NOTE: A Special Thanks to Great Falls Americans Hockey Facebook page for providing the photo.
By Kevin Scott
| Box Score |
Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
RAPID CITY, S.D., February 22, 2025 — The Great Falls Americans (25-14-4-2), currently ranked #3 in the eight-team Frontier Division in the NA3HL, are 3-0 with one meeting remaining against the Rapid City, South Dakota based Badlands Sabres (23-15-4-3) this season.
Great Falls took the first two meetings at the Great Falls Ice Plex, 3-1 (game story) and 4-1 (game story) and on Friday, they met their South Dakota rivals at the Roosevelt Park Ice Arena where the Americans behind a two-goal effort from Aiden Kennedy sparked Great Falls to a 4-0 win (game story).
The visiting Great Falls Americans trailed 2-0 after two periods before their offense got going and scored four third period goals to lift the Americans past the #4 Badlands Sabres, 4-2 in their series finale at the Roosevelt Park Ice Arena in Rapid City, South Dakota on Saturday. Americans standout Ty O’Bey led the way with two goals.
Both squads opened the first period by taking nine shots as Sabres forward Keenan Howard added his second goal of the season midway through the stanza. Ryan Hipsag and Jaden Flor helped provide the first goal of the contest.
Ryan Jordan, one of twelve returners from the 2023-24 season, sailed the puck by Americans goalie Kaden Rhyder for the two-goal advantage 7:45 into the middle frame. Dawson Wirth and Zach Vockler provided the assistance for Badlands. The Sabres’ second scoring drive came while the Americans were down a man (penalty).
However, the Americans would not be shutout and scored four goals during a 16-minute span. Ty O’Bey scored two goals while John Lang, Sebe Perez, and Aiden Kennedy created two assists each. John Lang and Aiden Kennedy also put in lamplighters.
The Americans third period was the key to the game as they attempted half of their shots-on-goal (17) during that time to finish with 34. Badlands second period provided 15 of their 30 total shots but only one goal was successful.
Ty O’Bey’s two goals in the final frame occurred while the Sabres were in the penalty box, and they ended the game by going 2-for-4 on the power play. They had six minors resulting in 12 minutes spent off the ice. The Sabres went 1-for-3 thanks to Ryan Jordan’s second period tally. The host team finished with seven minor infractions.
Kaden Rhyder made 28 saves on Saturday after making 31 in Friday’s 4-0 shutout win over Badlands. The Pennsylvania goaltender is now 21-10-2-0 after earning four season victories when facing the Sabres offense this year. Lochlin Jackson (7-5-2-2) got the start for Brooks Mitzel’s squad and was flawless the first two periods before giving up the goals in the final period.
NEXT CONTEST: There is just two weeks remaining in the 2024-25 NA3HL junior hockey season and next weekend (February 28 – March 1) the Great Falls American have a bye. They will next be in action on Friday, March 7th when they make their final road trip to Butte, Montana to challenge the Butte Irish at 7:30PM (MST) followed by their last home date against the Irish on Saturday, March 8 with the puck dropping at 7:05PM (MST). Both games can be seen live on NAHLTV, the NA3HL’s official streaming service. This will be Billett Family Appreciation Night where the host families will be greeted on the ice during one of the intermissions with their player(s) they host.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns (38-3-1-1) went 2-0 this weekend against their rivals, the #5 Bozeman Ice Dogs (24-17-1-1). After winning on Friday 7-1, the Bighorns needed three goals in the first and third periods to lift them to another victory. Hunter Coulombe scored two goals, and one assist to lead the Bighorns to a 6-1 win on Saturday. Finn Theriault, Ty Schell, Maddux Hale, and Marcus Fritel also scored for the host squad. Helena went 2-for-7 on the power play but Bozeman failed on their nine power play chances. Devin Bruns scored the lone goal in the first period for the Ice Dogs. Helena’s Branson Appelman was excellent in the net, stopping 29 of 30 shots to improve his record to 12-1-0-0. Brett DeVincent (15-10-0-0) was kept busy by the Bighorns offense as he collected 53 saves (Box Score).
Bobby Anselmo’s three goals (hat trick) paced the #6 Butte Irish (19-22-1-3) to a 7-4 road victory over the #7 Gillette (WY) Wild (18-26-1-0) in Gillette, Wyoming on Saturday night. Butte also won 4-3 on Friday against the Wild. In addition to Anselmo’s goals, Kazen Stineff, Rocco Watson, Loghan Weber, and Easton Langemo also lit up the lamp. Gillette received two goals from Dante Hunziker in the first and second periods and Rocco Corl and Riley Schmidt answered in the third period. Five of Helena’s goals came via the power play. Logan Hunter (3-4-0-1) accounted for 39 saves as the netminder for the Irish. Austin Trieber and Wylen Cambensy both saw action in the goal for the Wild. Trieber is now 5-10-0-0 on the year as he compiled 17 saves in 51 minutes of action (Box Score).
