Team Owner
Matt Leaf
Matt is entering his first season (2023-24) as Team Owner for the Great Falls Americans. He brings over 50 years of hockey experience to the position as a player, coach, official, volunteer and administrator – including the last 28 years as Director of the Officiating Education Program for USA Hockey. Within that role, Matt oversaw the day-to-day operations of officiating registration, education and development while also serving as an Officiating Coach/Instructor for the International Ice Hockey Federation. During this time, he spent 13 years as a member of the IIHF Officiating Committee focusing on the global development of officials as was part of four Winter Olympic Games and eleven IIHF World Championships.
Leaf became intrigued with the Americans while his son’s (Alex and Aaron) were playing and sees a tremendous potential to positively impact the game in the Great Falls area. Matt looks forward to working with the Great Falls Community IcePlex, the Youth Hockey Program and the community business and leaders in growing the game and returning the Great Falls area to prominence as “Hockey Town, Montana”.
Contact Matt: Mattl.gfamericans@gmail.com l Phone: 719-330-0229
Head Coach/General Manager
Greg Sears
Greg is entering his sixth season (2023-24) as Head Coach/General Manager for the Great Falls Americans.
A Webster, Wisconsin native, Sears brings 17 years of coaching experience to the Americans program. Prior to joining the Americans during the 2018-19 season, Sears served as the Head Coach for the Florida Eels Elite in the USPHL. During the 2016-17 season, Sears was an Assistant Coach for the Yellowstone Quake. The Quake went 40-4-3 and won both the Frontier division regular season and playoff title.
During the 2015-16 season, Sears served as the Head Coach for the Atlanta Fire U18 AAA hockey program, and Assistant Hockey Director in Alpharetta, Georgia and the season prior Coach Sears served as an Assistant Coach for the Coulee Region Chill of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
Along with experience in the NAHL and NA3HL, Sears spent eight years as a Head Hockey coach in Wisconsin, spending four years at both Webster High School, and La Crosse Central High School. In addition, Coach Sears has worked with Top Dog Hockey program out of Minneapolis, Minnesota for 12 years.
Contact Greg: gsears@gfamericans.com l Phone: 715-566-2811
Assistant Coach/Scout
Alex Leaf
Alex Leaf joins the coaching staff this season after a successful playing career, including serving as Team Captain during the 2022-23 season and accumulating 39 points (4 goals and 35 assists) plus 74 penalty minutes. Alex was selected to represent the Americans at the Top Prospects Tournament and earned end of season All-Frontier Division Team as a defenseman and 2nd Team All NA3HL recognition.
Alex competed in the Eastern Junior Hockey League during the 2021-22 season where his Walpole Express finished as playoff runner-up. Leaf brings 101 games of Junior playing experience to his assistant coach role after playing Tier I AAA Hockey for the Colorado Springs Tigers, Rocky Mountain Roughriders and Detroit Compuware.
Contact Alex: leaf498@gmail.com | Phone: 719-565-8558
Goalkeeper Coach
Trever Mellen
Trever Mellen is entering his third season (2023-24) as Goalkeeper Coach for the Great Falls Americans.
The native of North Branch, Minnesota played two years (2019-21) with the Americans as a goalkeeper. In two seasons with the team, he played in 52 games and finished with an overall record of 34-11-0-1 (including playoffs where he went 3-2-0-0). Trever was selected to play for in the 2021 Top Prospects Tournament where he played in two games and was credited with one victory. Mellen had a save percentage of 0.936 with 1,776 saves in 1,912 attempts during his Americans career.
During his time with the Americans, Mellen was named All-NA3HL 3rd Team Goalkeeper, 1st Team Frontier Division and Frontier Division Goalkeeper of the Year for the 2020-21 season. In addition, Trever was named Honorable Mention Goalkeeper of the Month three times, #1 Star of the Week once, 2nd Star of the Week twice and Honorable Mention Star of the Week on ten different occasions.
