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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 80: October 23, 2025
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: A new week and a different feeling coming out a weekend where we collected 3 out of a possible 4 points. Friday’s 6-2 win at Badlands was probably our best complete game of the season and we battled back on three different occasions in Gillette Saturday before dropping the game in overtime 4-3. As mentioned previously, the Frontier Division is going to be highly competitive and every point is going to matter as the teams attempt to establish playoff position. More importantly, the Americans played at a higher level and was more consistent over the course of the weekend – something to build on as we strive to play our best hockey week in and week out. This weekend should present another challenge that our players are willing to accept.
Congratulations to Cooper Clouse for earning “Player of the Week” honors for the Frontier Division. During Friday’s 6-2 win over the Sabres, second-year forward Clouse delivered his best performance of the season, recording his first multi-goal game. Clouse jumpstarted the offense with the Americans’ first and third goals, including the eventual game- winner, and added two helpers down the stretch to complete a dominant four-point night. Saturday’s matchup with Gillette was a back-and-forth thriller, with both teams trading goals throughout. Clouse helped swing the momentum with a power-play assist to even things at 2-2 late in the second, then came up big once more, burying the game-tying goal early in the 3rd period to force overtime. Coach Sears added: “Coop had a really strong weekend and continues to build on a solid start to the season. As a veteran, he’s done a great job stepping into more of a leadership role and setting the standard for how we want to play. He leads by example both on and off the ice, and the younger guys feed off that energy.”
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we also like to recognize that there is more to life than just hockey for these young men and our trip to
Rapid City is a great example of that. Whenever the weather is good, we get the guys up in the morning of game day and head off to Mt. Rushmore. This trip was no different and for most of these players it was their first visit to the National Monument. Unfort6unately, with the government closed, they did not get to experience the whole setting to learn about the history and how it was sculpted – but everyone seemed to be satisfied with a nice walk on a gorgeous day and a special photo op.
This week is special withg our only home series in a seven week stretch and the “Think Pink’ Festivities we will cover shortly, but we also have a special guest that will be spending some time with the team on an off the ice today. Guy Gosselin is a USA Hockey Player Development Manager who is in town working with the Great Falls Youth Hockey Coaches and will also spend some time with the Americans’ staff and players. Guy (Goose) has been with USA Hockey for 16 years after a lengthy playing career at the NCAA, pro and international levels of play. The Rochester, MN native played four years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth as was drafted 159th overall out of High School by the Winnipeg Jets. Goose, a defenseman, earned 2nd team all-WCHA honors in college and played in the AHL and in Sweden in addition to a handful of games with the Jets. Internationally, Goose was a member of three Team USA Men’s National Teams at the World Championships and also played on the 1988 and 1992 USA Olympic Teams, serving as an Assistant Captain with the 1992 team. While serving in his player development role with USA Hockey, Guy coached the 2018 USA Para- Olympic Sled Hockey Team to a Gold Medal in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In his current role, Goose travels the Upper Midwest and Northwest working with youth hockey associations and their coaches in creating a positive and productive hockey culture focused on player development and having fun.
Our “Think Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness weekend is here and our players can’t wait to get on the pink ice at home in front of our fans and raise funds for breast cancer support. It is safe to say that all of us have been touched with someone in our lives that has battled breast cancer, so our guys are proud to be a part of this weekend with our fans and, hopefully, some new friends. Our leadership group, plus Baldy, stopped by the Benefis- Sletten Cancer Institute on Tuesday morning to mingle with their staff and take a photo to help promote the weekend. With Benefis’ support, we will have a lot of new hockey fans in the rink this weekend and I trust our loyal fans will welcome them with open arms and participate in the various raffles/sales to support the cause. We are proud to welcome our friends from “Think Pink for the Girls” – a local breast cancer support group that supports victims and their families here in Cascade County- as the beneficiary of the funds raised over the weekend. On Saturday night, we will also be raffling off the Zamboni Cooler on behalf of the Booster Club, so be sure to pick up your raffle ticket during Friday night’s game.
