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BALDY’S PUCK DROP Weekly E-Newsletter (September – August) |
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Baldy’s Puck Drop” Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Volume 107: August 20, 2026
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: This time of the year is a special time for us hockey folks. The excitement and anticipation for the start of the new season is ramped up as we welcome returning and new players to the start of what is planned to be a very successful season. Of course, our expectations are high as our staff feels they have skilled hockey players who are quality human beings arriving in Great Falls this week and who have put their trust in our program. The unknown is how quickly these talented young men can gel as a team, buy on to the organizational, team and community culture we have worked so hard to build and their willingness to put in the work to compete at a high level. The first step is 10:00 AM next Monday and I am pretty sure I can speak on behalf of our staff and say we can’t wait!
Most of the players are arriving during this week and getting settled into their billet homes and acclimated to the Great Falls area. A huge thank you goes out to our billet families for opening their homes and welcoming these players to the Americans’ family. We can’t do this without them, and I sense they share the same anticipation level for the start of the season.
The weekend starts with our 4th Annual Cornhole Extravaganza this Saturday at the Beacon IceHouse. It is always a great time for our players to get to know each other before an intense week of camp while their
families and our fans also interact in a fun and informal atmosphere. This year, the Melissa Lynn Band will be taking the stage at 6:00 PM and will help us closeout our competition with live music. The Cornhole Tournament starts at 1:00 PM and all two person teams are encouraged to register before so we can quickly establish the schedule. Register by clicking on the QR code to the right.
Our Main Camp will officially start on Monday with two practice sessions each day and a bevy of off-ice training including classroom, physical activities and some fun. All our players will be in attendance plus a few other players who are on our radar for the future. The camp week culminates with our Annual Blue-White Game at 7:00 PM on Saturday the 29th which is free to the public.
I would like to recognize those partners who have been renewed for the coming season, since the last edition, they are; Benski Towing and Recovery, Comparion Insurance-Todd Neighbor, Kubota-Johnson Distributing, Triple Truck Repair, Westgate Repair Inc and our newest partner Rowdy Mood Hat Company. The next few weeks will be busy as we finalize our promotional schedule and get all our materials produced and ready to go.
Hard to believe it is only 22 days until our Toyota Opening Night versus the Yellowstone Quake followed by our annual Tailgate Party with the band “After Five” on Saturday. We are planning a special Magnet Schedule give-away – presented by Slabtek and AJ Concrete – for those in attendance and we are excited to show off some new merchandise beer specials and activations. The Montana Air National Guard “Chuck-A-Puck” is back for its second season with special prizes awarded from Teriyaki Madness, Play it Again Sports, Fire Pizza and The Sip-n-Dip Lounge during each home game. Our “Lucky Program” continues with prizes given out to fans with specially signed programs from Scheel’s, Howard’s Pizza and Annie’s Taphouse. Some exciting new merchandise options include T’s, Hoodies and Hats as well as limited edition specialty items during each of our themed weekends. There is a lot to like about the Great Falls Americans 2026-27 season. Scan the QR Code to purchase your tickets and don’t miss out on any of the live action this season.
Although there is always a chance for some late add-ons, our roster for the start of the season is pretty much set and we want to welcome the following ten returning players plus and an additional 17 new players to our family for the 2026-27 season (previously announced highlighted):
| Player | Position | Year | Hometown | 2025-26 Team |
| Jarret Averett | Forward/Def | 2007 | Sidney, MT | Great Falls Americans |
| Colton Bacon | Forward | 2008 | Billings, MT | Great Falls Americans |
| Zach Bohan | Goalkeeper | 2008 | Rochester, MN | Rochester Century HS |
| Logan Knowles | Defenseman | 2009 | Spokane, WA | Spokane Jr. Chiefs 18U AA |
| Ayecan Mcleslie | Forward | 2008 | Spokane, WA | Spokane Jr. Chiefs 18U AA |
| Jarrett Parker | Forward | 2007 | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines Capitals 18U AAA |
| Jacob Piccioni | Forward | 2008 | Billings, MT | Team Wyoming 18U AAA |