Prior to his arrival in Great Falls, Montana, he played three years with the North Branch (MN) High School hockey team
Trever Mellen is entering his third season (2023-24) as Goaltenders Coach for the Great Falls Americans.
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Zac Hattan
Zac is entering his second season (2023-24) as the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Great Falls Americans.
The native of Kalamazoo, Michigan played 18 games over two seasons with the Americans as a Goalkeeper. Zac finished his Great Falls career with an overall record of 5-8-2-0 (including playoffs where he played in two games and was credited with one loss). During his time with the Americans, Hattan was named Honorable Mention Star of the Week on four different occasions.
Prior to his arrival in Great Falls, Montana, he made 15 appearances with the NA3HL’s New Ulm Steel (2019-21) and suited up for the Kalamazoo (MI) High School Blades (2016-19).
Public Relations/Media Coordinator
Kevin Scott
Kevin Scott is entering his 10th season (2023-24) as Public Relations Coordinator for the Great Falls Americans. Kevin is in charge of the distribution of information regarding the hockey team. His duties include writing game summaries after home and away games, creating press releases for news announcements regarding the Americans and updating the website with current information.
In January 2014, he created a FREE weekly Great Falls Americans E-Newsletter for fans during the hockey season. He also assists the news media with information and keeps them informed on news and events. He previously worked for the team in 2012 as a Parking Attendant.
Kevin grew up in Sand Coulee, MT (just east of Great Falls) and attended Centerville High School where he graduated in 1997. After high school, he attended the University of Montana-Western located in the small town of Dillon, MT, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Communications in 2002.
He is currently working at Easter Seals-Goodwill and The Newberry in Great Falls and is a Confero Sports Foundation board member. He is also an active member of the Lincoln Eleementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA).
Previously, Kevin was the Sports Information Director at the University of Great Falls, and he was also the Marketing Coordinator for the University of Great Falls Athletic Association Lancer Booster Club.
In his spare time, Kevin enjoys attending a variety of sporting events including hockey, football, basketball and baseball.
Kevin and his wife, Alta live in Great Falls and have one daughter, Lily born in June 2015.
Contact Kevin: kevymt@live.com l Phone: 406-403-8146
Social Media Coordinator
Jessica Sanstra
Jessica is entering his first season (2023-24) as the Social Media Coordinator for the Great Falls Americans. She is entering her third year playing at the University of Colorado, Boulder, majoring in Strategic Communications in Advertising/Public Relations. Growing up in Littleton, Colorado, she played youth hockey for the Colorado Selects before joining the North American Hockey Academy (NAHA) in Stowe, Vermont.
During her time at NAHA, she made the USA Hockey 2017 Girls’ 15 National Camp in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She finished her youth career as a captain and playing for the Team Colorado U19 Tier 1 Program. Jessica then began her academic career at the University of Colorado. She spends her summers coaching camps for the Colorado 14ers, a girls program based out of Littleton, Colorado.
Contact TBA: TBA l Phone: 000-000-0000
Education Coordinator/Academic Advisor
TBA
TBA is entering his first season (2023-24) as Education Coordinator/Academic Advisor for the Great Falls Americans.
Contact TBA: TBA l Phone: 000-000-0000
Billet Coordinator
Kris Steichen
Kris is entering his first season (2023-24) as Billet Coordinator for the Great Falls Americans. Kris and his wife Laura have served as a Billet family for several season and are huge supporters of the Great Falls Americans and the Booster Club. Steichen is currently an Architect with the Centene Corporation in Great Falls.
Contact Kris: ksteichen01@hotmail.com l Phone: 406-781-4350
Play-By-Play Announcer/”Voice of the Americans”
Ryan Siders
Ryan is entering his first season (2023-24) as the NAHLTV Play-By-Play Announcer/”Voice of the Great Falls Americans”.
Contact Justin: Siders79@gmail.com l Phone: 000-000-0000