NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
BUTTE, Mont., October 9, 2026 — Parker Jusczak and Paxon Sacre scored in the first and third periods, respectively to help the Great Falls Americans (5-2-0-1) blank the Butte Irish (2-7-0-0), 2-0 on the road during NA3HL Frontier Division hockey action at the Butte Community Ice Center in Butte, Montana on Friday evening. Americans netminder JD Stephens was perfect in the net swatting away all 29 shots for his fifth victory.
Great Falls’ Parker Jusczak scored his second goal of the season with nine minutes remaining in tthe first period in their second head-to-head meeting of the season against Butte and held the Irish off the scoreboard for the one-goal advantage after twenty minutes of action. Gordon Jennings (fifth season assist) and Xander Troyer (sixth season assist) helped set up the lone first period scoring drive for the Americans.
After taking 20 first period shots, Great Falls tacked on an additional 28 in the middle period. The Irish combined for 22 shots before the second intermission. Neither squad was able to make any successful scoring drives.
The defense held up for both squad in the third frame until the final seconds. Butte took out starting goaltender Jackson Wagner with 16 seconds to go and added another offensive player on the ice. The Americans did manage to score as Paxon Sacre, a forward from Des Moines, Iowa was able to score for the third time this season on an empty net as time expired.
Great Falls outshot Butte, 57-29 with the final nine shots coming in the third period.
Both NA3HL clubs went 0-for-1 on the power play. The visting team had just one minor penalty for high sticking in the final stanza after playing the first forty minutes without a penalty.
JD Stephens defeated Butte for the second time this season and improved his overall record to 5-1-0-1 on the season. The Colorado goalie redirected all 29 shots the host team sent his way. He helped the Americans down the Irish 8-3 back on September 18th at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Jackson Wagner was busy in the net for Butte as he took his second loss (2-2-0-0) of the season but not before gathering 56 saves.
With the Helena Bighorns (6-1-1-0), the Bozeman Ice Dogs (6-3-0-0) and the Badlands (SD) Sabres (5-2-1-0) each coming away with victories on Friday night, Great Falls is now in fourth place in the NA3HL’s Frontier Division with a 5-2-0-1 record.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls and Butte will cliash on the ice again with the Americans playing host to their Montana rivals with the puck set to drop at 7:05PM (MST) inside the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday, October 10th. Join Great Falls Americans Play-By-Play Announcer, Ryan Siders for all the action on the NA3HL’s official streaming service, NATV if you are unable to come watch in person.
For complete schedules/results, promotions, team stats, rosters and much more information, please go to our official website: www.greatfallsamericans.com