By Kevin Scott
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BOZEMAN, Mont., September 26, 2025 — The Great Falls Americans entered their second game on the road this season with a 1-3-0-1 record when they met the Bozeman Ice Dogs (4-1-0-0) on Bozeman’s home arena (Haynes Pavilion) on Friday night.
In the second game of the 2025-26 season on September 6th, Great Falls fell behind 3-0 before the second intermission but did outscore the Ice Dogs, 2-0 in the third for the 3-2 setback in Great Falls. Returning forward Cooper Clouse and newcomer Jaxon Savage each put the puck in the net for Great Falls.
Great Falls has played the Helena Bighorns twice (0-1-0-1), Bozeman once (0-1), and split the weekend series against the Badlands (SD) Sabres after the first five games of the season. Bozeman, Bozeman, who won the first four games of the season (with two wins against the Yellowstone (WY) Quake, and victories against the Butte Irish and Great Falls Americans), lost 4-1 to the Helena Bighorns on September 20th for their only blemish.
Great Falls is led by Cooper Clouse with four goals and Gavin Denis’ four assists while Bozeman’s Lex Steckelberg has seven goals and Devin Bruns has added six assists to his season total. All four team leaders returned for their prospective squads from last season.
Andrew Kaunas scored a pair of goals and dished out one assist and teammate Barrett Becker added another goal and picked up one assist as the Bozeman Ice Dogs blanked the Great Falls Americans, 4-0 in Bozeman, Montana during Friday’s NA3HL action inside Haynes Pavilion.
Andrew Kaunas scored the first goal of the game 4:46 into the first period as the Ice Dogs led early (1-0). Avery Martin and Barrett Becker helped set up lamplighter. A combined 24 shots-on-goal and no penalties by either squad dotted the scoresheet during the first twenty minutes of action.
Bozeman’s offense provided three second period goals to lead 4-0. Andrew Kaunas and Devin Bruns provided unassisted tallies and Kaunas provided one assist on Barrett Becker’s score near the end of the second stanza. Andrew Kaunas added his third goal of the season with 14 minutes remaining and then Devn Bruns tacked on the Ice Dogs third goal with 3:23 left on the clock while Barrett Becker’s successful scoring opportunity occured 79 second after Bruns’ score. Great Falls still took twice as many shots (20) than the home team (9).
Despite each squad taking 13 shots, neither team was able to successfully produce any scoring opportunitues in the third frame.
Andrew Kaunas scored half (two) of the Ice Dogs total goals and also assisted one score. Barrett Becker had one goal and dished out one assist in Bozeman’s fifth win in six games.
The visiting team outshot the host team, 46-33 with 20 shots coming in the second frame.
Bozeman’s last goal in the second period by Barrett Becker was the only power play goal made. Bozeman went 1-for-4 and Great Falls could not convert on their two power play chances.
Jack Ryan improved to 5-1-0-0 overall in six appearances for Bozeman. He stopped all 46 shots in his second win of the season against the Americans. Kaden Rhyder and backup Kale Witt split goaltending duties for the Americans and combined for 33 saves. Rhyder saw his record drop to 0-2-0-1 in three contests.
NOTES: 
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) with the last chance to purchase them through DASH is on Monday, September 29th. 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 are currently offering their fans to purchase a customized version of both their home (white) and blue (away) Jersey that the players are wearing this season. The jersey’s are customizeable by size, name on back, and jersey number. This one time opporunity will end on October 9th with production time being 4-6 weeks with plenty of time to arrive before the holiday season. The jerseys listed as $110.00 each can be purchased by clicking here. Fans can also purchase other apparel, items, and gear on their online team store.
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: The rivalry continues between Great Falls and the Helena Bighorns with their third contest in three weeks to start the 2025-26 season. The Americans will host their closest competitor on Saturday, September 27th at the Great Falls Ice Plex starting at 7:05PM (MST) live on the official streaming service of the NA3HL, NATV. Great Falls is 0-1-0-1 with an 8-3 regulation loss on opening night of the NA3HL on September 5th and a 3-2 loss in a shootout on September 19th. Both teams will not meet again until November 28th in Great Falls.
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