| Paxon Sacre | Forward | 2008 | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines Capitals 18U AAA |
| Shaun Lerner | Forward | 2007 | Calgary, ALB | Bow River Bruins U21 |
| Isaac Algyer | Defenseman | 2007 | Rochester, MN | Rochester Century HS |
| John Gue | Defenseman | 2009 | Peyton, CO | Wilkes Barre/Scranton Knights |
| Jaxon Kruzich | Goalkeeper | 2008 | Ramsey, MT | Billings HS |
| Reid Lezubski | Forward | 2008 | Chestermere, ALB | Great Falls Americans |
| Riley Hattan | Forward | 2008 | Plainville, MI | Great Falls Americans |
| Jace Lane | Defenseman | 2009 | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna HS |
| Wilson Giles | Forward | 2007 | Fairfield, MT | Great Falls HS |
| Matthew DiPalma | Forward | 2008 | Meridian, ID | Idaho Jr. Steelheads 18U |
| Emanual Brogin | Defenseman | 2008 | Vancouver, BC | Thunder Huskies 18U |
| Jordan Antar | Forward | 2008 | Juliet, TN | Nashville Jr. Predators 18U |
| Kiefer Lundmark | Forward | 2007 | Detroit Lakes, MN | Great Falls Americans |
| Gordon Jennings | Defenseman | 2007 | Anchorage, AK | Great Falls Americans |
| Gunnar Bergo | Goalkeeper | 2007 | Anchorage, AK | Great Falls Americans |
| Keifer Lundmark | Forward | 2006 | Detroit Lakes, MN | Great Falls Americans |
| Wyatt Rust | Defenseman | 2007 | Anchorage, AK | Great Falls Americans |
| Jacob Weber | Forward | 2008 | North Pole, AK | GF Americans/Yellowstone Quake |
| Austin Gibson | Defenseman | 2007 | Rochester, MN | North Iowa Bulls |
| Cooper Palazzolo | Forward | 2007 | St. Louis, MO | St. Louis Jr. Blues |
Here are the upcoming dates to add to your calendar:
- August 22nd – 4th Annual Cornhole Beacon IceHouse. Live music from the Melissa Lynn Band at 6:00 PM. Cornhole starts at 1:00 PM.
- August 24th -28th – Great Falls Americans Main Camp
- August 29th – 4th Annual GFA Blue-White Game 7:05 PM.
- September 11th – Toyota Home and Season Opener versus Yellowstone Quake. Magnet Schedule Give-Away presented by Slabtek (Concrete Lifting) and AJ Concrete. 7:05 PM Puck Drop.
- September 12th – Home game versus Gillette 4th Annual Tailgate Party Featuring the Live Band “After Five” starting at 5:00 PM. Puck drop at 7:05 PM.
- September 18th – Home game versus Butte Irish presented by Northwestern Energy. 7:05 PM Puck Drop.
- September 19th – Home game versus Sheridan Puck drop at 7:05 PM.
- September 25th – Come meet the Americans at OKTOBERFEST at Annies Taphouse and Homestead 1909. 5:00-10:00 PM.
- September 26th – Away game at Helena. 7:05 PM with Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- October 23rd-24th – “Think Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend-Presented by Benefis Health-Sletten Cancer Institute
- November 6th-7th 2026 – Military Appreciation Weekend-Presented by 1st Liberty Federal Credit Union
- December 12th – 2nd Annual Russell Country Federal Credit Union “Teddy Bear Toss”.
- December 20th-22nd – NA3HL Showcase, Blaine,
- January 8th and 15th – Rodeo/Rancher Appreciation.
- February 12th and 13th – Local Business Appreciation presented by Comparion Insurance- Todd Neighbor and Great Falls Chamber of Commerce.
- March 12th – Home game versus Badlands Sabres – Billet Appreciation presented by Toyota.
- March 13th = Home game versus Bozeman – Fan Appreciation presented by Toyota.
Thank you to our corporate partners for their continued support.
Eagle’s Nest Level
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Diamond Level
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Platinum Level
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Gold, Silver and Bronze Level Partners (* new this season)
| 3D International Restaurant & Lounge* | AJ Concrete* | All-State Signs |
| Annie’s Taphouse | Beacon Ice House | Benski Towing & Recovery |
| Big Sky Laboratory | Bravera Bank | Cascade Electric |
| Central Avenue Meats | Central MT Lock & Safe | Century Gaming |
| Comparion Insturance- Todd Neighbor | Craftmaster Cabinets | Coca-Cola |
| Croxford Funeral Home | Eagle Mount Therapeutic Recreation | Ferrin’s Furniture |
| Fire Pizza | Floors & More Abbey Carpets | Golden Triangle Graphics* |
| Great Falls Clinics | Hampton Inn & Suites | Hoglund’s Work and Western Wear |
| Homestead 1909* | Jersey Mike’s | Kubota-Johnson Distributing |
| Life in Bloom Floral & Gift Boutique | Mountain Title Company | Murphy Law |
| Open Door Wellness | Play It Again Sports | Rainbow Senior Living* |
| Scheels | She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique | Sip-N-Dip Lounge |
| Slabtek* (Concrete Lifting) | Sletten Construction* | Stifel l Finnicum Financial Group |
| TDS Fiber | Visit Great Falls | Voices of Hope |
| Westgate Repair Inc. |
Thank you for being a part of our hockey family!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com