There are four activations taking place as part of this weekend. The first is a special edition Pink Jersey, signed by the
team, with the “#1 Fan” nameplate that will be auctioned off during the weekend and through November 3rd. This is the only non-player pink jersey that will be available this year. Proceeds from the Jerey auction will go to “Think Pink for the Girls”. The 2nd activation is a team signed and framed 8”x10” photo of the team in their pink jerseys. In addition to these activations, we will also be making a donation to “Think Pink for the Girls” for each fan in attendance each night (this donation is matched by City Chevrolet) plus there will be prizes, sales items and baskets donated by Life in Bloom Floral & Gift Boutique, She-Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique, The Great Falls Figure Skating Club and Crow & Owl Nest raffled off each night with proceeds also going to “Think Pink for the Girls”. Finally, we are pleased to have a group from the Great Falls Figure Skating Club perform each night during the 1st intermissions. This is a great opportunity to show off their hard work as they have been practicing for several months and enjoy the chance to perform on the pink ice.
We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend for our only home games in the month of October in what should be a very special weekend supporting breast cancer awareness! And, don’t forget to join us after the game at Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom for some great food and drink.
Player Profile – #22 Gordon Jennings (Anchorage, AK) 6’0” 192 lbs. DEF – Shoots Left DOB 02/02/2007
Favorite Team: Pittsburgh Penguins 
Favorite Player: Quinn Hughes
Favorite Movie: Rocky 4
Favorite Actor/Actress: Sylvester Stallone
Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Pasta
If you were animal: Canada Goose – Because I am Canadian
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Jon Pardi
Music Guaranteed to get you hyped: Pantera
Person stuck with on a deserted Island: Wyatt Rust
Hobbies other than Hockey: Play Music
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Sylvester Stallone, Gordie Howe, Shane Gillis
College/University of Choice: Harvard University
Like Most About Great Falls: The Great Falls!
How would you define a successful season: Work your hardest every shift you take!
Here are the upcoming dates to add to your calendar:
- October 24th and 25th – “Think Pink for the Girls” Breast Cancer Awareness weekend presented by Benefis Health. Puck drop 7:05 both nights – come check out the pink ice and performances from the Great Falls Figure Skating Club.
- October 31st – Away game at 7:05 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- November 1st – Away game at 7:05 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- November 7th – Away game at 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- November 8th – Away game at 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- November 14th – Away game at 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- November 15th – Home game versus Great Falls College River Otter Night presented by Toyota. 7:05 PM Puck Drop.
- November 21st and 22nd – Military Appreciation weekend versus Yellowstone Quake presented by 1st Liberty Federal Credit Union. Special edition Military Jerseys that will be auctioned off after the games. Puck drop 7:05 PM both nights. Care and Share Food Drive
- November 28th – Home game versus Puck drop at 7:05 PM and it is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana night. Care and Share Food Drive.
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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Tammy Quintrell-Stubbs
Gold, Silver and Bronze Level Partners (* new this season)
| All-State Signs | Beacon Ice House | Eagle Mount Therapeutic Recreation* |
| Floors & More Abbey Carpets | Central Avenue Meats | MNoel Photography |
| Havre Youth Hockey | Central MT Lock & Safe | Century Gaming |
| Life in Bloom Floral @ Gift Boutique | Hotel Arvon/Celtic Cowboy | Stifel l Finnicum Financial Group |
| Coca-Cola* | Craftmaster Cabinets | Culligan Water |
| Comparion Insurance | Play It Again Sports | Open Door Wellness |
| Big Sky Laboratory | Cascade Electric | Hampton Inn & Suites |
| Ferrin’s Furniture | Great Falls Hospital | She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique |
| Jersey Mike’s | Karma Coffee | Murphy Law |
| Scheels | Stockman Bank | Traynor Capital |
| Voices of Hope* | Johnson Distributing | Mountain Title Company |
| Fire Pizza* | Montana Rib & Chop House* | Visit Great Falls |
| Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory | Bish’s RV of Great Falls* | StaRadio |
| Benski Towing & Recovery | Westgate Repair, Inc. | Annie’s Taphouse |
| Sip-N-Dip Lounge* |
Thank you for being a part of our hockey family!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com