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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 95: February 12, 2026
PDF Printable Download: Weekly E-Newsletter with Matt Leaf
Dear Great Falls Americans Enthusiast: The Americans are coming off a very productive weekend. Friday saw the Americans engaged in a
playoff intensity type game at Bozeman and came away with the 3-2 win. Ethan Miller completed his hat trick with the game winner with 20 seconds remaining in the game and Kaden Rhyder secured his 50th win as an American Goalkeeper – which really is quite an achievement.
The Americans were able to unload on Butte in Havre on Saturday night with an 11-0 win. It was nice to be able to relax – yet maintain a workmanlike effort – with eight different goal scorers and eight players recording multiple points as the Americans had 68 shots on goal. Ethan Miller (Right) added another 4 goals in just 10 minutes of play, which combined with Friday earned him NA3HL Frontier Division Player of the Week honors.
There were a few other special milestones achieved on Saturday night as Cooper Clouse extended his scoring streak to 28 games and recorded his 100th Junior Hockey point with an assist on the first goal. Kaden Rhyder contributed to the shutout during the first two periods and in doing so, recorded his 3000th save as an Americans Goalkeeper. Congrats to Cooper, Kaden and Ethan on their accomplishments, although they would all say they are simply doing their jobs.
Even with an impressive 11-0 win, the highlight of the night in Havre was the post-game meet and greet and the reception our players received from our Havre fans. Our players enjoyed the attention and the opportunity to sign some autographs as they decompress from a demanding weekend. And, for those you have not done so – check out the Americans Facebook page for a brief video of the fans reaction when Colton Bacon arrived to sign – it might be the coolest thing I have seen in my three years here in Great Falls. A very special thanks goes out to our partners from Havre Youth Hockey, High Plains Wealth Management and Northwestern Energy for hosting us and making it a special night for our players and their fans.
The Americans are excited to be home this weekend as we host Gillette on Friday night and Badlands on Saturday night. Puck drop is 7:05 PM
both nights and be sure to join our players and fellow fans at our official post-game gathering spot Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom. Check-out the Americans Facebook page in the coming days as we will be highlighting our players in 
honor of Friday the 13th and Valentine’s Day. Our players are out selling raffle tickets this week for 25 lbs. of locally grown products from Central Avenue Meats with the drawing taking place during the 2nd Intermission on Saturday. We will also have some special prizes to give away in honor of Valentine’s Day from She Bare Wax & Sugar Boutique. Make this weekend’s games “Date Night” so you can get your raffle ticket(s) at the game and pick up a game program for chances to win prizes from She Bare, Scheels and Howard’s Pizza, not to mention our Montana Air National Guard Chuck-a-Puck partners.
After our games this weekend, our NA3HL Top Prospects representatives Fisher Hannesson (Left) and Cooper
Clouse (Right) will head to Plymouth, MI for a two game set on Monday and Tuesday. Coop and Fish will join other Frontier Division players on Team White and will play at 9:30 AM MT on Monday and then 10:45 AM MT on Tuesday with games being played at USA Hockey Arena. The Top Prospects Tournament is a chance for our league to bring in the top 2005-06 players and showcase their talens in front of college scouts at all levels. It is a unique opportunity and certainly an honor to be selected. Both games will be broadcast on NAHLTV, so if looking to kill some time next week tune-in and support our playwers as they show everyone else what we have seen all season long from these two leaders.
Quick alumni update – 2024-25 American Blayne Juszak is an assistant coach on the North Pole Partiots JV HS team as they won their Alaska Division II State Championship over the weekend. Congrats to Blayne!
Finally, mark your calendars for $10 DASH Day on Tuesday, February 24th. The Americans will have several items up for purchase that will all be $10 on DASH and there will be items available through DASH at greatly discointed prices from throughout the country. If you haven’t done so already, scan the QR code to get activated with DASH and participate in this amazing sports product activation.
Player Profile – #25 Gavin Denis (Rhinelander, WI) 5’10” 155 lbs. FOR – Shoots Right DOB 07/13/2006
Favorite Team: Pittsburgh Penguins 
Favorite Player: Connor McDavid
Favorite Movie: Talladega Nights
Favorite Actor/Actress: Will Ferrell, Steve Carell
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Chicken and Pasta
If you were animal: Eagle — So I could fly.
Musical Group You Won’t Miss in Concert: Nothing comes to mind.
Pre-Game Hype Music: EDM, Rock
One Person to be stuck with on a deserted island: Jase Troyer
Hobbies other than Hockey: Water Skiing, Boating, Camping
Three People you would invite to Dinner: My Family
College/University of Choice: University of Wisconsin
Like Most About Great Falls: The Community.
How would you define a successful season: Win the Frontier Division!
Here are the upcoming dates to add to your calendar:
- 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 24th – $10 DASH Day!
- 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! Big Brother/Big Sister of Central Montana
- 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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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