NOTE: A Special Thanks to GF Americans Facebook Page for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
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CODY, Wyo., December 9, 2023 — A night after scoring nine goals in a convincing 9-1 win over the Wyoming-based Yellowstone Quake (0-23-1-0) on Friday, the Great Falls Americans (15-10-0-0) were looking for the sweep on Saturday in the final head-to-head regular season meeting of the 2023-24 season between these two NA3HL rivals.
Ty O’Bey had two goals and one assist and goaltender Kaden Ryhder had 27 stops in the win on Friday as the Americans restarted their win streak after the Bozeman Ice Dogs ended it last week to snap their five-game winning streak. Wesley Amos scored the one and only goal for the Quake in the first period (game story).
The #3 Great Falls Americans needed just two goals to claim another victory over the #8 Yellowstone Quake to keep the Wyoming team from getting their first victory of the season. Dmitri Kuleshov and Cade Bendigo scored both goals in the first and second periods, respectively for Great Falls for the 2-1 win. Great Falls netminder Ryan Stowe was denied the perfect game by a late goal from the Quake’s John Kotsilidis.
The scoreless game ended thirteen minutes into the first stanza when Luke Pizzey and Phil Harrell found Dmitri Kuleshov, who was able to get the puck in the net over Yellowstone goaltender Ben Delisi for the early lead.
Cade Bendigo fired the puck in the back of the net for his second scoring drive of his career for Great Falls 3:46 after the first intermission. Alec Browning and Spencer Schipferling each earned their second assists of the year.
The low-scoring affair would continue into the final period of regulation. Great Falls goalie Ryan Stowe was 37 seconds away from getting the shutout victory when defenseman John Kotsilidis put in the lamplighter. Dawson William and Carter Tymchak gathered the helpers.
The Americans attempted more shots-on-goal (37) than they did in the first and second periods (36 total) to finish the sixty-minute contest with 73. Yellowstone had 11 of their 23 shots in the middle period.
Great Falls and Yellowstone combined for five minor penalties resulting in ten minutes spent in the penalty box. Only Great Falls converted on one of their three power play chances. Yellowstone could not score on their two opportunities.
Ryan Stowe had a stellar night in the net allowing just one puck to get by him. The Calgary, Alberta, Canada resident acquired 22 saves to improve his record to 6-2 on the season including a second victory over the Quake in his 11 appearances so far during the 2023-24 campaign.
Meanwhile, Boca Raton, Florida netminder Ben Delisi (0-4-0-0) had a busy night against the Americans offense as he swatted away 71 of 73 shots in his fourth loss in two months.
NOTES: Great Falls Americans coach Greg Sears is two victories shy of 300 victories in his coaching career. He could accomplish that milestone before the Christmas break by winning two of the three games at the 2023 NA3HL Showcase starting on Sunday, December 17 when the Americans will be at the prestigious tornament in Blaine, Minnesota for three days.
In this week’s “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletter, Americans team owner Matt Leaf has a player profile of forward Aaron James, Americans team Christmas party, sponsor information, and recognition of Ty O’Bey, Kaden Ryhder and Phil Harrell as November Honorable Mention “Stars of the Month” honors in the NA3HL. Click here to view this past week’s newsletter and all the weekly “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletters.
As mentioned above, the Americans had three players receive Honorable Mention honors for November’s “Stars of the Month.” Forward Ty O’Bey, defenseman Phil Harrell, and goaltender Kaden Ryhder were the honorees for Great Falls. Click here for more information.
Be sure to check out Staradio’s Weekly Interview with Greg Sears hosted by Troy Mellinger. The short radio interview gives a recap of last Friday’s road loss to the Bozeman Ice Dogs and previews the two-game series against the Yellowstone Quake. Listen live every Monday throughout the season at 12:20PM (MST) on FOX SPORTS RADIO (98.3FM/1400AM) and on Q106.1 FM on Wednesday mornings at 10:00AM (MST). To listen to this interview and the previous others from the 2023-24 season, please click here.
On Thursday, November 30th, the NA3HL announced their game schedule for the upcoming 2023 NA3HL Showcase occurring on December 17-19, 2023, at the NSC Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. Many scouts in the NCAA and ACHA scouts attend and recruit at this prestigious once-a-year event. The Showcase pairs up evenly matched teams against one another based on the current standings and features balanced competition with cross-divisional games. Great Falls will play the New Jersey Titans (4:15PM MST on Sunday, December 17), the Minnesota-based Alexandria Blizzard (5:15PM MST on Monday, December 18) and will finish out the event with a 11:00AM (MST) contest battling the Louisiana Drillers. Click here to read the full story.
