 |
BALDY’S PUCK DROP Weekly E-Newsletter (September – August) |
 |
Baldy’s Puck Drop” Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Volume 91: January 15, 2026
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: The Americans took a big step towards cementing their playoff position last weekend with a sweep of
the division leading Sheridan Hawks. In probably their best 60-minute effort of the season on Friday night, the Americans controlled the game from start to finish with a 4-1 win. Saturday night saw Sheridan bring a much higher level of intensity and the Americans were able to weather the storm and held on for a 6-5 win after giving up two late goals.
The Americans were led by Cooper Clouse over the weekend who earned NA3HL 1st Star of the Week honors for the Frontier Division. With five points on the weekend, Clouse is on fire. The Fargo, North Dakota native has now extended his point streak to 22 games, the longest in the NA3HL, showing why he’s one of the league’s most dangerous and consistent players. Cooper leads the Frontier Division with 58 points and is 7th in the entire league with 41 assists while also chipping in 5 game winning goals.
The Americans currently sit in 2nd place and 5 points behind Sheridan (with two games in hand and even in the loss column) and are one point ahead of 3rd place Helena. There is a bit of a gap between 3rd and 4th place, so it appears as though the division race will come down to Sheridan, Helena and the Americans battling it out for the top three spots and home ice for the playoffs. The playoffs will consist of best of three series with the top seed playing the 4th seed and the 2nd seed facing off with the 3rd seed. The higher seed gets home ice advantage (two of the three games) with the winners facing off for the division playoff title and a trip to St. Louis for the Fraser Cup finals. The bottom line is expecting the division title to come down to the final week of the season, and we appreciate your support every step of the way.
A quick reminder on the resumption of the Bozeman game from December 6th. The remaining 8:30 of the 3rd period will be played in Great Falls on Friday, January 23rd at 2:00 PM. The reality is there is no easy way to do this and the situation of having to postpone the remainder of the game due to an injury is unfortunate. The game will resume with Bozeman leading 2:1 and the Americans about to go on a 5:00 power play. Fans are welcome to stop in and support the Americans as they try to earn some critical points in the standings – it will be free to the public. The Americans are also home for a matinee on the 24th, hosting Butte at 3:35 PM followed by the Argos taking on Montana at 7:00 PM.
The Americans hit the road this weekend for their final overnight trip of the regular season. They’ll play two games at 4th place Badlands with both games starting at 7:00 PM. As we have done in the past, the team will skate early Thursday morning and then hop on the bus to arrive in 
Rapid City during the early evening hours. It is also the one trip we make during the season where we stay overnight after the game Saturday to make the trip home a little easier on our bis driver, Rex. It is always a fun trip and a great chance for the team to bond and in this case get to know our newest additions to the roster. Several families are also able to make the trip into Rapid City, so it is always nice to spend some time with familiar faces. The only concern is health as we have had half of our team miss practice this week due to the bug that is going around so plenty of fluids, rest and Emergen-C on the bus and in the hotel. Naturally, you’ll be able to catch both games at our official watch party location – Buffalo Wild Wings. Enjoy watching the games with some great food and drink with other passionate fans.
Player Profile – #28 Aidan Mulheran (Excelsior, MN) 6’7” 220 lbs. FOR – Shoots Left DOB 12/04/2006
Favorite Team: Minnesota Wild
Favorite Player: Alex Ovechkin
Favorite Movie: Ford vs. Ferrari
Favorite Actor/Actress: Ryan Reynolds
Favorite Food: Chicken and Pasta
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Chicken and Rice
If you were animal: Bald Eagle — I would want to fly!
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Cold Play
Pre-Game Hype Music: Brain Stew
One Person to be stuck with on a deserted island: Jesus
Hobbies other than Hockey: Golf, Surf, Water Ski
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Jesus, Connor Bedard, Connor McDavid
College/University of Choice: University of North Carolina
Like Most About Great Falls: The people.
How would you define a successful season: Hard work and strive to do your best for each other!
Here are the upcoming dates to add to your calendar:
- January 16th – Away game at 7:00 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- January 17th – Away game at 7:00 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- January 23rd – Completion of game versus 2:00 PM
- January 24th – Home Game versus 3:35 PM Puck Drop as part of a University of Providence Double Header! Toyota Night!
- January 30th-31st – The Americans have a weekend off – enjoy the Montana
- February 6th – Away game at 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- February 7th – Home game versus Butte at the Havre Ice Dome. 7:05 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location for those who don’t make the trip to Havre.
- February 13th – Home games versus 7:05 PM Puck drop with special performance by Great Falls Figure Skating Club and Valentine’s Weekend activations.
- February 14th – Home game versus 7:05 PM Puck drop with Valentine’s Weekend activations.
- February 20th – Away game at 7:05 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- February 21st – Away game at 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- February 28th – Home game versus Special 7:35 PM Puck Drop and featuring the Point S Tire & Auto Tricycle races.
- March 1st – Home game versus Special 1:05 PM Puck Drop and “Skate with the Americans” after the game!
- March 7th – Away game at 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party location.
- March 8th – Home game versus 7:05 PMM puck Drop. Toyota Fan and Billet Appreciation Night!
Thank you to our corporate partners for their continued support.
Eagle’s Nest Level
 |
 |
Diamond Level
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Platinum Level
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 |
| Hoglund’s Work and Western Wear |
Thank you for being a part of our hockey family!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com