NOTE: A Special Thanks to Kevin Scott for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
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GREAT FALLS, Mont., November 18, 2023 —The Great Falls Americans (10-9-0-0, 5th in the Frontier) and the Sheridan (WY) Hawks (4-14-1-1, 7th in the Frontier) have played three previous head-to-head meetings with the Americans going 3-0 against their Wyoming opponents.
Their most recent matchup was on Friday (November 17th) where they cruised to a 7-2 win. Forward Dmitri Kuleshov had his best performance in his first season by accumulating four goals. Teammate Ty O’Bey scored once and dished out three assists. Daniel Shelden and William Clark each added to the scoring column for Sheridan in the second and third periods, respectively. Kaden Ryhder (6-3-0-0) won his sixth game in nine appearances for Great Falls by swatting away 31 of the 33 shots taken by the Hawks. The Hawks used Joseph DaRosa in the net for his first game with his new team and he struggled stopping the Americans offensive attack. He made 41 saves but allowed seven goals in the loss (game story).
Saturday’s game is the final regular season showdown between these two rivals this season. The teams could eventually meet during postseason play.
The Great Falls Americans claimed their tenth victory of the season by downing the Sheridan Hawks 6-3 at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday night during the final night of “Military Appreciation Weekend.”
Great Falls and Sheridan traded goals during the first period of action at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Forward Jacob James scored his fifth and sixth goals of the 2023-24 season with the last one coming with 4:56 remaining. Aaron Leaf had two assists, Aiden Kennedy and Sam Duehlmeier assisted on the second scoring opportunity. Sheridan’s McCaffery Billings and Kaden Lansing answered for the visiting Hawks. Tanner Freed, Jackson LeBrasseur, and William Clark earned the assists. The Americans scored two goals and took 18 shots total while the team from Sheridan, Wyoming took seven shots and capitalized on two scoring drives.
The Americans broke the tie in the second stanza when Aaron James, Tariq Khan, and Ty O’Bey all lit up the light for a 5-2 lead. All three scoring plays came while the Hawks were in the penalty box. Khan’s first career goal for Great Falls came in his 17th game played with 7:54 remaining. Six players added to their resume with one assist each including Luke Pizzey, Dmitri Kuleshov, Aaron Leaf, Aaron James, Ty O’Bey and Sam Duehlmeier. The fans at the Great Falls Ice Plex saw 36 shots being taken between these two clubs.
Great Falls added to their lead to 91 seconds into the final period of regulation. Wisconsin native Alec Browning scored his first goal for Great Falls with assistance coming from two of our new players including Zac Orwig and Sobe Perez. Both players came over in a trade this week from the Yellowstone (WY) Quake. The Hawks cut into the lead twelve minutes later. Elijah White connected on a pass from Daniel Shelden and Vladyslav Zubriichuk for the lamplighter made the score, 6-3 but the comeback fell short as that was the last scoring for either team.
The host team had eight power play chances and scored on four of them. Both teams combined for 16 penalties resulting in 48 minutes spent off the ice.
The Hawks outshot the Americans in the final two periods, but Great Falls finished the contest with seven more (46-39) than the visiting team.
Great Falls’ Ryan Stowe (4-2-0-0) was perfect in the second period and picked up his first victory since an October 1st home game against the Badlands (SD) Sabres. He redirected 36 shots by the Hawks offense. Zach Broxterman (40 saves) saw his record drop to 2-8-1-1 for Sheridan.
NOTES: Tonight, the Great Falls Americans held a celebratory ceremony before the game as Americans forward Aaron Leaf, the son of Americans Team Owner Matt and brother of Alex Leaf, the Americans Assistant Coach, played in his 100th contest with Great Falls.
Also, the Great Falls Americans Booster Club is having another raffle. This time, the club is offering a gift card raffle. The Great Falls “Bests” Raffle features Great Falls area restaurants (Montana Club, Jakers, City Bar, Clark & Lewie’s, Borries, 3D International and many more), hotel stays and booze baskets. Tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased at the upcoming Thanksgiving Weekend games on November 24-25 with the drawing being held on Sunday, November 26th home game against the Bozeman Ice Dogs.
The Great Falls Americans teamed up on Thursday with the Uptown Optimist Club in Great Falls for their annual Christmas Tree sales. The players set up and helped with the delivery of the trees. Tree tickets are $50.00 per book and is good for your tree, wreath, door charms or accessories purchase. Contact Dana Schoolcraft (bod@rainbowsl.com) to secure your tree tickets.