The #2 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (27-13-2-1) allowed one goal from their opponent, the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (1-41-1-0) as they led 3-1 after two periods and finished with a 6-1 victory in Cody, Wyoming. Vincent Leaf scored twice while Vlad Zubriichuk, Daniel Shelden, Cody Hogan, and Josh Serino accounted for the rest of the goals for the Hawks. Yellowstone’s Max Goulden prevented the shutout with his second period score. TJ Wonnacott (22 saves) is now 10-3-2-1 in 16 appearances with Sheridan. Chase Ebeyer made 51 saves on Saturday and is currently 6-11-0-0 overall after starting the season with the Binghamton Buzz and is currently 0-8-0-0 with the Quake (Box Score).
NOTES: Goaltender Kaden Rhyder and forward Ty O’Bey were selected earlier this month to represent the Great Falls Americans at the NA3HL’s annual Top Prospects Tournament with other selected players from the Frontier Division on Team Blue that took place on Monday and Tuesday (February 17-18) at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. Ty O’Bey played but did not accumulate any goals or assists in either game. Kaden Rhyder saw action in both games as Team Blue went 1-1 with Monday’s 10-3 setback to Team Yellow where he played 29 minutes and stopped 15 of 20 shots. During Tuesday’s finale against Team White, he made nine saves and allowed one goal in a 7-4 Team Blue victory.
The Americans have been working with the Eagle Mount Therapeutic Recreation Center athletes on sled hockey throughout this season and they will be back on the ice with them for the next several weeks.
Read about all the Americans hockey action in print through the Great Falls Gazette, a newspaper that is published on Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday each week with game recaps written by Kevin Scott, the Great Falls Americans Public Relations/Media Coordinator. Click here for more information on how to subscribe.
Season Two of the “Americans Podcast with Jim Quick” premiered on September 5, 2024, with his first guest of the season, Cole Molaski, a forward from Suamico, Wisconsin, who is in his first season with Great Falls. Other players featured this season include Ty O’Bey, Easton and Aiden Kennedy, Sebe Perez, Mercer Twomey, Zac Orwig, Cal Laggis and Blayne Jusczak. Click here to learn more about Blayne Jusczak on the official podcast of the Great Falls Americans. Each podcast will feature one American player as we get to know the team this season. Jim completed 13 episodes during his first season. Fans can listen to the full podcasts from Seasons One and Two by clicking here.
560AM KMON Weekly Radio Interview with Coach Greg Sears: Join KMON Radio Sports Director “Baker Bob” McNamee every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings during the 2024-25 season with Great Falls Americans Head Coach and General Manager, Greg Sears as he talks about the Americans. The Weekly Radio interview on 560AM KMON in Great Falls can be heard locally every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings during the Hourly Sports Report (6:15AM (MST), 7:15AM (MST), and 8:15AM (MST) live. Click here to listen to the current and previous radio interviews.
AMERICANS PHOTOGRAPHER: Look for game photos from all of the home games from Michael Noel, the Americans Official Photographer by clicking here.
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).
NA3HL MOBILE APP: If you haven’t already, download the NA3HL App available at the App Store and Google Play. Fans can 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).
2024-25 PHOTOS: Check out all the Americans photos throughout the season including some taken by Americans photographer, Michael Noel and Gentle Thug Media’s Tim Ljunggren. Click here to view all the photos from the 2024-25 season.
AMERICANS TEAM STORE: 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. AMERICANS GAME TICKETS ONLINE: 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.
AMERICANS TEAM STORE: 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. AMERICANS GAME TICKETS ONLINE: 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: There is just two weeks remaining in the 2024-25 NA3HL junior hockey season and next weekend (February 28 – March 1) the Great Falls American have a bye. They will next be in action on Friday, March 7th when they make their final road trip to Butte, Montana to challenge the Butte Irish at 7:30PM (MST) followed by their last home date against the Irish on Saturday, March 8 with the puck dropping at 7:05PM (MST). Both games can be seen live on NAHLTV, the NA3HL’s official streaming service. This will be Billett Family Appreciation Night where the host families will be greeted on the ice during one of the intermissions with their player(s) they host.
P. Gibson’s Sports Grill and Casino (1600 Fox Farm Road) 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.
NAHLTV 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.
Click here for the 2024-25 Great Falls Americans schedule and results.