GF AMERICANS: BALDY’S PUCK DROP WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER FROM MATT LEAF (VOLUME 111)

BALDY’S PUCK DROP Weekly E-Newsletter (September – August)

Baldy’s Puck Drop” Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf

Volume 111: September 17, 2026

PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf

Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: The season is underway and if we learn anything, it is that the Frontier Division is going to be very competitive this season. Of the eight games played, seven of the results were within two goals (not counting our empty net goal Friday) and three of the four games on Saturday went into overtime. That is good for the game and for the league as not all divisions will have that luxury. Expect most of our games to be as competitive as they were this past weekend, which is also ideal for development. I am confident our players and staff are up to the challenge.

The Americans started the season with a 3-0 win over Yellowstone. Xander Troyer started the scoring in the 1^st period with Reid Lezubski adding a goal in the second period. Xander Troyer added an empty net goal for the final score while JD Stephens made his first Junior Hockey start in goal and collected 29 saves for the shutout. A very special thank you goes out to the Great Falls Police Department Color Guard for presenting the colors prior to the game and for our special 9/11 remembrance. We welcomed first responders from Great Falls Fire and Police Departments; Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention and long-time hockey advocate Mike McIntosh and Police Officer Justus and former Americans Goaltender and Senior Police Officer Hattan.

Saturday started with our 4^th Annual Tailgate Party prior to the game. The weather held off enough for our fans to enjoy some food provided by the Booster Club and some live music from the band “After Five”. The Americans fell 3-2 in a shootout to Gillette after firing 59 shots on goal and running into a hot goaltender. Paxon Sacre and Jarrett Parker collected their first goals for the Americans while Austin Gibson added two assists on the weekend and JD Stephens collected another 40 saves. Although we would love to have held onto the 2-1 lead in the 3^rd period, the team competed hard all weekend and we learned a lot about our young team while they got a taste of what their season will be like. Overall, the staff is happy with the collection of skilled players we have and look forward to building a championship caliber team.

The good news is our jerseys are on the way, they were released from customs late last week, I paid the necessary Tariffs on Tuesday morning, and they are scheduled to arrive later this morning. Let’s keep our fingers crossed – as much as our players love to wear the specialty jerseys, there is also nothing quite like starting a season with your new jerseys and the amount of pride that takes place for wearing the team colors for the first time. The Americans are home for two more games this weekend – hosting Butte on Friday Night- Presented by Northwestern Energy while Saturday will have Sheridan coming to town and the return of the Gils Point S Tire & Auto tricycle races.

The countdown to the Toyota Opening Night through DASH was a huge success. It was a fun activation with several different unique packages, and we very much appreciate all of those who participated. Here is a full list of the winners of each package.

Day 10 – A Signed and Framed Photo with you and your favorite Americans player – Alyssa Blair

Day 9 – A bench Experience (Pre-game warm-ups) for a designated home game – Robin Leaf

Day 8 – “Brunch for Two” with your favorite player at the world-famous Sip-n-Dip Lounge – Kylie McCullough

Day 7 – Your very own personalized and customized Americans’ hoodie – one of a kind – John Gue

Day 6 – The Americans’ “First Goal Puck” signed by the player scoring the season’s first goal – Donovan Whitfield

Day 5 – A specialty themed T-Shirt Collection – Toni Roope-Quick

Day 4 – Americans’ Glassware collection – Shawna Lane

Day 3 – A specialty themed Hat Collection – Shawna Lane

Day 2 – A VIP experience for you and three of your friends for a designated home game – Jody DiPalma

Day 1- An Americans ‘game jersey signed by the opening night Americans’ roster – Mike McLeslie

We are welcoming two new players to our team this week. They are:

Player	Position	Year	Hometown	2025-26 Team
Parker Jusczak	Defenseman	2007	North Pole, AK	Belle Tire 18 AAA
Kaleb Wood	Goalkeeper	2008	Salt Lake City, UT	Wasatch Renegades 18 AAA

 

Player Profile –  #17 Austin Gibson (Rochester, MN) 6’3” 195 lbs. DEF– Shoots Left DOB 05/10/2007

Favorite Team: Minnesota Wild Favorite Player: Quinn Hughes

Favorite Movie: Step Brothers Actor/Actress: Will Ferrell

Favorite Food: Tater Tot Casserol Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Chipotle Bowl or Jimmy Johns

If you were an animal: Turtle – I would be free to do my own thing.

Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Travis Scott

Music Guaranteed to get you hyped: House Music

Person stuck with on a deserted Island: Gordy Jennings

Hobbies other than Hockey: Golf

Three People you would invite to Dinner: Robby Berger, Tiger Woods, Anthony Edwards

College/University of Choice: Jamestown or Augustana University

Like Most About Great Falls: Taco Tuesdays at Cafe Rio and the scenery

How would you define a successful season: Playing in the Fraser Cup Finals 

If you still need to purchase your season Montana Air National Guard Chuck-a-Pucks at a discounted rate, scan the QR code to the left and get into the action. 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. You can purchase your pucks at a discounted rate for the season in advance through DASH – simply choose the number of pucks (1-2-3 or 5) you would like to “chuck” and stop by the merchandise table to pick them up. The season chuck-a-pucks can be purchased until the end of September.

Here are the upcoming and special dates to add to your calendar:

• September 18^th – Home game versus Butte Irish presented by Northwestern Energy. 7:05 PM Puck Drop.
• September 19^th – Home game versus Sheridan Hawks. Puck drop at 7:05 PM. Return of the Point S Tire & Auto Tricycle Races.
• September 25^th – Come meet the Americans at OKTOBERFEST at Annies Taphouse and Homestead 1909. 5:00-10:00 PM.
• September 26^th – Away game at Helena. 7:05 PM with Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
• October 2^nd – OKTOBERFEST at Malmstrom AFB. 4:00 PM-8:00 PM
• October 2^nd-3^rd – Away games at Badlands. 7:00 PM with Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
• October 9^th – Away game at Butte. 7:30 PM with Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
• October 10^th – Home Games versus Butte – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana
• October 16th – Away game at Helena 7:05 PM with Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
• October 17^th – Home Game versus Bozeman presented by Toyota. 7:05 PM
• October 23^rd-24^th – “Think Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend-Presented by Benefis Health-Sletten Cancer Institute
• November 6^th-7^th 2026 – Military Appreciation Weekend-Presented by 1^st Liberty Federal Credit Union
• December 12^th – 2^nd Annual Russell Country Federal Credit Union “Teddy Bear Toss”.
• December 20^th-22^nd – NA3HL Showcase, Blaine, MN.
• January 8^th and 15^th – Rodeo/Rancher Appreciation. 
• February 12^th and 13^th – Local Business Appreciation presented by Comparion Insurance- Todd Neighbor and Great Falls Chamber of Commerce.
• March 12^th – Home game versus Badlands Sabres – Billet Appreciation presented by Toyota.
• March 13^th – Home game versus Bozeman – Fan Appreciation presented by Toyota.

Thank you to our corporate partners for their continued support.

Eagle’s Nest Level

 

Diamond Level

 

Platinum Level

 

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	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