NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
Americans Huddle after their 7-5 win on Saturday night in Helena, Montana. (Photo Courtesy of Great Falls Americans Facebook)
HELENA, Mont., September 26, 2026 — The Great Falls Americans (3-1-0-1) held a 5-2 advantage after two periods in their first road trip of the season against their closest rivals, the Helena Bighorns (3-1-1-0) on Saturday night and hung on to defeat them, 7-5 inside Steed Arena.
The Americans offense was fired up to start their first road game against their rivals. Tennessee native Jordan Antar scored off a tip in rebound over Bighorns goaltender Liam Bowe 32 seconds into the opening period. Xander and Jase Troyer each picked up their third assist of the season. The visiting team was not done yet as Keifer Lundmark off a pass from Jacob Weber tacked on his third scoring drive of the season. Great Falls led 2-0 until the 11:48 mark when Lincoln Kearney scored near the goal with Cameron Kimmerly getting the assist to cut the deficit for Helena to 2-1. During the final four minutes, Jacob Weber accrued his second goal of the season on an unassisted score that put the Americans back in front by two scores (3-1) after twenty minutes of action. Both rivals combined for 19 shots-on-goal.
The Americans came out of the locker room hoping to maitain their momentum and they did just that scoring the first two goals during the first two minutes of the middle frame. Xander Troyer was awarded his second assist of the game (fourth overall) as his pass to Jase Troyer for the lamplighter was successful. The lead was stretchted to 5-1 ten seconds after Jase Troyer’s score when Reid Lezubski got the puck by the Helena netmider. Colton Bacon and Wyatt Rust, who both saw action for the Americans last season, helped set up the fifth goal. Helena’s Cameron Kimmerly registered his fourth goal of the season and first of the game less than a minute after the Great Falls score. Aiden Voller, one of five players from Missoula, Montana on the Bighorns roster, added his first career assist with Helena. Despite many attempts by both NA3HL squads, neither team was able to get the biscuit in the basket for the final 17 minutes of the stanza.
The 5-2 lead by the Americans lasted just 13 seconds into the third period. Austin Uecker took advantage of the Americans being in the sin bin and recorded his second score of the contest off a pass from Evan Scholl and Caden Feinstein. Scholl got his first assist with Helena after spending the 2025-26 season with the Sheridan (WY) Hawks and Feinstein received his sixth assist. The Bighorns continued to fight back and pulled to within a single goal (5-4). Cameron Kimmerly tacked on his second goal of the game off the stick of Cal Kellenberg with 16 minutes left in regulation. After assisting on two scoring plays in the first two periods, Xander Troyer found a way to light up the lamp with 12:14 to go to increase the lead to 6-4. Reid Lezubski made the assist. The Bighorns offense would not go away as they answered on a goal by Ty Schell less than a minute later. Caden Feinstein and Cameron Kimmerly each gathered their second assists in the first rivalry game of the year. Great Falls was able to get one more score and that was all they needed as they defeated the Helena Bighorns in their home arena for the first time since March 13, 2026 in the Frontier Divisional Semi-Finals. Parker Jusczak found Gordon Jennings for his first score of the 2026-27 season with 7:46 remaining.
The home team outshot the visitors in all three of the period to finish with 63. Great Falls attempted half of their 28 total shots in the final period.
The Americans ended their first road test by going 1-for-8 on the power play. Helena scored on three successful power play opportunities in the third perod in their failed comeback attempt.
Xander Troyer (1 goal, 2 assists) and goaltender JD Stephens (58 assists) led the Americans to their third win in five games to begin the season. Cameron Kimmerly scored two goals and dished out two assists for Helena.
JD Stephens survived his first encounter with the Bighorns and picked up his first road win in the net by swatting away 58 shots as the Colorado netminder improved to 3-1-0-1 after five games. Liam Bowe (3 saves) got the start for the Bighorns but Kayden Thalhuber (1-1-1-0) got his first regulation loss in his fourth appearance with Helena.
Both teams will face each other again on Friday, October 16th in Helena, Montana at 7:05PM (MST).
NOTES: According to the NA TV broadcast, Helena coaches Damon Hanson and Theo Campe were not in attendance at tonight’s game as they were attending a former player’s wedding. Bighorns Co-Owners Mike Green and Jed Snyder subbed in for them.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls will continue being road warriors as they will travel to Rapid City, South Dakota to challenge the Badlands Sabres on Friday and Saturday, October 2-3, 2026 with the puck dropping at 7:05PM (MST) live from the Roosevelt Park Ice Arena. The contest can be seen on the NA3HL’s official streaming service, NATV.
Meanwhile, the Bighorns will be in Gillette, Wyoming to challenge the Gillette Wild for a pair of games during the weekend of October 2-3.
For complete schedules/results, promotions, team stats, rosters and much more information, please go to our official website: www.greatfallsamericans.com