NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photo.
By Kevin Scott
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HELENA, Mont., September 19, 2025 — The NA3HL Frontier Division rivalry continued on Friday night in Helena, Montana as the Great Falls Americans (1-3-0-1) make their first road trip of the season to visit the Helena Bighorns (3-1-0-0) inside Steed Arena in Helena, Montana.
The Americans opened the 2025-26 NA3HL season at home on September 5th against the Bighorns in Great Falls. The Americans led 2-1 after the first period but quickly fell behind 6-3 in the second stanza. Helena outscored Great Falls, 2-0 in the third to pull out an 8-3 victory to spoil the Amerians home opener. Cooper Clouse, a forward from Fargo, North Dakota tallied one goal and dished out one assist for the home team while goaltenders Kale Witt and former Bozeman Ice Dog Oscar Gribauvel combined for 29 saves. Clint Isakson chipped in two goals and John Nanos (31 saves) was the winning goaltender for Helena.
The Helena BIghorns and the Great Falls Americans each put two goals on the scoreboard during the first three periods inside Helena’s Steed Arena on Friday evening but after a scoreless overtime, Helena gathered their third win of the season as Chase Berg provided the only goal by either team in the shootout. Cooper Clouse and Tallon Caron provided the scoring drives for Great Falls in their first road trip.
Each team was able to put the biscuit in the basket once during before the first intermission. Cooper Clouse, the leading scorer for the Americans, provided his fourth goal of the season with 16:13 remaining to give the Americans the lead. Blake Chapman, one of five players for the Bighorns who call Colorado home, scored his third lamplighter with Great Falls in the sin bin with 1:24 remaining to even the contest (1-1). Caden Feinstein helped set up the game-tying tally.
Utah native Mason Smith, a first-year player for the Bighorns, answered and broke the tie for the host team with under five minutes remaining in the middle stanza. Helena created 19 shots in the first and second periods while Great Falls tallied seven of their 16 in the second period.
In the third frame, Great Falls’ Tallon Caron put in the equalizer off the stick of Cooper Clouse. The visitors second goal occured with just under ten minutes left in regulation. Caron collected his third goal in his first season in the NA3HL while Clouse, tacked on his third assist in his second season with the team. Caron’s goal proved to be the only score by either team and a five-minute overtime was needed to declare a winning squad. Great Falls did outshoot Helena, 13-10.
The three-on-three overtime saw neither Frontier Division opponent find the back of the net. A shootout was necessary. Each squad was able to get off two shots against the opposing goaltender.
Chase Berg of the Bighorns was the only player from either squad to puck in the net as the Bighorns claimed their third victory in four games. Blake Chapman and Austin Uecker failed to get the puck in the net for Helena. Jase Troyer, Cooper Clouse and Wyatt Hanna were denied their one-on-one goal attempts by Bighorns goalie Andrew Blake.
The Bighorns scored two goals on 50 shots attempts while Great Falls ended the contest with 31 shots with two successful scoring opportunities.
The junior hockey rivals each had five power play chances but only Blake Chapman’s first period score was successful while the Americans were in the penalty box.
Andrew Blake escaped with his first win and had 29 saves for the Bighorns as the Champlin, Minnesota native is now 1-1-0-0 on the season. Kaden Rhyder (0-1-0-1) had a rough outing for Great Falls in his second apperance but managed 48 saves.
NOTES: During Saturday’s 4-3 shootout win against the Badlands (SD) Sabres in Great Falls, Americans head coach Greg Sears earned his 200th win in eight seasons as the Great Falls Americans head coach. Congrats to coach Sears on the milestone!
A new feature this season is the “Chuck-A-Puck” occurring at the second intermission at all home games this season. Fans can secure their pucks before each game through the DASH QR Code (right). On game night, stop at the chuck-a-puck table and pick up your bag of Montana Air National Guard pucks. Thanks to the following sponsors including Play It Again Sports, Montana Rib & Chop House, Fire Pizza, Teriyaki Madness and the Sip-N-Dip Lounge who provide the targets and prizes for fans to win.
The Americans Booster Club is raffling off a Remote Controlled Zamboni Cooler with the ticket drawn at the October 25th contest against the Yellowstone (WY) Quake. Tickets are $10.00 each. Click here for more information. To purchase tickets, please see any of the Booster Club members at any of the home games or contact Adam Stanczak (406-564-6771).
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: Great Falls will be on the road for the second time this season to challenge the Bozeman Ice Dogs on Friday, September 26th live from Bozeman’s Haynes Pavilion starting at 7:30PM (MST) before coming back home to face the Helena Bighorns on Saturday, September 27th at 7:05PM with the action live on NATV from the Great Falls Ice Plex. NATV is the official NA3HL streaming service where fans can watch home and away contests this season.
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