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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 113: October 1, 2026
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: Week three is in the books and the Americans came away with a hard fought 7-5 win in Helena last Saturday night. Seven different players lit the lamp with Xander Troyer adding two assists. The beauty of a win like this is to not only come away with the victory, but then still have several areas where improvement can be made and there are plenty of things to continue to work on. I know you have heard me say this before – you don’t win or lose a championship in September – but you can use the experience to build the foundation for a successful season. We are ahead of where we were at this point last season with plenty of work needed to be at the level we expect.
With the win, Jase Troyer earned 1st Star of the Week for the Frontier Division as he chipped in a goal and an assist while being critical to some special team plays throughout the game. Jase’s play stabilized our young team when Helen was rallying like they always do. Congrats to Jase on our first of what we hope to be many league honors throughout the season.
And, with the win, the Americans enter this weekend in a four-way tie for first place in the division with 7 points and two more teams just one point behind. Our
opponent this weekend, the Badlands Sabres – are part of this logjam at the top and are a well-coached team that has been in the playoffs the past two seasons. The first overnight road trip of the season is always an important one as it is a chance for our team to bond further and spend some quality time together on and off the bus. As we have done in the past, the team will head out after an early practice on Thursday morning to get a head start on the 9-hour bus ride. You can catch all the action for both games at our Official Watch party at Buffalo Wild Wings with both games starting at 7:00 PM.
One more item to address from Saturday night. For those who may have been watching the live stream from Helena, there were some things that were mentioned at the end of the game that were simply not true. Our players did not give the Helena fans the middle finger as was alleged – they were performing the upside down “Hook-em Horns” sign that has created some uproar in the college ranks concerning the University of Texas. The last several years, our players have had a love-hate relationship with the Helena fans. They have been called unmentionable things, been shown signs with phrases that I cannot repeat in print, and our own fans have oftentimes been involved in incidents where their safety has been in question. I don’t feel we need to debate right from wrong and the merits of sportsmanship – but I will say we have now challenged our players to hold themselves to a higher standard and strive to make winning or losing with class a staple of our culture. In essence, act like we have been there before which has been the case for each of the last three seasons. I will also add, though, that watching the replay of the game it has reminded me of how fortunate we are for the professionalism our broadcast team of Ryan Siders and JD Pearson brings to the livestream of our home games.
I want to take this opportunity to address the tragedy our team has faced this past week. We consider ourselves a family, and when members of our family are impacted by the loss of a loved one, it impacts all of us. Volunteer Assistant Coach and billet host Nathan Bring, along with his partner, Heaven Mullins, unexpectedly lost a family member Sunday evening following a difficult weekend. Tanner Rust loved hockey and played for Great Falls Amateur Hockey through high school and was close with a few of the local players on our current team.
I am not going to pretend to know exactly what to say or what we can do to best support Nathan, Heaven, and their family. What I do know is that our Americans’ family cares deeply about Coach Bring and Heaven, and our thoughts and prayers have been with them and their family throughout this week. We have worked with our Life Coach, Shawn Hayes, to make sure he was available to our entire team throughout the week. I have personally communicated with him multiple times as we continue to work together to address concerns and support our players and staff. In addition, the Vinnie Marroni Miracle Assist Foundation (https://miracleassist.org) is a partner of the Americans that promotes awareness of mental health issues and removing social and economic barriers to treatment for America’s Junior Hockey players and other young people.
Times like these remind us how delicate life can be. If we know someone who is struggling and needs assistance, the 988 Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7, and our partners at Voices of Hope are also there to listen, support, and help. Let’s continue to work together to support mental health initiatives and, most importantly, be willing to have difficult conversations with the people we love. Sometimes simply being willing to listen and being there for someone can make all the difference.
Our thoughts remain with Nathan, Heaven, the Rust family and the entire hockey community during this difficult time.
Now is the time for fans to pick up some special items from our online store. First up is the chance to order your custom jersey (home or away). Choose your size, name and number for either or both jerseys and an order will be placed in mid-October for delivery by the end of November. The Deadline to place your order is October 11th. Scan the QR code to order your jersey.
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I am pleased to welcome our newest partner The Montana Club. They have joined our team of Chuck-a-Puck Prize partners and will be offering a $25 gift card for whoever chucks their pucks closest to their target during the 2nd intermission of all home games. Welcome aboard and our fans appreciate another chance to win an amazing prize at each of our home games.
We are also offering an opportunity to pre-order your special edition “Think Pink” merchandise so you have it to wear during our “Think Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend on October 23rd and 24th. Pre-order your T-Shirt or Hoodie now and you’ll have it in your hands for the special weekend. We will also have limited edition “Think Pink” Beanies, Rowdy Mood Hats and Tumblers available that weekend, as well.
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A quick alumni update for you. Cooper Clouse picked up right where he left off as he chipped in a goal and three assists over the weekend as his Hope College ACHA DI squad opened their season with 5-2 and 7-1 wins.
Player Profile – #10 Jordan Antar (Mount Juliet, TN) 5’10” 190 lbs. FOR– Shoots Left DOB 05/25/2008
Favorite Team: New York Rangers Favorite Player: Chris Kreider
Favorite Movie: Miracle Actor/Actress: Adam Sandler
Favorite Food: Sushi Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Poke’ Bowl
If you were an animal: Otter– Adaptive and Smart in the environment
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Baby Chief Do it
Music Guaranteed to get you hyped: Lil Baby
Person stuck with on a deserted Island: My Dog (And/or Dad)
Hobbies other than Hockey: Football, Cooking
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Kanye West, Cam Skattebo, Will Ferrell
College/University of Choice: Ohio State University
Like Most About Great Falls: Surprisingly, the Food!
How would you define a successful season: Two or more rounds of playoffs.
Here are the upcoming and special dates to add to your calendar:
- October 2nd – OKTOBERFEST at Malmstrom AFB. 4:00 PM-8:00 PM
- October 2nd-3rd – Away games at Badlands. 7:00 PM with Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- October 9th – Away game at Butte. 7:30 PM with Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- October 10th – Home Games versus Butte – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana
- October 11th – Deadline to order your Custom Jersey on our online store.
- October 16th – Away game at Helena 7:05 PM with Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- October 17th – Home Game versus Bozeman presented by Toyota. 7:05 PM
- October 23rd-24th – “Think Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend-Presented by Benefis Health-Sletten Cancer Institute, 7:05PM Puck drop both nights versus Gillette.
- October 30th – Away game at Yellowstone. 7:30 PM- Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- October 31st – Away game at Sheridan. 7:30 PM with Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- 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, MN.
- 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 | Homestead 1909* |
| Jersey Mike’s | Kubota-Johnson Distributing | Life in Bloom Floral & Gift Boutique |
| Montana Club* | 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