NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
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GREAT FALLS, Mont., January 24, 2026 —With three remaining head-to-head meetings remaining, the Great Falls Americans (22-13-1-1) and the Butte Irish (9-26-0-0) have already met four prior times on the ice with Great Falls going undefeated. Butte has been held to no more than three goals per game.
Since the Great Falls Americans 6-3 win in Butte, Montana on January 3rd, the Irish have made some changes to their lineup. On January 13th, Butte sent standout player, Easton Langemo to the top-ranked Sheridan (WY) Hawks in exchange for Anthony Launderville and Josh Halvorson. In addition to the trade, they also released eight players from head coach Marc Brodeur’s squad.
Great Falls was looking to go 2-0 at home against their Montana opponent on Saturday afternoon after winning three at the Butte Community Ice Center eariler this season.
Reid Lezubksi, Jordan Murray and Gordon Jennings all lit up the lamp in the Great Falls Americans 3-2 victory over the Butte Irish during Toyota Night at the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday afternoon. Cooper Clouse assisted on all three scoring drives.
Great Falls outshot Butte 22-8 as the first period came to a close but it was the Irish taking the early lead. Butte’s Loghan Weber took advantage of the Americans in the penalty box and got the puck in the net off a pass from teammates Andrew James and Jack Whitelaw with 1:16 left before the first intermission. Weber, a native of Beaverton, Oregon, currently leads the Butte NA3HL franchise with 15 goals and 34 points. Great Falls had their fair share of unsuccessful scoring opportunites.
Photo Credit: Michael Noel Photography
During the first intermission, Americans team owner, Matt Leaf presented Tammy Comer from “Think Pink For the Girls” a check for $1,824.00 as a donation to the local Breast Cancer Support Group as a result of our Breast Cancer Awareness weekend on October 24-25. The Americans have raised around $3,000.00 for a three-year toal of over $10,000.00 for this worthy cause that also included raffle baskets, Jersey Auction and Booster Club 50/50 donations.
The American came out of the locker room for the second period ready to go. The Americans needed one minute to even the score (1-1) on a score by Reid Lezubski with Fisher Hannesson and Cooper Clouse gathering the assists. Jordan Murray, who came over from the Yellowstone (WY) Quake earlier this season, picked up his first goal as a member of the Americans (he scored twice while with Yellowstone this season) less than two minutes after Lezubski’s score. Cooper Clouse, the team leader in assists made, captured his 46th (assist) while Keegan Hanson acquired his sixth assist to give Great Falls their first lead (2-1) of the afternoon. Clouse is currently ranked No. 10 in the NA3HL for point scored with 63. The penalty-free frame saw 22 total shots being taken.
Seven minutes into the last period of regulation, Butte and Great Falls traded goals. Kaleb Ivens scored his first goal of the season as the Irish tied the game, 2-2 with12:23 left. Jack Whitelaw and Andrew James each added their second assists. The Great Falls offense raced down the other way and answered back 22 seconds later with Cooper Clouse earning his third assist of the game and Aidan Mulharen getting his fourth when they found an open Gordon Jennings to help the Americans regain the lead (3-2). The score by Gordon Jennings proved to be the game-winner as both teams skated out the remaining twelve minutes.
Great Falls tamed Butte’s offense as they produced 53 shots-on-goal with 31 coming after the first intermission. Butte ended their road game with Great Falls with just 20 shots attempted.
Each squad capitalized by scoring on one of their power play chances.
Kaden Rhyder remained perfect (4-0-0-0) when facing the Irish this season. The standout goaltender swatted away 18 shots and allowed one goal in the first and third periods. He is now 11-5-0-1 in 18 appearances for Great Falls.
The Americans offense kept Butte netminder Mathieu Chernauckas (3-8-0-0) busy in the net. The returning goalie from last season played the entire sixty minutes and finished with 50 saves in his second loss at the hands of the Americans. On January 3rd, Great Falls got by Butte, 6-3 in Butte, Montana.
NOTES: The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) announced the game schedule and times for their annual Top Prospects Tournament (TPT) coming in February 2026 in Plymouth, Michigan. Player rosters for the four TPT teams will be announced at a later date. Click here to view the news story.
The fans in attendance got to watch two games if they desired on Saturday. After the Americans and Irish finished their fifth meeting of the year, the University of Providence Argonanut’s men’s hockey team played host to the University of Montana Grizzlies at 7:30PM (MST).
AMERICANS E-NEWSLETTERS: The Americans have two email newsletters for fans to receive in their inbox this season. Kevin Scott, the Americans Media Coordinator, has an Americans E-Newsletter that you can get on Sunday’s during the regular season filled with game summaries, press releases, links, schedule, etc. Click here to subscribe (if you haven’t already).
Americans Owner Matt Leaf creates and sends out a weekly email called “Baldy’s Puck Drop” that features team news, player profile, sponsor information and lots of other tidbits relating to Americans hockey that is published on Thursday mornings. Click here to receive the weekly newsletter (if you haven’t already).
NEXT CONTEST: After a bye week (Jan. 30-31), Great Falls will visit Bozeman, Montana to challenge the Bozeman Ice Dogs on Friday, February 6th starting at 7:30PM (MST) from Haynes Pavilion. The following night (February 7th), Great Falls will play host to the Butte Irish in the Americans annual trip to Havre, Montana. The Americans and Irish will square off at the Havre Ice Dome at 7:05PM (MST). Tune into NATV for the live coverage from Bozeman and Havre, Montana.
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom (1101 7th Street South) is the place to be after Friday and Saturday night home games where the Americans invite their fans and supporters to their post-game dinner.
Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 17 Northwest Bypass in Great Falls, hosts the “Americans Watch Party” this season when the Americans are on the road. Fans are invited to get food and drinks and watch the game.
NATV is the NA3HL’s new streaming platform and is the place to catch all the action for fans that are unable to attend the home and away games this season. Click here to learn more about how to view any of the Americans home and away contests.
For complete schedules/results, promotions, team stats, rosters and much more information, please go to our official website: www.greatfallsamericans.com