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Weekly E-Newsletter (September – March) |
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BALDY’S PUCK DROPBaldy’s Puck Drop” Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Volume 7: October 19, 2023
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast:
Another three-game week in the books and, although it got off to a slow start with a 4-2 loss at home, the team rebounded well with two hard fought wins in Sheridan over the weekend. One of the things the coaching staff is emphasizing with the kids is the fact they need to be ready to go and be able to compete for a full 60 minutes. To a player, they will all admit that was not the case last Thursday as they did not show up until the 3rd period. Fortunately, they resolved that issue before Friday evening with an impressive 4-0 shutout and followed that with a 4-3 Shootout win with tired legs on Saturday. Congratulations to Goaltender Kaden Rhyder for earning NA3HL Frontier Division Player of the Week for his efforts Friday and Saturday night while Ty O’Bey received Honorable Mention recognition.
We welcomed CPS Pharmacy Solutions to our home game last Thursday as we hosted our first corporate outing. Seventeen members of their
staff and their families enjoyed the game with VIP access, including a meal from Jersey Mike’s. Anyone who would like to consider a similar outing at one of our games can simply contact me for more information. We can accommodate anywhere between 10 and 40 attendees and would love to be able to provide more people the opportunity to enjoy our great sport.
A special thanks goes out to our Great Falls Americans Booster Club for all the behind the scenes work they do to create a positive environment for our players. It starts with Adam, Pam and Kinley Stanczak who have made the road trip the past two weekends to Bozeman and Sheridan to provide a little bit of home to our players. From running the 50:50 raffle, selling candy bars and organizing special events such as a Halloween Party/Pumpkin Carving Contest, a Thanksgiving get together and a Christmas party for the team are all things that this group does to make the players feel special. Look for a new raffle fundraiser to support these initiatives in the coming week, or two, along with the possibility of a Booster Club fan bus heading to Bozeman for our game there in early December.
We hit the road for Butte this Friday for the start of a home and home series with the Irish. Friday night at Butte has a 7:30 puck drop and please consider joining many of our fans at our official “Watch Party” location – the Stadium Sports Bar and Casino for all away games this season. Thank you to Todd and Lara Clark for graciously hosting these events. Saturday we host Butte with a 7:00 PM puck drop – be sure to learn more about our presenting sponsor Borrie’s Italian Supper Club on page three of this Newsletter.
Going to jump ahead a little bit as definitely want to get this on everyone’s radar. We have one game next week at home on Sunday, October 29th, at 2:00 PM versus Bozeman. I am honored to be able to announce that we are using this game to partner with “Think Pink For the Girls” – a local Breast Cancer Support Group – to create breast cancer awareness and also fundraise to support their efforts. The Americans will donate one dollar for everyone in attendance and that donation will be matched by City Motors. I don’t want to be presumptuous, but I believe it is safe to say that most everyone has been somehow impacted by someone they love who has battled breast cancer, so this cause is likely near and dear to all of our hearts. I am going to ask you to help spread the word over the next 10 days so we can “pack the Ice Plex” and support breast cancer awareness while enjoying what should be a really good hockey game. Also, look for new “Think Pink For the Girls” helmet stickers on our team’s helmets starting this weekend.
Player Profile – #17 Spencer Schipferling (Willston, North Dakota) 6’0” 180 lbs. Defenseman – Shoots Left
Favorite Team: Chicago Blackhawks Favorite Player: Adam Fox
Favorite Movie: Happy Gilmore Favorite Actor/Actress: Adam Sandler
Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Colter Wall
Song or Artist Guaranteed to get you hyped: Nickelback
One Item you would bring with you to a deserted Island: Knife
Hobbies other than Hockey: Golf, Hunting, Fishing
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Adam Sandler, Cale Makar, David Spade
College/University of Choice: University of North Dakota Like Most About Great Falls: Wildlife.
How would you define a successful season: Winning record and Frontier Division Title.
Also, thank you to all our existing Eagle’s Nest, Diamond and Platinum Level partners for their continued support.
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Partner Highlight of the Week – Going to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge our presenting sponsor for
Saturday night’s game: Borries Italian Supper Club.
Emilio “Borrie” Grasseschi opened the doors of the popular Borrie’s Restaurant and Lounge in 1938. Through the last eight decades, four generations of Grasseschi’s have served its loyal customers through thick and thin.
In the last 80+ years, Borrie’s has become well-seasoned. In 1956, the business relocated to the corner of 18th and Smelter Avenue and thrives there today. In 1990, current owner and granddaughter of Borrie, Debbie Thomas, expanded the dining room to double its size. While the building changes have been subtle, so has the changes to its devoted staff. Many Borrie’s employees are either from the family tree or have been working there for anywhere from 30 to 50 years.
The longevity of Borrie’s staff is only outmatched by the longevity of its customers. Some have been dining in the restaurant their entire lives.
The dress code and attitude is “come as you are” with people in their best-dressed to jeans and a t-shirt. Borrie’s is a community institution and a true Black Eagle landmark and experience.
The restaurant stays committed to quality and consistency. Every batch of spaghetti sauce, soup and salad dressing follows the same decades-old recipes. Right up there with their spaghetti sauce secret family recipe is their hand-rolled raviolis. They’re popular too, with 3,000-4,000 being made each week!
The love of Borrie’s through the generations has even expanded beyond its doors. Limited menu items are available for shipping (yes, the sauce for sure!) and enjoyed by the displaced customers longing for a taste of home and a family legacy in each bite.
Borrie’s remains a testament to enduring values, great food and family ties that will never go out of style.
Thank you for being a part of our family and we look forward to seeing you at the rink.
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com