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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 85: November 27, 2025
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: Happy Thanksgiving to all our families and friends! What a week full of activities both on and off the
ice and I am not ashamed to say how proud I am of our players and staff on how they have handled every challenge thrown their way the past several weeks. The festivities started with the entire team volunteering to unload Christmas Trees and Wreaths for the Uptown Optimist Club Christmas Tree sale. Two semi-loads – over 700 trees and wreaths – were unloaded by the team in a little over an hour prior to practice on Thursday. This has been an annual event for our team as we support the Optimist Club and it always reminds us that the Holiday season is just around the corner.
We are pleased to have three members of our team that have military connections and therefore have access to Malmstrom Air Force Base. Bryce Webb, Owen Cronk and Kaden Rhyder felt the urge to take advantage of a sunny day and their newly obtained Military Appreciation Jerseys to stop by the base and take some special photos with the jerseys in front of the various aircraft that are present. Military Appreciation Weekend certainly has a special meaning to those with direct ties and they did an amazing job of sharing their passion with the rest of the team who were prepared, honored and excited about the opportunity to recognize the military personnel that attended our games on the weekend and wore the special edition jerseys with an unmatched sense of pride. I believe it is safe to say that was reflective of the way they played on the ice coming away with 7-3 and 5-0 wins on the weekend. Cole Murphy earned the shutout Saturday and as a result earned “3rd Star of the Week” for the Frontier Division. The other highlights of the weekend were veteran defensive defenseman Keegan Hanson (who often does not get recognized for being a darn good defenseman) getting his first goal as an American along with Sidney, Montana’s, very own Jarrett Averett collecting his first Junior goal. Ethan Miller also collected his 100th point in the NA3HL on Friday night. Congrats to all of you for the job well done.
On Tuesday, Fisher Hannesson, Jase Troyer, and Gavin Denis joined Riley Hattan at Lincoln Elementary School
as Riley participated in the first of two Cool School Challenges where the Americans are supporting the Special Olympics of Montana through the Polar Plunge Program. The 5th and 6th grade students raised over $2100 for the Special Olympics and for their efforts, 30 of the 6th graders were given the ole’ ice bucket treatment by the Americans in attendance along with representatives of the Great Falls Police Department, Montana State Patrol, Cascade County Sheriffs Department and two special Olympic Athletes. When the students were finished getting dunked, they had the opportunity to return the favor to two teachers and our very own Riley Hattan.
The next Polar Plunge engagement is next Thursday at Sacajawea Elementary School and it is not too late to donate as the Americans continue to support these students in their efforts to raise money for the Special Olympics of Montana. Just scan the QR code on the left and enjoy having one of your favorite players take the ice bucket challenge.
We also completed a very successful special edition military Jersey Auction in partnership with 1st Liberty Federal Credit Union and Malmstrom AFB. As a result, a little over $2200 has been raised for the Top 3- Fly Home Program. The Top 3 at Malmstrom Air Force Base is committed to helping hardworking, reliable, and dedicated Airmen “Fly Home” each quarter to visit their family and friends. Thanks to all those who participated and congratulations to those with winning bids.
I want to take this opportunity to provide an update on our former players who are currently playing college hockey. Our coaching staff takes great pride in working with our young players and providing them the experience and foundation to continue their hockey careers at the next level and the following Americans are those who are currently playing at the college level:
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We are back at home again Friday night to take on the Helena Bighorns for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana Night. Check out the game at 7:05 PM and plan on joining us for some great food and drink at our Official Post Game Gathering Place Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom after the game. Saturday night finds the Americans heading back to Butte for a 7:30 PM puck drop. I will be joining several other fans at our Officials Watch Party at Buffalo Wild Wings – I hope to see you there.
The Great Falls Americans special 12 Days of Christmas event where we will be drawing a mystery prize winner each day from December 13th-24th opens on December 1st. Enter to win the Great Falls Americans “12 days of Christmas” by purchasing a special edition Baldy Christmas Ornament through DASH. We will also be running a “Jersey Off Our Back” auction presented by Russell Country Federal Credit Union with proceeds supporting the Josh Huestis Foundation, a local non-profit that supports youth programs and initiatives. This activation will run during our Teddy Bear Toss and Salute to 10U Hockey home game on December 6th and will conclude our last game prior to the league showcase and Christmas break.
Once again, the Americans would like to wish our entire family a very happy and safe Thanksgiving. We’ll see you at the rink on Friday!
Player Profile – #28 AJ Prioli (Weymouth, MA) 6’0” 205 lbs. FOR – Shoots Right DOB 03/04/2005
Favorite Team: Boston Bruins 
Favorite Player: Alex Ovechkin
Favorite Movie: The Do-Over
Favorite Actor/Actress: Margot Robbie
Favorite Food: Tuna Fish
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Pasta
If you were animal: Gharial Crocodile – Because they have a long mouth that is easy to catch fish.
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Zach Bryan
Hobbies other than Hockey: Golf, Ping Pong
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Tate McCrae, Ethan Miller, Kevin Hart
College/University of Choice: Arizona State University
Like Most About Great Falls: I can see the mountains from the rink.
How would you define a successful season: A Ring!
Here are the upcoming dates to add to your calendar:
- 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* | TDS Fiber |
Thank you for being a part of our hockey family!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com