By Kevin Scott Oct 21, 2023
GREAT FALLS, Mont., October 21, 2023 — The Great Falls Americans fans got their chance to see the Butte Irish in action on Saturday evening as the Americans played host to the team (formerly known as the Butte Cobras).
The Americans celebrated Borries Italian Supper Club as the game sponsor on Saturday.
Great Falls (7-6-0-0) saw their first action against the Irish (3-7-0-0) on Friday (October 20) when they made the trip to Butte, Montana. Sam Duehlmeier, a returner from last season’s squad, scored his first two goals of the season to help the Americans get the best of the Irish in a 5-3 victory. Patrick Crooks scored two of the three goals for the Butte Irish, currently ranked seventh in the NA3HL Frontier Division. Americans netminder Kaden Ryhder (4-1-0-0), who earlier this week was named the Frontier Division Star of the Week (ending October 15th), won his fourth game as an American by making 50 saves. His counterpart, Keegan Strong (1-3-0-0) amassed 37 saves.
Kaden Ryhder (4-1-0-0), the Frontier Division Star of the Week that ended on October 15th, sealed his fourth win in six games by producing 50 saves for the Americans. Keegan Strong (1-3-0-0) suffered his third loss in four outings for Butte. The Alaska netminder finished with 37 saves despite giving up five goals.
The Americans were looking for the sweep against Butte on Saturday.
The #7 Butte Irish scored three goals in the middle period to earn the mild upset over the #4 Great Falls Americans, 6-3 during Saturday’s NA3HL junior hockey action at the Great Falls Ice Plex. This was Butte’s first contest this season in Great Falls.
The Americans and Irish each traded two goals before the first intermission. Masen Kerr, a first-year player from Wisconsin, gave the home team the early lead with Jacob James and Joesph Buschmann setting up the tally six minutes into the contest. The lead lasted two minutes and then then Butte’s Corbin Breen accumulated his first scoring drive as Kazden Stineff and Weston Villers collected the assists. Aaron Leaf created his second goal of the year off the stick of Ty Brander to give the home team back the lead. The Irish made sure they would not be trailing after the first period as Butte scored with 16 seconds remaining. The Americans and Irish combined for 37 shots-on-goal.
During a nine-minute span in the middle period, the Butte Irish racked up three goals to give the visitors a commanding 5-2 lead. After the third score by Butte’s Noah Williamson, Great Falls inserted backup goaltender Adler Hoagland and took out starter Ryan Stowe. Aiden Birk and Sebaquien Chuld added the assists.
The Irish added one more lamplighter in the third for their third win of the season. Towards the end of the period, Blake Komrofske tallied his fourth goal and cut the deficit to 6-3 with two minutes remaining.
Great Falls took 21 shots in the first and third periods for a game total of 49. Butte attempted 30 of their 43 shots before the second intermission.
Both Montana teams combined for ten infractions that resulted in 20 minutes of penalty time.
Nicholas Ulyanov picked up the win and made 46 saves in 60 minutes. The Americans utilized two netminders with Ryan Stowe getting the start and playing 33 minutes. He had 14 saves before being replaced by Adler Hoagland who finished with 23 saves.
“THINK PINK FOR THE GIRLS” on October 29th: When the Great Falls Americans take on the Bozeman Ice Dogs on Sunday, October 29th at 2:00PM (MST) at the Great Falls Ice Plex, the hockey team wants you to join them for a fun day of hockey and friendship as they partner with “Think Pink for the Girls” to raise awareness and funding for those impacted by breast cancer. Great Falls will donate $1.00 for every ticket sold and City Motor Company, one of the Americans fine sponsors this season, will match the donation.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns (12-0-0-0) continued their winning ways by a solid effort from Braden Cunningham who produced four goals in a 7-3 decision over the #3 Bozeman Ice Dogs (7-4-0-0) at Steed Arena in Helena, Montana on Saturday. The Ice Dogs saw goals scored by Mason Czarnecki, Kody Wallenberg, and Chris Porciuncula. Helena netminder Alex Lamont improved his record to 4-0-0-0 by swatting away 17 shots. Isaac Weatherford (0-1-0-0) from Bozeman lost for the first time this season. Matthew Ryynanen (34 saves) also saw time in the net for Bozeman.
The #2 Gillette (WY) Wild won their tenth game (10-1-0-1) by defeating the #5 Badlands (SD) Sabres (4-5-1-2), 5-1. The Wild scored twice in the first and second periods with goals by Adam Severson, Tay Kurpius, Roddick Simons, Issac Young and Todd Powassin. Badlands final scored to prevent the shutout with four minutes remaining in regulation. Kyyan Jahner scored with assists by Carter Kilen and Rylan Bechtel. Cole Wheaton won his fifth game (5-1-0-1) and added 24 saves to his season total of 202. Hunter Oger of Badlands saw his record fall to 0-3-0-1 but not before swatting away 35 shots.
The #6 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (4-6-1-1) got a scare and needed overtime to dispatch the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-11-1-0), who remained winless despite a great effort. Sheridan’s Tanner Freed and Yellowstone’s Dillon Jeffords scored in regulation to set up the five-minute overtime. Elijah White (Sheridan) scored the game-winning tally. A 28-save performance gave Sherdan’s Zach Broxterman won is second win (2-4-1-1). John Hughes (Yellowstone) saw his record drop to 0-4-1-0 despite redirecting 42 shots.
