyer assisted on the two scoring players while Austin Gibson, Keifer Lundmark, and Reid Lezubski each picked up an assist for Great Falls. Badlands defenseman Maddox Harn scored once and assisted on another as the Sabres produced three goals after not being able to find the net in the first period. Jackson Hepper and Peyton Kostad provided the final two goals for the host team during the final three minutes. The assists went to Dayton Niedert (2), Mason Harn, Jakob Smith and Mattthew Cordis) from the 2025-26 squad. Parker Kelly replaced Cooper Stevens in the net for the Sabres. Badlands offense provide 25 shots while Great Falls was held to 15.
Great Falls replaced their starting goaltender, JD Stephens to begin the third and final frame. Jaxon Kruzich, from Ramsey, Montana, saw his first action in the net for the Americans in his first season.
Each squad provided one goal apiece in the final period. The Sabres pulled to within one goal as Patrick Gosselin tacked on his first goal of the night off a pass from Nicklas Bacskai and Gage Behrens with 3:51 left. Later in the period, Badlands pulled their goaltender to add another skater on the ice but Xander Troyer answered with his second goal of the game in an empty net with 29 seconds to play to help the Americans secure their fourth win in six games.
Great Falls attempted 29 of their 35 total shots in the first two periods while the Sabres offense acquired 25 of their 42 in the middle stanza.
Jase Troyer and Jordan Antar each added goals in the second period while the home team was in the sin bin. The Americans went 2-for-3 on the power play. Badlands was successful on one of their five power play chances as Jackson Hepper’s second period lamplighter occurred with the Americans down a man (penalty).
Xander Troyer scored two goals and dished out one assist and Jace Troyer added one score and had two assists to lead head coach Greg Sears’ team. Maddox Harn tacked on a goal and assisted on one scoring drive and Dayton Niedert gathered two helpers for head coach Brooks Mitzel’s South Dakota squad.
JD Stephens got his fourth win (4-1-0-1) while stopping 30 shots in two periods. Jaxon Kruzich replaced Stephens in the final period and prevented eight of nine shots from going by him. Cooper Stevens got the start for Badlands making 20 saves in 32 minutes but Parker Kelly, who spent time last season with the Sabres, saw his record drop to 1-2-0-0. The Crookston, Minnesota native redirected all ten shots he faced on the night.
For at least one night, the Americans (4-1-0-1) are now in first place in the Frontier Division standings with the Helena Bighorns (4-1-1-0) hot on their heels.
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans will stay in Rapid City, South Dakota on Friday night and play the Badlands Sabres again starting at 7:05PM (MST) from the Roosevelt Park Ice Arena. The contest can be seen on the NA3HL’s official streaming service, NATV.
For complete schedules/results, promotions, team stats, rosters and much more information, please go to our official website: www.greatfallsamericans.com