NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
Members of the Great Falls Americans and their mascot, Baldy pose for a photo with Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute employees for “Think Pink for the Girl’s” Breast Cancer Awareness weekend. (Photo Courtesy of GF Americans Facebook)
GREAT FALLS, Mont., October 23, 2026 — The Gillette Wild (3-9-0-0) scored four of their five goals in the final period to down the Great Falls Americans (6-5-0-1), 5-2 during Friday’s NA3HL junior hockey action at the Great Falls Ice Plex in Great Falls, Montana. Donovan Balek led the way for the visitors with two goals and one assist.
This weekend, the Americans partnered with the Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute in Great Falls for their annual “Think Pink for the Girl’s” weekend to support Breast Cancer Awareness. All fans were encouraged to dress in pink and the Great Falls Americans players wore pink jerseys.
Both squads were trying to get in a rhythm in the first quarter as they totaled just 18 shots and no successful scoring opportunities.
The Wild scored the first and only goal in the second frame on a goal by Dylan Crossley with 6:31 left. Beau Delich and Maguire Dewees provided the assists for head coach Wilson Anderle’s squad.
Great Falls came out of the locker room after the second intermssion ready to go. Gordon Jennings and Austin Gibson scored 72 seconds apart while Gillette was in the sin bin and held a 2-1 lead three minutes into the final period. Jennings scored his third goal of the year with assistance from Xander Troyer and Reid Lezubski followed by Gibson’s lamplighter with Logan Knowles and Jacob Weber assisting on the Americans second scoring drive. The American lead lasted six minutes before Thomas McDonald tied the contest (2-2) for the Wild on a play that was assisted by Jacen Rustand and Donovan Balek. Donovan Balek was not done filling the stat sheet as the North Dakota forward scored the first of his two goals with eight minutes left in the contest a play that was set up by Thomas McDonald and Maguire Dewees. The tie-breaking score came with the Americans in the penalty box. A few minutes later, Cody Lang gave Gillette a two-goal advantage on a play that saw Dylan Crossley and Beau Delich each add a helper. Great Falls took out starting goaltender JD Stephens and brought in another offensive weapon during the final minute but Donovan Balek took advantage of the open net and recorded his sixth overall goal. Thomas McDonald and Jacen Rustand each tacked on their second assist of the night with 34 seconds to go for their second victory against the Americans this season. Gillette defeated Great Falls in a (3-2) shootout in September at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
Gillette gathered their third win of the season by taking just 28 shots with 24 coming after the first period. Great Falls’ offense attempted 63 shots against Wild netminder Andrew Knox but managed just two third period goals.
The home team went 2-for-7 on the power play with both success coming in the third period. The visiting team scored on one of their five power play chances.
Andrew Knox (3-6-0-0) got his second win against Great Falls as the New Jersey goalie stopped 61 of the 63 shots he faced. JD Stephens (6-3-0-1) suffered his third regulation setback in his ten appearances for the Americans. He ended his night with 23 saves in 58 minutes of action.
NEXT CONTEST: The Great Falls Americans will face Gillette again on Saturday, October 24th at 7:05PM (MST) at the Great Falls Ice Plex to finish out the weekend series. Both squads will not see each other again until Saturday, February 6th inside Gillette’s Spirit Hall Ice Arena. Catch Ryan Siders on the call for the Americans home game on Saturday on NATV.
For complete schedules/results, promotions, team stats, rosters and much more information, please go to our official website: www.greatfallsamericans.com