Ty Brander, a defenseman from Airdrie, Alberta, Canada was this week’s guest on the “Americans Podcast with Jim Quick.” Ty and Jim talked hockey and much more. Click here to listen to all the Podcasts recorded so far this season.
In this week’s “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletter, Americans team owner Matt Leaf has a player profile of team captain defenseman Phil Harrell, sponsor information, and upcoming Americans events. Click here to view this past week’s newsletter and all the weekly “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletters.
Be sure to check out Staradio’s Weekly Interview with Greg Sears hosted by Troy Mellinger. The short radio interview gives a recap of last Saturday’s game against the Helena Bighorns and previews the home series against the Sheridan Hawks. Listen live every Monday throughout the season at 12:20PM (MST) on FOX SPORTS RADIO (98.3FM/1400AM) and on Q106.1 FM on Wednesday mornings at 10:00AM (MST). To listen to this interview and the previous others from the 2023-24 season, please click here.
Check out all the Americans photos throughout the season with many of the game action photos taken by Americans photographer, Dustin Bauer. Click here to view all the photos from the 2023-24 season.
Click here to view the Americans online team store that features a variety of different souvenirs to purchase. A store is available at all home games. Fans can also buy game day tickets on the website prior to the game by clicking here.
Please check out the Americans website at www.greatfallsamericans.com for all your updated news, game summaries, rosters, photo galleries, etc.
The #1 Gillette (WY) Wild (18-1-0-1) kept their win streak alive to maintain first place in the NA3HL’s Frontier Division by hanging on for a 4-2 decision over the #3 Bozeman Ice Dogs (11-8-0-1) on Saturday evening at Haynes Pavilion in Bozeman, Montana. Adam Severson, Ryan Hipsag, Payton Kor, and Chase Hapka created scoring opportunities for the Wyoming visitors. Spencer Wilkinson added a goal in the first and second periods for the home team. Weston Gerke won his fifth overall game (5-0-0-0) by accruing 19 saves while Bozeman netminder Matthew Ryynanen (7-6-0-1) finished with 29 saves in sixty minutes of action (Box Score).
Patrick Crooks scored once during each regulation period and Andrew Browe scored the game-winning goal for the #6 Butte Irish’s (8-10-0-0) 4-3 overtime victory over the #4 Badlands (SD) Sabres (9-5-2-2) in Rapid City, South Dakota to prevent the Sabres from the weekend sweep. The goals for Badlands went to Kyyan Jahner, Peyton Wilson and Aden Cobbs. A 29-save performance gave Butte goaltender Braylon Rogers his fourth win (4-3-0-0) in nine games in his third season with the Butte NA3HL junior hockey franchise. Hunter Oger failed to get his second win (1-3-1-1). The Colorado goalie acquired 40 saves but allowed Butte to score early in the extra frame for the loss (Box Score).
The #2 Helena Bighorns (15-2-0-0) and the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-17-1-0) have the weekend off and will return to the ice next weekend. Helena will battle the #3 Bozeman Ice Dogs in a home and away series on November 24-25. Bozeman hosts on November 24th at 7:30PM (MST) and Helena will entertain their rivals on November 25 at 7:05PM (MST). Sheridan will host two games against Yellowstone on November 24-25 at 7:30PM (MST) each night.
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans will have their annual home games on Thanksgiving Weekend when the Butte Irish come to town for a two-game series on Friday and Saturday, November 24-25. The puck will drop on both nights at 7:00PM (MST). On Sunday (November 26), the Bozeman Ice Dogs will be the opponent for the Americans starting at 6:00PM (MST). NAHLTV is the place to catch all the Great Falls Americans contests all season long. Both home and away games can be seen on the NA3HL’s official streaming service. To learn more about how to view any of the Americans games on NAHL TV, please click here.
The Americans are partnering up with the Great Falls Community Food Bank for the three games. Fans who bring a non-perishable item will receive a $2.00 discount on their ticket at the door to help the GF Community Food Bank support their fight against hunger in northcentral Montana.
Before Sunday’s contest against Bozeman, the Americans promotional night is Wine, Women and Hockey.” They will have a seminar from 4:00PM-5:30PM with hockey community members sharing their stories along with a question-and-answer opportunity from anyone in attendance. All ages are welcome with a game ticket. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. Please pre-register if you would like to attend by emailing Matt Leaf (MattL.GFAmericans@gmail.com).
Click here for the 2023-24 Great Falls Americans schedule and results.