NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photos.
By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., October 10, 2026 — Seven different Great Falls Americans (6-2-0-1) players contributed successful scoring opportunities in their 7-1 romp over the Butte Irish (2-8-0-0) during Friday’s NA3HL’s Frontier Division action inside the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday night. Xander Troyer, Gordon Jennings and Austin Gibson all scored before the third period while Keifer Lundmark, Ace McLeslie, Jarrett Parker and Cooper Palazzolo each lit up the lamp in the third for Great Falls’ sixth victory in nine games.
The game was scoreless for the first fifteen minutes before the Americans were able to put together a successful scoring drive highlighted by Xander Troyer’ s sixth goal of the season. Parker Jusczak and Jordan Antar each earned an assist while the Irish were in the sin bin with 4:29 left on the clock. Both teams skated away the remaining time before the period concluded. Great Falls and Butte combined for 25 shots-on-goal.
The Americans were able to outscore the Irish, 2-0 in the middle period behind the scoring efforts of Gordon Jennings and Austin Gibson. Jennings, a defenseman from Anchorage, Alaska, put in Great Falls’ second score near the goal. The tally that was assisted by Jase and Xander Troyer came eight minutes into the second frame with Butte in the penalty box. The home team increased their advantage to 3-0, 41 seconds later as Austin Gibson registered his first score as a member of the Americans off a pass from Paxon Sacre and Jarrett Parker.
Jack Whitelaw broke the scoring drought for the Irish with his lamplighter with eight minutes left in regulation with assistance from Tyler Jones and Keegan Adams. Great Falls answered back with four goals of their own over the final six minutes. Keifer Lundmark, Ace McLeslie, Jarrett Parker and Cooper Palazzolo each pu the puck in the net. Cooper Palazzolo and Logan Knowles assited on Ace McLeslie’s score with four minutes to go while Wilson Giles and Austin Gibson added the helpers for Jarrett Parker’s goal with 58 seconds left. Ace McLeslie and Colton Bacon set up Cooper Palazzolo’s final goal of the game with 50 seconds to play.
Despite the loss for Butte, they attempted more shots (45-43) than Great Falls was able to produce.
Xander Troyer and Gordon Jennings successful scoring opportuniites in the first and second periods, respectively helped the Americans go 2-for-5 on the power play. The Irish squandered their eight power play chances.
JD Stephens continued to be sharp in the net for the Americans. He won his third straight contest against Butte and improved his overall record to 6-1-0-1 by finishing with 44 saves. Meanwhile, Butte’s Jackson Wagner (2-3-0-0), who acquired 36 saves, allowed four of the Americans seven total goals during the final six minutes of regulation to end his second game against Great Falls with another loss.
This weekend, Great Falls outscored Butte, 9-1 through six periods including their 2-0 victory in Butte, Montana on Friday evening.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls’ schedule features one road and one home game this week. The Americans will make the trip to Montana’s capital city to face the Helena Bighorns on Friday, October 16th for the second time this season. Steed Arena is the venue between these two rivals beginning at 7:05PM (MST). Great Falls will host the Bozeman Ice Dogs on Saturday, October 17th for their first encounter this season with the puck dropping at 7:05PM (MST) from the Great Falls Ice Plex. Both games, along with the entire season including tournaments and playoffs, can be seen live on the NA3HL’s offiical streaming service, NATV.
For complete schedules/results, promotions, team stats, rosters and much more information, please go to our official website: www.greatfallsamericans.com