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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 83: November 13, 2025
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: The Americans came away with a split this past weekend in Sheridan after winning 4-3 Friday night and falling 3-1 (empty net goal) on Saturday. The Americans played well on the weekend against the first-place team and if I were to characterize the general mood of the staff and players on the bus ride home – it would be a feeling of missing an opportunity. An opportunity to make a strong statement to the rest of the league that the Americans are a Fraser Cup contender. An opportunity to move into 2nd place in the division and close the gap to within a few points of Sheridan. An opportunity to gain some confidence heading into the stretch run prior to the Showcase and continue a winning streak through some upcoming home games. The reality is the Americans had several opportunities on Saturday night to make those cases through power plays and solid play but simply did not get it done. That is not to diminish Sheridan or the fact they are a veteran team prepared to compete for a title, but we also have high expectations and came up just short this time. The key to moving forward is to be healthy and continue to get a little better each time we step on the ice. That is the expectation.
The upcoming weekend starts with a trip to Butte for a game Friday night. Puck Drop is 7:30 PM 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. I know several fans like to make the trip to Butte, but for those staying home plan on stopping by Buffalo Wild Wings to check out the game.
We are then fortunate to start a four-game homestand on Saturday night as we host Bozeman (currently tied with us for third place in the
Frontier Division) with a 7:05 PM Puck Drop. It is the 2nd of our Toyota Nights this season and we hope to have a display vehicle from City Motors-Toyota at each entrance along with some promotional giveaways to share with our fans in attendance. We are also excited to welcome the staff and students from Great Falls College for Great Falls College River Otter Night. Great Falls College is a public community college that is affiliated with the Montana State University System and offers Associate of Applied Sciences, Associate of Science, and Associate of Arts degrees as well as several Information Technology Certifications. The school was founded in 1969 and has just under 4800 part time students or 1350 full time student equivalents. We are excited to establish a relationship with Great Falls College and look forward to having them become regular partners in our promotional calendar for many seasons to come and, hopefully, become their preferred sports team.
It will also be nice to be able to get together and engage with our fans at our Official Post Game Gathering place Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom after our game Saturday night. Plan on joining us for some great food and drink and have a chance to mingle with our players after each home game. It is a great way to get a few autographs and who knows – you may get the chance to see one of our players make their singing debut. We look forward to seeing you at Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom.
We also want everyone to think ahead to our very special Annual Military Appreciation Weekend and we are
pleased to welcome 1st Liberty Federal Credit Union as our presenting partner. We will be wearing special edition military themed jerseys (See left) that pay homage to Malmstrom AFB and will be signed and auctioned off after the weekend with a portion of the proceeds going towards a military themed charity. Our players are excited for the opportunity to honor our past and present military personnel by wearing the special jerseys for the two games versus the Yellowstone Quake. It promises to be a great weekend to honor a significant and important part of Great Falls’ history and culture directly related to the Air Force Base and other military heroes. We are also partnering with 1st Liberty Federal Credit Union for a food drive by accepting non-perishable food donations during this weekend, as well, as we head into the holiday season.
Use the QR code to the right to get activated with DASH so you don’t miss out on the Military Jersey Auction and other upcoming activations,
including the “Jersey Off Our Back” presented by Russell Country Federal Credit Union where proceeds of the auction will support the Josh Huestis Foundation, a local non-profit that supports youth programs and initiatives. We will also be running a special “12 Days of Christmas” activation where a special winner will be drawn each day from December 13th-24th. Enter to win the Great Falls Americans “12 days of Christmas” by purchasing a special edition Baldy Christmas Ornament through DASH. More info to follow on both activations in the coming weeks and make sure you have the Teddy Bear Toss and Salute to 10U Hockey on your calendar for December 6th.
I promised some more information on our partnership with the Special Olympics of Montana to support some of their many activities in the coming year. The Polar Plunge®, a proud Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) tradition since 1999, has grown from one chilly jump in Whitefish to 14 plunges across Montana — raising more than $450,000 each year for Special Olympics Montana athletes! This year’s plunge is scheduled for a game day, so the Americans won’t be able to participate in that capacity. However, we’re joining the fun at the Cool Schools Challenge at both Lincoln Elementary and Sacajawea Elementary Schools! The Great Falls Americans are teaming up to help support the incredible fundraising efforts but also — if the school hits its goal, one of your favorite players will take the icy plunge and get DUNKED with an ice bucket by a lucky student. We will have donation boxes and QR codes you can scan at the upcoming games to be able to donate through this worthy cause with the proceeds going towards Lincoln Elementary and Sacajawea Elementary Schools efforts to reach their donation goals and earn them the right to douse one of our players with an Ice bucket challenge at each school in the coming weeks.
Finally, congratulations to former Great falls resident and breast cancer survivor, Shelley Kessell, for submitting the winning bid ($510). Shelly currently lives in Everett, Washington and continues to follow the Americans a bit while also collecting Pink Jerseys from throughout the sports world.
Player Profile – #8 Jacob Weber (North Pole, AK) 6’1” 175 lbs. FOR – Shoots Right DOB 05/27/2008
Favorite Team: Vegas Golden Knights 
Favorite Player: Jack Eichel
Favorite Movie: Miracle on Ice
Favorite Actor/Actress: Chris Evans
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Chicken Alfredo
If you were animal: Lion – Because they are intimidating.
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Nickelback
Music Guaranteed to get you hyped: Rock
Person stuck with on a deserted Island: Jeremy Wade
Hobbies other than Hockey: Bowling, Fishing
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Jack Eichel, Chris Evans, Mark Stone
College/University of Choice: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Like Most About Great Falls: The Team and the Fans
How would you define a successful season: Winning the Fraser Cup!
Here are the upcoming dates to add to your calendar:
- 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 25th – Special Olympics of Montana Ice Bucket Challenge at Lincoln Elementary
- November 28th – Home game versus Puck drop at 7:05 PM and it is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana Night.
- 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 4th – – Special Olympics of Montana Ice Bucket Challenge at Sacajawea Elementary
- 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 14th -16th – NA3HL Showcase in Blaine, Games times and opponents TBD.
- December 17th -26th – Christmas Break for all Americans players and
- December 27th – Hockey Day in Americans Practice and youth hockey clinics.
- December 31st – New Years Eve Home game versus 6:05 PM Puck drop.
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* | Special Olympics of Montana* |
Thank you for being a part of our hockey family!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com