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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 57: February 6, 2025
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: I will officially start this edition with the fact that “playoff” hockey is now in full swing. There may be eight games remaining in the regular season, but with the current standings and the upcoming schedule, along with last week, it is easy to say every game is important and every point in the standings is critical. The Americans currently are tied for 3rd place in the Frontier Division – with our opponent this weekend, Sheridan – but only one point out of 2nd place and five points ahead of 5th place. As many of you know, the top four teams advance to the playoffs with the top two seeds gaining home ice advantage in the best of three first round series. The neat thing about this tight race and the parity shown in the division is that we all play each other down the stretch. While we are in Sheridan for a two-game set this weekend 5th place and very much in the hunt, Bozeman, travels to 2nd place Badlands for a two-game set. Down the
stretch, we also play two with Badlands and have one more game each with Bozeman and Helena while Sheridan also has a weekend date with Badlands. Bozeman has the two with Badlands, four with Helena and one game left with us. Of course, we would like to have created some separation from the rest of the Division, but at the same time we want to be playing meaningful games down the stretch and we will certainly be battle-tested come March.
And for the reasons stated above, the two points we gathered last weekend for shoot-out losses are huge in the grand scheme of things. Although we feel we did give away a couple of points that would have been important to have in the bank – we knew going into these games that they would be difficult and we needed to play our best for a full 60 plus minutes and, quite frankly, we didn’t. There were some very encouraging things that happened – the comeback from 5-1 down on Sunday in Bozeman to actually take the lead with 1:04 left – and they will be building on those positives and playing our best hockey over the next two months. I have said from day one that it is a process – it is a marathon and not a sprint – and now we will get the chance to see the results of that process over several weeks of intense junior hockey. There are only two regular season home games left – plus the chance to join other fans at our official watch party at Buffalo Wild Wings for away games – we hope you will join us for the ride.
Our Annual Valentine’s Day Fan Activation through DASH is live and you will not want to miss out on this one. There are three special Valentine’s Day packages up for auction that has something for everyone. Package #1 includes a dozen red roses from Life in Bloom Floral and 
Gift Boutique and a box of chocolates. Package #2 comes from She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique and includes some skin care products and a gift certificate for “Spring Break” Tan. Package #3 comes from our partner at Central Avenue Meats and includes a pair of heart shaped Montana beef rib-eye steaks and some hamburger for the kids. All three packages include two VIP passes for the Valentine’s Night Game versus Helena, a Valentine’s Red Baldy Hoodie and some other Americans swag with a total value over $150. And, the kicker to the deal is they will be surprise delivered (in the Great Falls area) to your special Valentine by Baldy himself on
Valentine’s Day.
Scan the QR code to activate your fandom and take advantage of this unique opportunity to surprise your special someone with a Valentine gift made for especially for them.
A very special congrats goes out to goalkeeper Kaden Rhyder and forward Ty O’Bey for being selected to represent the Americans at the NA3HL Top Prospects Event at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan on February 17th and 18th. I’ll have more information on this event in next week’s edition.
Player Profile – #73 Aiden Kennedy (Detroit Lakes, MN) 5’9” 180 lbs. FOR– Shoots Right DOB 01/14/2005
Favorite Team: Toronto Maple Leafs Favorite Player: Connor McDavid
Favorite Movie: Cars 2 Actor/Actress: Sydney Sweeney
Favorite Food: Beef Stroganoff Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Pasta
If you were an animal: An Eagle – So I can fly and be the Lion of the sky!
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Little Nas X
Music Guaranteed to get you hyped: Rap
Person stuck with on a deserted Island: Carson Sears
Hobbies other than Hockey: Golf, fishing, hunting, pickleball.
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Sketch, Big Justice, Will Ferrell
College/University of Choice: University of North Dakota
Like Most About Great Falls: The small-town feel.
How would you define a successful season: Winning the Division.
Here are the upcoming events for you to mark your calendars:
- February 7th and 8th – Road games versus Sheridan at 7:30 Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- February 1-10 – Special Valentine’s Day Fan Activation Auction through Three amazing Valentine’s Day packages to be delivered to the winners by Baldy on Valentine’s Day!
- February 14th – Home Game versus the Helena 7:05 Puck drop.
- February 15th – Road game versus Bozeman at 7:30 Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- February 21st and 22nd – Road games versus Badlands at 7:00 Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- March 7th – Road game versus Butte at 7:30 Official Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- March 8th – Home game versus the Butte 7:05 PM Puck Drop. Billet Appreciation and Fan Appreciation Night presented by Toyota!
- March 12th–16th – First Round of Frontier Division
Thank you to all our existing Eagle’s Nest, Diamond and Platinum Level partners for their continued support.
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Gold, Silver and Bronze Level Partners (* new this season)
| 3D International Restaurant and Lounge | All-State Signs | Annie’s Taphouse |
| Comparion Insurance-Todd Neighbor | Automotive Machine | Beacon Ice House |
| Eagle Mount Therapeutic Recreation | Benski Towing & Recovery | Big Sky Harley Davidson* |
| Floors & More Abbey Carpets | Big Sky Laboratory | Bravera Bank |
| Hoglund’s Work & Western Wear | Cascade Electric | Central Avenue Meats |
| Havre Youth Hockey* | Havre Ford* | Independence Bank-Havre* |
| Hotel Arvon-Celtic Cowboy | Central MT Lock & Safe | Century Gaming |
| High Plains Wealth Management* | Patrick Construction* | Shanty Bar-Havre* |
| Life in Bloom Floral & Gift Boutique | Coca-Cola* | Craftmaster Cabinets |
| Montana Air National Guard* | Culligan Water | Ferrin’s Furniture |
| She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique | Great Falls Hospital | Hampton Inn & Suites |
| Stifel |Finnicum Financial Group | Highwood Creek Outfitters | Jersey Mike’s |
| Tilleraas Landscape & Nursery | Johnson Distributing | Karma Coffee* |
| Red;s Powersports* | Tilleman Motor Co.* | Valley Furniture* |
| Murphy Law | Open Door Wellness* | Play It Again Sports |
| Purvis Chiropractic* | Scheels | STARadio |
| Stockman Bank | TDS Fiber* | Teriyaki Madness |
| Traynor Capital | Visit Great Falls* | Westgate Repair Inc* |
| Mountain Title Company* | Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory* | |
| Morse Construction* | Creative Coffee/Yogurt* |
Thank you for being a part of our hockey family!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com