Check out all the Americans photos throughout the season with many of the game action photos taken by Americans photographer, Dustin Bauer. Click here to view all the photos from the 2023-24 season.
Click here to view the Americans online team store that features a variety of different souvenirs to purchase. A store is available at all home games. Fans can also buy game day tickets on the website prior to the game by clicking here.
Please check out the Americans website at www.greatfallsamericans.com for all your updated news, game summaries, rosters, photo galleries, etc.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: Four different Gillette (WY) Wild (24-1-0-1) players scored as the top team in the Frontier Division easily came away with a 5-1 win over the #7 Butte Irish (8-16-0-0) inside their home arena on Saturday night. Jayden Rogen scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season to lead both teams. Rye Vincent first goal of the season in the third frame for the Irish prevented the shutout by Gillette. Weston Gerke (7-0-0-0) added his first win in the month of December and second overall against Butte this season by accumulating 27 saves. Braylon Rogers (4-5-0-0), a third player for the Irish, lost his second game this season against the Wild. He had a busy night gathering 83 saves (Box Score).
The #2 Helena Bighorns (21-2-0-0) defeated the #5 Badlands (SD) Sabres (9-11-2-2) for the second consecutive night on the road in Rapid City, South Dakota on Saturday night. Helena, on Friday earned the 7-0 shutout against the Sabres, and came away with the weekend sweep by posting a 3-1 win. The Bighorns had scores from Owen Gruener, Camden, and Braden Cunnigham. Carter Kilen scored late in the second period for Badlands. Alex Lamont added his seventh win in eight games (7-1-0-0) with 18 saves on 19 attempts. His only setback came on October 27th against the Gillette Wild. The Sabres netminder, Easton Eriksmoen (28 saves) is now 0-2 against Helena this weekend and 6-6-0-0 overall (Box Score).
The #6 Sheridan Hawks (8-16-1-1) led 2-1 after the first period but the #4 Bozeman Ice Dogs had the last laugh as they scored five goals against the Hawks over the second and third periods for the 6-2 win. Andrew Kaunas, Mason Czarnecki, Spencer Wilkinson, Braden Koliha, Bodie Shepardson, and Casey Sturm all saw their season goals scored extended by one. Tanner Freed and Daniel Shelden tacked on the two first period goals for the Hawks. Matthew Ryynanen won his tenth game this season for Bozeman (10-9-0-1) by securing 27 saves. Zach Broxterman (3-9-1-1) got the start and his eleventh loss in 15 games for the Ice Dogs. He added 35 saves to his season total of 549 (Box Score).
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans will play one more weekend before their holiday break. Along with the other NA3HL teams, Great Falls will travel to Blaine, Minnesota for the NA3HL’s annual Showcase Tournament featuring matchups against teams from other divisions. College scouts will be inside the NSC Super Rink to watch the recruits during the three-day tournament that will conclude on Tuesday, December 19th.
Great Falls will open on Sunday with the New Jersey Titans, a team from Middleton, New Jersey that plays in the East Division of the NA3HL and currently has a record of 13-10-1-1 (3rd Place). The game will begin at 4:15PM (MST). Monday’s opponent will be the Minnesota-based Alexandria Blizzard at 5:15PM (MST). The West Division’s Blizzard currently holds a 14-5-1-1 record good for third place. Great Falls will end the tournament on Tuesday at 11:00AM (MST) with the Louisiana Drillers, who call Lafayette, LA home. The Louisiana team competes in the South Division with a 12-11 record in 23 games (sixth place).
Click here to see the press release and schedule.
AMERICANS WATCH PARTY: The Stadum Bar and Casino, located at 1121 5th Street South 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.
After the Christmas break, the Americans will travel to Butte, Montana for two games against the Irish on January 5-6 before Great Falls returns to the friendly confines of the Great Falls Ice Plex for two games against the Bozeman Ice Dogs on January 12-13. Click here for the 2023-24 Great Falls Americans schedule and results.
NAHLTV is the place to catch all the Great Falls Americans contests all season long. Click here to learn more about how to watch any of the Americans NA3HL junior hockey games on NAHL TV during the 2023-24 season.