By Kevin Scott
| Box Score |
Score Sheet | League Scoreboard | Americans Team Statistics |
GREAT FALLS, Mont., October 21, 2023 — The Great Falls Americans fans got their chance to see the Butte Irish in action on Saturday evening as the Americans played host to the team (formerly known as the Butte Cobras).
The Americans celebrated Borries Italian Supper Club as the game sponsor on Saturday.
Great Falls (7-6-0-0) saw their first action against the Irish (3-7-0-0) on Friday (October 20) when they made the trip to Butte, Montana. Sam Duehlmeier, a returner from last season’s squad, scored his first two goals of the season to help the Americans get the best of the Irish in a 5-3 victory. Patrick Crooks scored two of the three goals for the Butte Irish, currently ranked seventh in the NA3HL Frontier Division. Americans netminder Kaden Ryhder (4-1-0-0), who earlier this week was named the Frontier Division Star of the Week (ending October 15th), won his fourth game as an American by making 50 saves. His counterpart, Keegan Strong (1-3-0-0) amassed 37 saves.
Kaden Ryhder (4-1-0-0), the Frontier Division Star of the Week that ended on October 15th, sealed his fourth win in six games by producing 50 saves for the Americans. Keegan Strong (1-3-0-0) suffered his third loss in four outings for Butte. The Alaska netminder finished with 37 saves despite giving up five goals (game story).
The Americans were looking for the sweep against Butte on Saturday.
The #7 Butte Irish scored three goals in the middle period to earn the mild upset over the #4 Great Falls Americans, 6-3 during Saturday’s NA3HL junior hockey action at the Great Falls Ice Plex. This was Butte’s first contest this season in Great Falls.
The Americans and Irish each traded two goals before the first intermission. Masen Kerr, a first-year player from Wisconsin, gave the home team the early lead with Jacob James and Joesph Buschmann setting up the tally six minutes into the contest. The lead lasted two minutes and then then Butte’s Corbin Breen accumulated his first scoring drive as Kazden Stineff and Weston Villers collected the assists. Aaron Leaf created his second goal of the year off the stick of Ty Brander to give the home team back the lead. The Irish made sure they would not be trailing after the first period as Butte scored with 16 seconds remaining. The Americans and Irish combined for 37 shots-on-goal.
During a nine-minute span in the middle period, the Butte Irish racked up three goals to give the visitors a commanding 5-2 lead. After the third score by Butte’s Noah Williamson, Great Falls inserted backup goaltender Adler Hoagland and took out starter Ryan Stowe. Aiden Birk and Sebaquien Chuld added the assists.
The Irish added one more lamplighter in the third for their third win of the season. Towards the end of the period, Blake Komrofske tallied his fourth goal and cut the deficit to 6-3 with two minutes remaining.
Great Falls took 21 shots in the first and third periods for a game total of 49. Butte attempted 30 of their 43 shots before the second intermission.
Both Montana teams combined for ten infractions that resulted in 20 minutes of penalty time.
Nicholas Ulyanov picked up the win and made 46 saves in 60 minutes. The Americans utilized two netminders with Ryan Stowe getting the start and playing 33 minutes. He had 14 saves before being replaced by Adler Hoagland who finished with 23 saves.
NOTES: This week, another episode of the “Americans Podcast with Jim Quick” was completed with his guest being defenseman Sam Duehlmeier. Quick has done four podcasts this year featuring the history of the Americans, interviews with former American and now Associate Coach, Alex Leaf and current player, Phil Harrell. Fans can listen to the full podcasts by clicking here.
Great Falls Team Owner, Matt Leaf has information about the sponsors, a player profile (Spencer Schipferling), GF Americans booster club information and our sponsor (Borrie’s Italian Supper Club) for Saturday’s home game (October 21st) against Butte and more in this week’s “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletter. Click here to view all the weekly “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletters.
“THINK PINK FOR THE GIRLS” on October 29th: When the Great Falls Americans take on the Bozeman Ice Dogs on Sunday, October 29th at 2:00PM (MST) at the Great Falls Ice Plex, the hockey team wants you to join them for a fun day of hockey and friendship as they partner with “Think Pink for the Girls” to raise awareness and funding for those impacted by breast cancer. Great Falls will donate $1.00 for every ticket sold and City Motor Company, one of the Americans fine sponsors this season, will match the donation.
The Americans have a new online team store this season with a variety of items to buy. Click here to buy online or purchase your Americans souvenirs at any of the home games.
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 #1 Helena Bighorns (12-0-0-0) continued their winning ways by a solid effort from Braden Cunningham who produced four goals in a 7-3 decision over the #3 Bozeman Ice Dogs (7-4-0-0) at Steed Arena in Helena, Montana on Saturday. The Ice Dogs saw goals scored by Mason Czarnecki, Kody Wallenberg, and Chris Porciuncula. Helena netminder Alex Lamont improved his record to 4-0-0-0 by swatting away 17 shots. Isaac Weatherford (0-1-0-0) from Bozeman lost for the first time this season. Matthew Ryynanen (34 saves) also saw time in the net for Bozeman (Box Score).
The #2 Gillette (WY) Wild won their tenth game (10-1-0-1) by defeating the #5 Badlands (SD) Sabres (4-5-1-2), 5-1. The Wild scored twice in the first and second periods with goals by Adam Severson, Tay Kurpius, Roddick Simons, Issac Young and Todd Powassin. Badlands final scored to prevent the shutout with four minutes remaining in regulation. Kyyan Jahner scored with assists by Carter Kilen and Rylan Bechtel. Cole Wheaton won his fifth game (5-1-0-1) and added 24 saves to his season total of 202. Hunter Oger of Badlands saw his record fall to 0-3-0-1 but not before swatting away 35 shots (Box Score).
The #6 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (4-6-1-1) got a scare and needed overtime to dispatch the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-11-1-0), who remained winless despite a great effort. Sheridan’s Tanner Freed and Yellowstone’s Dillon Jeffords scored in regulation to set up the five-minute overtime. Elijah White (Sheridan) scored the game-winning tally. A 28-save performance gave Sherdan’s Zach Broxterman won is second win (2-4-1-1). John Hughes (Yellowstone) saw his record drop to 0-4-1-0 despite redirecting 42 shots (Box Score).
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls returns to action for a single contest on Sunday, October 29th when the Bozeman Ice Dogs return to the Electric City for a 2:00PM (MST) showdown at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
Fans can watch all the NA3HL contests (including the Great Falls Americans) on the NA3HL’s official streaming service, NAHLTV. To learn more about how to view any of the Americans games, please click here.
Gibson’s Sports Grill and Casino (1600 Fox Farm Road) is where the Americans players and fans can gather after every Friday and Saturday home games this season for their post-game dinner.
Click here for the 2023-24 Great Falls Americans schedule and results.