NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photo.
By Kevin Scott
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GREAT FALLS, Mont., January 23, 2026 — The Great Falls Americans (21-13-1-1) and the Bozeman Ice Dogs (17-17-1-1) had some unfinished business to take care of after their December 6th game in Great Falls was suspended with the Ice Dogs leading 2-1 with 8:30 remaining in the third period before an injury prevented the game from completion. The Americans were about to begin a five-minute power play when the action on the ice picked up on Friday afternoon with a rescheduled start at 2:00PM (MST).
Friday’s afternoon performance was open and FREE to the public.
Things on the NA3HL Frontier Division standings have changed since December 6th. Great Falls was in second place ahead of the third place Bozeman Ice Dogs (17-17-1-1) and behind the division leading Sheridan (WY) Hawks (25-9-2-1) with the Helena Bighorns (23-10-1-0) in the fourth spot. As of January 23rd, the Hawks still maintain the top position but with Great Falls falling in both of their road games to the Badlands (SD) Sabres and Helena downing the Yellowstone Quake, Great Falls sits in third place while Helena moves up to second place with three points separating them (47-44). Bozeman lost six of their nine contests since the December 6th meeting with Great Falls and are two points behind (38-36) the Badlands Sabres, who occupy fourth place.
Ethan Miller (24 goals) and Cooper Clouse (44 assists) headline coach Greg Sears’s team after 36 games. Clouse, a forward from Fargo, North Dakota, also leads the team in points (61). Forwards Lex Steckelberg leads Bozeman with 24 goals and points scored (41) while Devin Bruns has produced 23 assists for head coach Mike Perkins’ squad.
The Bozeman Ice Dogs edged the Great Falls Americans, 2-1 during Friday afternoon’s game at the Great Falls Ice Plex. The game, which was postponed from December 6th with the Ice Dogs leading 2-1 with 8:30 left in regulation, was officially completed.
Neither team was able to score until Bozeman lit up the lamp with 3:43 remaining when Devin Bruns scored the first goal of the first period with assistance coming from Avery Martin and Alex Brello. Both squads attempted 12 shots apiece during the first twenty minutes.
During the first intermission when the game originally occurred on December 6, a member from each of the 10U teams competing this weekend at the Great Falls Ice Plex got the opportunity to go one-on-one against a chosen goaltender in the “10U King of the Hill” shootout competition.
The first ten seconds was all that was needed for the Americans to put in their first goal and even the score (1-1). Ethan Miller, the team’s leading scorer, got the puck in the net with Cooper Clouse and AJ Prioli picking up the assists. Avery Martin broke the tie with under eight minutes remaining in the second stanza. Jace Griffin and Devin Bruns were each credited with one assist apiece on the successful power play opportunity by the Ice Dogs.
The game picked up where we left it in the third period on the first Saturday in December. The final minutes ticked off without either team finding the back of the net.
Great Falls outshot Bozeman, 20-5 in the third period with 32 of their 52 total occurring in the first and second periods. The Ice Dogs completed the game with 29.
Bozeman’s last goal made by Avery Martin in the second period proved to be the game-winning tally was the only successful power play score made by either Frontier Division squad. The visitors finished 1-for-3 with 25 minutes spent off the ice. The host team committed three minor penalties in the middle period.
Jack Ryan now has a dozen wins this season for the Ice Dogs. The Colorado netminder earned 51 saves and is now 12-12-0-1 including 3-1 against the Americans. Cole Murphy (9-6-1-0) fell for the second time this year against Bozeman but not before ending the game with 27 saves.
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.
NOTE FROM DECEMBER 6TH: As a special promotion for Saturday’s December 6th contest, a Teddy Bear toss occurred where fans were able to bring plush teddy bears to throw out onto the ice when the Americans scored their first goal. All plush toys were donated to a children’s charity.
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 host the Butte Irish on Saturday, January 24th with a special puck drop at 3:35PM (MST) at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Following the Americans contest, the University of Providence Argonauts men’s college hockey team will face the University of Montana Grizzlies starting at 7:30PM (MST). NATV will provide the coverage on Saturday afternoon of the NA3HL action.
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