NOTE: A Special Thanks to Michael Noel (above, https://mnoelphotography.smugmug.com) for providing the photo.
By Kevin Scott
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CODY, Wyo., October 11, 2025 — The Great Falls Americans (4-6-0-1) and the Yellowstone (WY) Quake (1-8-1-0) faced each other for the third time in a week to conclude Week 6 of the 2025-26 NA3HL junior hockey season.
During the first weekend of October (3-4), Great Falls traveled to Cody, Wyoming for a two-game road series against the Yellowstone (WY) Quake. Great Falls blanked Yellowstone, 5-0 behind a two-goal (hat trick) performance from first-year player, Reid Lezubski and netminder Cole Murphy recorded 32 saves. The following night, Reid Lezubski scored a hat trick (three goals) in a 4-1 decision over the Quake. Cole Murphy was back in the net and redirected 34 of the 35 shots. Billings, Montana natiave Shayne Smith had the only score for the home team in the first period.
Great Falls was ready to avenge their 7-1 setback made possible by the Sheridan (WY) Hawks on Friday with another road victory against Yellowstone on Saturday evening. Could they go 3-0 against their Wyoming foes?
Shayne Smith and Landon Jett combined for three goals and four assists to help the Yellowstone (WY) Quake pick up their first victory of the season by downing the Great Falls Americans, 6-1 during Saturday’s NA3HL action in Cody, Wyoming. Logan Mese scored in the first period for the Americans.
Great Falls took the first period lead by scoring five minutes into the opening stanza with the host team in the sin bin when Logan Mese added his third goal of the season with Owen Kronk and Reid Lezubski acquiring their first assists. Despite trailing on the scoreboard, the Quake attempted four more shots (18-14) than their Montana opponents during the first twenty minutes.
Yellowstone’ s offense got going after the first intermission and scored three straight goals. Gillette, Wyoming native Brady Hipsag scored his first goal off a pass from Chase Bryson and London Jett 89 seconds into the second period for Yellowstone to even the score, 1-1. Bryson picked up his third assist and Jett received his second assist in their NA3HL careers with Yellowstone. Nine minutes later, the Quake took their first lead when Nicholas Carver found Landon Jett for Yellowstone’s second scoring drive of the period for the 2-1 advantage. Grady Perry increased the lead to 3-1 in favor of the home team when his slapshot went by Americans starting goaltender Gunnar Bergo with under two minutes remaining.
In the final period, Billings, Montana hockey standout Shayne Smith lit up the lamp twice during a 73 second scoring spree that saw one of the scores occur when the Americans were in the penalty box. London Jett assited on both tallies and Carson Joersz and Nicholas Carver also set up the fourth and fifth scores for the Quake. Chance Bryson added another score during the final 19 seconds for the home team with Shayne Smith and Nicholas Carver gathering the assists.
The Quake accumulated 50 shots in the victory over Great Falls. Great Falls had just one goal while taking 40 shots.
Four players led the way for the winning team as Shayne Smith finished with two goals and one assist, London Jett tacked on one goal and dished out three assists, Chance Bryson scored once and had one assist while Nicholas Carver set up three of the six goals.
The Quake scored on two of their nine power plays opportunities while Great Falls ended the game by going 1-for-7.
Netminder Damen Baxter (1-8-0-1) stopped 39 of 40 shots in the net for his first win as a member of the Yellowstone Quake. Gunnar Bergo (0-1-0-0), who did not get the finish he wanted, made 44 saves in his Americans debut.
NOTES: The 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend will be coming up on October 24th and 25th when the Americans play host to the Sheridan (WY) Hawks (Friday) and the Yellowstone (WY) Quake (Saturday). The Americans, along with Benefis Health and the Sletten Cancer Institute, support “Think Pink for the Girls” where the ice at the Great Falls Ice Plex is painted pink and the players will wear special edition pink jerseys on both nights. There will be an opportunity for fans to purchase a framed team photo signed by the team where their pink jerseys through the DASH activation. We will also have a “#1Fan” special edition jersey auction as well. More information will be made available soon!!
The Americans Booster Club is raffling off a Remote Controlled Zamboni Cooler with the ticket drawn at the October 25th contest against the Yellowstone (WY) Quake. Tickets are $10.00 each. Click here for more information. To purchase tickets, please see any of the Booster Club members at any of the home games or contact Adam Stanczak (406-564-6771).
AMERICANS E-NEWSLETTERS: The Americans have two email newsletters for fans to receive in their inbox this season. Kevin Scott, the Americans Media Coordinator, has an Americans E-Newsletter that you can get on Sunday’s during the regular season filled with game summaries, press releases, links, schedule, etc. Click here to subscribe (if you haven’t already).
Americans Owner Matt Leaf creates and sends out a weekly email called “Baldy’s Puck Drop” that features team news, player profile, sponsor information and lots of other tidbits relating to Americans hockey that is published on Thursday mornings. Click here to receive the weekly newsletter (if you haven’t already).
NEXT CONTEST: The Americans remain away from the friendly confines of the Great Falls Ice Plex for the third consecutive week as they make the trip to Rapid City, South Dakota for an encounter with the Badlands Sabres on Friday, October 17th followed by a date with the Gillette (WY) Wild on Saturday, October 18th. Both contests start at 7:05PM (MST) and fans can stream them through the NA3HL official streaming service, NATV.
The Americans will play host to the Sheridan (WY) Hawks (October 24th) and the Yellowstone (Cody, WY) Quake (October 25th) with the puck dropping at 7:05PM (MST) from the Great Falls Ice Plex.
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom (1101 7th Street South) is the place to be after Friday and Saturday night home games where the Americans invite their fans and supporters to their post-game dinner.
Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 17 Northwest Bypass 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.
NATV is the NA3HL’s new streaming platform and is the place to catch all the action for fans that are unable to attend the home and away games this season. Click here to learn more about how to view any of the Americans home and away contests.
For complete schedules/results, promotions, team stats, rosters and much more information, please go to our official website: www.greatfallsamericans.com