News

GREAT FALLS, Mont., March 14, 2014 —The #2 seeded Great Falls Americans hosted their first playoff series since the team came back three season ago against the #3 Gillette Wild on Friday night at the Great Falls Ice Plex in front of a season best 1,026 fans for game three of the AWHL Semifinals. Great Falls trailed 2-1 with 2:01 left in regulation when Donovan Mattfeldt scored on the unassisted play to send the game into overtime. After a scoreless overtime period, Gillette defeated the home team 3-2 in the second overtime.

GILLETTE, Wyo., March 12, 2014 —The Great Falls Americans held a three score lead going into the third period and survived a Gillette Wild comeback attempt in game two of the AWHL Semifinals on Wednesday night in Gillette, Wyoming. Great Falls defeated Gillette 3-2 and took a 2-0 series lead with a chance to close out the series on Friday night on home ice. rnrnBoth teams played great defense in the first period and didn't allow any goals in the first twenty minutes on Wednesday night.rn

GILLETTE, Wyo., March 11, 2014 —The Great Falls Americans opened up their first playoff appearances since the team was brought back in 2011 with a 5-1 win and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinals against the Gillette Wild at the Campbell County Ice Arena in Gillette, WY on Tuesday night in front of 516 fans in attendance.rn

AWHL Playoffs: Americans skate into postseasonrnrnrnBy Steven Schreck, Great Falls Tribune Sports WriterrnrnIt’s not about looking good or making the flashy play.rnrnThis time of the year, as the American West Hockey League playoffs get underway tonight, it’s about doing the little things – grinding it out in the corners, not turning the puck over at your own blue-line, crossing the red-line and dumping the puck into your opponent’s zone.rnrnTrying to toe-drag around a defender at the blue-line, or trying a cute pass when you have a wide-open shot can result in the puck in the back of your net and a spot on the bench.rnrnThe Great Falls Americans, which finished the season at 36-9-3 and the No. 2 seed in the league, will begin the AWHL playoffs on the road tonight at 7 against the Gillette Wild, which finished the season as the No. 3 seed in the league with a 28-17-3 record.

GREAT FALLS, Mont., March 10, 2014 — The Great Falls Americans Junior A Hockey team had four players and a coach that have been selected by the American West Hockey League (AWHL) for league honors during the 2013-14 season that was recently announced by the league.rnrnAaron McInnis was the recipient of the AWHL’s All-League Most Valuable Player as well as the Best Forward in the league. The Anchorage, Alaska natives along with teammate Donovan Mattfeldt were named to the AWHL First Team. The awards were voted on by the seven league coaches. rn

McInnis and Lomax goals lift Great Falls past Bozeman in season finalernrnBy Kevin Scottrn rnGREAT FALLS, Mont., March 7, 2014 —After opening the 2013-14 hockey season against the Bozeman Ice Dogs, it only seemed fitting that the Great Falls Americans would end the season with the Bozeman franchise. After Bozeman grabbed an early lead, the Americans scored five unanswered goals enroute to a 6-2 victory in the final regular season game of the season for Great Falls. Great Falls received plenty of support tonight from the 869 fans in attendance for Billet Family Appreciation Night.rn