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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 81: October 30, 2025
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: There are several different ways to measure success. Naturally, the two wins (3-1 Friday and 7-1 on Saturday) were important and has the team feeling good about themselves as they hit the road for 5 straight games. For me on the business side and for someone who takes pride in having our team be involved in the community and support important causes, the success of the “Think Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness initiative is immeasurable. The Jersey auction is still live (more on that later) so the total funds raised is still climbing, but the indication is we will have raised roughly $3000 for “Think Pink for the Girls” – a local Breast Cancer Support group here in Cascade County that supports breast cancer causes close to home. That puts our three-year total over $10,000 in money raised for this worthy cause.
There are so many to thank for this success. First off, Benefis Health Systems and the Sletten Cancer Institute make it possible to wear the special edition pink jerseys and paint the ice pink. It is also great to have many of their staff in attendance and the effort they make to promote the games within their wide-ranging audience. A special thanks goes out to Life in Bloom Floral & Gift Boutique, She-Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique, The Great Falls Figure Skating Club, Crow & Owl Nest, City Chevrolet and our Booster Cub for making various contributions to our “Think Pink” weekend. Next, we need to thank the Ice Plex staff and the volunteers that worked until all hours of the night last Thursday preparing the pink ice and having it ready to go for our team skate on Friday morning. This group includes Ryan and Krista Smith, Mike Hanning, Pam Stanczak, Ty Fayden, Alex Leaf, Sam Deuhlmeier, Marcus Ivey and Gary Gomez. I am also extremely proud of our players and how they have embraced the experience of this type of event both on and off the ice. They truly have bought into the cause and the opportunity they have to make a difference. Finally, I would like to thank all of our partners and our fans for supporting us in these types of endeavors by purchasing raffle tickets, participating in live auctions and simply showing up and supporting our team night in and night out.
Speaking of jersey auctions, the “#1 Fan” Pink Jersey Auction is still live and will run through next Monday evening (November 3rd) along with the “Think Pink” signed team 8×10 photo sale. Both activations are through DASH (See QR Code) and provide a special commemorative item that is only available this time of the year. Don’t miss your opportunity to score either one of these and continue to support a worthy cause.
For the second week in a row, I am pleased to recognize an Americans’ player for earning “Player of the Week” honor for the Frontier Division of the NA3HL. Goalkeeper Kaden Rhyder returned from injury and backstopped the two wins, allowing a combined two goals on 76 shots for a .973 save percentage. The Elizabethtown, PA native is in his 3rd year with the Americans and has appeared in 67 games with a .931 save percentage. So far this season, Rhyder has recorded a .953 save percentage and a 1.77 Goals Against Average in the five games he has appeared in. Congratulations to Kaden!
Next up is a trip to Gillette for two games this weekend. It will be another challenge for this team as they
continue to grow and strive to establish consistency while moving up in the standings. Puck Drop is 7:05 PM both nights and Buffalo Wild Wings will be hosting our official “Watch Party” for our fans with the game on several TV’s plus some great food and drink. If you haven’t done so before, this weekend provides a great opportunity to watch the games with other passionate fans during our watch parties.
In next week’s edition, I’ll start providing more information about the next set of very exciting promotions during our upcoming home games. So, stay tuned and mark your calendars for our home games that you won’t want to miss. In the meantime, head to DASH and take advantage of the “Think Pink” activations while they are still live.
Player Profile – #9 Wyatt Rust (Anchorage, AK) 5’10” 190 lbs. DEF – Shoots Right DOB 03/07/2007
Favorite Team: Pittsburgh Penguins 
Favorite Player: Bryan Rust
Favorite Movie: Talladega Nights
Favorite Actor/Actress: Adam Sandler
Favorite Food: Lasagna
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Food
If you were animal: Hummingbird – They are always moving at 100 mph
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Prestige World Wide
Music Guaranteed to get you hyped: It’s time for Da Perculator
Person stuck with on a deserted Island: Whittaker Whit
Hobbies other than Hockey: Play Music Fishing, Skiing, Hiking
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Nikocado Avocado, Dave Blunts, Mr. Chow (Hangover)
College/University of Choice: University of Alaska -Anchorage
Like Most About Great Falls: I love how great the falls are!
How would you define a successful season: Fraser Cup VIctory!
Here are the upcoming dates to add to your calendar:
- 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 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.
- November 29th – Away game at 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- December 5th – Away game at 7:05 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- December 6th – Home game versus First annual “Teddy Bear Toss” presented by Russell Country Federal Credit Union and “Salute to 10U Hockey”!
- December 14-16 – NA3HL Showcase in Blaine, Games Times and opponent TBD.
Thank you to our corporate partners for their continued support.
Eagle’s Nest 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