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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 94: February 5, 2026
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: Coming off the little mini-break last weekend, the players and staff appear to be much healthier and energized for the remainder of the season. There are no more breaks until eliminated from the playoffs, so it will be full-time business from here on out. We are the heathiest we have been for quite some time with EJ Sanchez (broken clavicle) being the only player who is still out, although he did get clearance to practice this week with no contact and it was great to have EJ back on the ice. The game plan is to have him fully healthy and cleared for game action in a couple of weeks. It will be great to have the full team available as every game will have playoff intensity the rest of the way.
Once again, I am extremely proud to have partnered with 1st Liberty Federal Credit Union and Malmstrom AFB to support 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. Our goal is to help grow and sustain this program so we can continue supporting deserving Airmen in reconnecting with loved ones. I stopped by the 1st Liberty FCU main office on Wednesday to present a donation check for $2150 to representatives from the Top 3 Fly Home Program as result of our special edition Military Jersey Auction back in November. Thank you to everyone who participated in the jersey auction and for your support during our Military Appreciation weekend.
Next up for the Americans is a Friday night, February 6th, game in Bozeman where you can catch all the action at our
official watch party at Buffalo Wild Wings. Saturday sees the Americans host Butte in Havre. This is the second year we have partnered with Havre Youth Hockey to host a game at the Havre Ice Dome. Northwestern Energy has jumped on as our presenting partner and we welcome our local Havre partner High Plains Wealth 
Management and thank them for their support. We expect a great crowd in Havre with some of the ticket proceeds going towards Havre Youth Hockey to support their programs. Can’t make it to Havre? Then our official watch party at Buffalo Wild Wings is the place to be.
The Americans return home for a two-game set on Valentine’s weekend hosting Gillette on Friday night and Badlands on Saturday. We are finalizing plans for some special Valentine’s activations with our partners from Central Avenue Meats, She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique and Life in Bloom Floral and Gift Boutique, so stay tuned to our social media platforms and next week’s edition of Baldy’s Puck Drop for more information. You won’t miss out on an opportunity to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart and the Americans.
The next few weeks are a special time for us sports junkies as the Winter Olympics and Para-Olympics are taking place in Milano and Cortino, Italy. Naturally, hockey will be a big part of the activity as all disciplines (Men’s, Women’s and Sled) will present a best-on-best competition where the game is played at the highest level. Not going to lie, though, I am one who also loves watching the other events and especially those that one maybe gets to see only every four years during the Olympics. After spending 28 years working at USA Hockey and spending considerable time at our Olympic Training Centers, Team USA is in my heart and soul. For those who would like to follow along, I have included Team USA’s Men’s and Women’s Schedules (the Women’s first game is this morning).
Women’s Schedule
Men’s Schedule
I have had the honor of being involved in four different Winter Olympics (2006, 2010, 2014, 1018) as an Officiating Coach for the International Ice Hockey Federation. My role was to prepare, assign, evaluate, support and coach the on-ice game officials that were selected from all over the world to officiate the games. I also served as a video goal judge for all four Olympics. Regardless of the sport, you will hear the athletes talk about how they dreamed of being an Olympic athlete and representing their country. It is no different on the hockey side and that is why it is so special. In a lot of ways, it was just another hockey tournament as my days consisted of going from the hotel to the rink and then back to the hotel – but it was different with an energy and an atmosphere that was like nothing else. Security was always a hassle (except Sochi in 2014 where our hotel was inside the Olympic cluster and did not have to go through security once we were inside the cluster) and there was not a lot of free time as there were often 4-6 games each day. The only other events I was able to see live were some opening/closing ceremonies and some curling sessions. Going to be honest I missed being able to watch the other sports on TV and am looking forward to the next few weeks.
And for those who may be interested in hockey and history, I would very highly suggest you watch the new documentary available on Netflix called “Miracle: The Boys of 80” that sheds some new light on the Miracle on Ice 1980 Gold Medal Winning Hockey team. I was 14 at the time and am not going to pretend to understand the political dynamics taking place – I am only looking at it from a hockey perspective, and it does provide some new insights from the players 45 years later. And if you want to learn about the Russian side of things, a documentary called “Red Army” is excellent in covering the rise of the Russian Hockey dynasty and several of their player’s perspective on the 1980 Olympics and eventually coming to play in the NHL. Call me crazy as maybe I am just a hockey nut, but I think it would be of interest to those who are not crazy hockey folks, as well.
Player Profile – #5 EJ Sanchez (Great Falls, MT) 5’10” 200 lbs. FOR – Shoots Right DOB 05/02/2008
Favorite Team: Colorado Avalanche 
Favorite Player: Auston Matthews
Favorite Movie: Wedding Crashers
Favorite Actor/Actress: Adam Sandler
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Chicken and Rice
If you were animal: Shark — Because they have lots of teeth.
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Chris Stapleton
Pre-Game Hype Music: Katy Perry
One Person to be stuck with on a deserted island: Fisher Hannesson
Hobbies other than Hockey: Skiing
Three People you would invite to Dinner: Donald Trump, Adam Sandler, Margot Robbie
College/University of Choice: University of North Dakota
Like Most About Great Falls: The People!
How would you define a successful season: Fraser Cup!
Here are the upcoming dates to add to your calendar:
- February 6th – Away game at Bozeman. 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party.
- February 7th – Home game versus Butte at the Havre Ice Dome presented by Northwestern Energy. 7:05 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party for those who don’t make the trip to Havre.
- February 13th – Home games versus Gillette. 7:05 PM Puck drop with special performance by Great Falls Figure Skating Club and Valentine’s Weekend activations.
- February 14th – Home game versus Badlands. 7:05 PM Puck drop with Valentine’s Weekend activations.
- February 20th – Away game at Helena. 7:05 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party.
- February 21st – Away game at Bozeman. 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party.
- February 28th – Home game versus Gillette. Special 7:35 PM Puck Drop and featuring the Point S Tire & Auto Tricycle races.
- March 1st – Home game versus GIllette. Special 1:05 PM Puck Drop and “Skate with the Americans” after the game!
- March 7th – Away game at Butte. 7:30 PM Puck drop and join our fans at Buffalo Wild Wings for our official Watch Party.
- March 8th – Home game versus Butte. 7:05 PM puck Drop. Toyota Fan and Billet Appreciation Night!
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 |
| Hoglund’s Work and Western Wear | High Plains Wealth Management |
Thank you for being a part of our hockey family!
Matt Leaf
Great Falls Americans HC Inc
MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com