BIGHORNS SWEEP THE AMERICANS BY POSTING AN 8-1 VICTORY

HELENA, Mont., November 11, 2023 — The #5 Great Falls Americans (8-9-0-0) have tasted victory at least once against five of their seven Frontier Division opponents this season. They lost both games to the #1 Gillette Wild during the third week of the season in September and they will have to wait until February 2024 to challenge them again. They are also 0-2 against the #2 Helena Bighorns (15-2-0-0) this season after falling to them on November 4 (4-1) at home and on November 10 (8-2) in Helena, Montana. The Americans were looking to avoid the weekend sweep by the Helena Bighorns. Eight different players from the second-ranked Helena Bighorns scored in their 8-1 romp over the #5 Great Falls Americans during Saturday’s nights action at Steed Arena in Helena, Montana. Helena completed the weekend sweep over their rivals. Finn Theriault, one of three Colorado players on the Bighorns roster, put the biscuit in the basket off a pass from teammate Tim Mattingly, who earned his 20th assist of the season to give the Bighorns a 1-0 lead. Kelton Chadwick received the secondary assist. The first period concluded with Helena gathering 18 shots while Great Falls attempted five. The Bighorns offense sparkled in the second period as they produced five goals during an eleven-minute scoring span. Great Falls’ defense could not find an answer for the Bighorns offensive attack. Jack Lambert, Dylan Cunningham, Tim Mattingly, Owen Ramsay, and Jakob Losch all put the puck in the net for the host team. Trey Pareja, Mason Eggen, Braden Cunningham, Owen Gruener, Dylan Cunnigham, Gavin Barr, Nick Corbett, Jack Lambert, and Cam Young (two assists) contributed the assists for the 6-0 advantage. Great Falls’ Nathan Bring recorded his first goal as an American in between goals by Camden Cunnigham and Trey Pareja of the Bighorns. Masen Kerr and Jacob James earned the assists on Bring’s tally with five minutes remaining in the contest. The Bighorns scored on one of their eight power play opportunities and created 57 total shots on the night. The Americans were held to 21 with ten coming in the final frame. The fans inside Steed Arena saw the teams combined for 20 minor infractions resulting in 40 minutes spent off the ice. Alex Lamont swatted away every puck sent his way for the first two periods before giving up one goal in the third. The Minnesota goalie made 20 saves as his record improved to 5-1-0-0 on the season. The Americans Adler Hoagland and Kaden Ryhder both saw action for the Americans. Hoagland (0-4-0-0) is still in search of his first win for the Americans. He swatted away 38 shots in 41 minutes. NOTES: On Thursday, November 16th, Annie’s Tap House (112 Central Avenue in Great Falls), one of this year’s sponsors, is the venue for the Great Falls Americans Booster Club’s “Raise A Pint” Night. For every pint of beer or glass of wine sold between 5:00PM and 8:00PM, Annie’s will donate to the Booster Club. Come on out to mingle with hockey fans and enjoy some adult beverages. Once again, the Great Falls Americans are teaming up with the Uptown Optimist Club in Great Falls for their annual Christmas Tree sales. Our players will be setting up and helping with the delivery of the trees next week (week of November 13th). Tree tickets are $50.00 per book and is good for your tree, wreath, door charms or accessories purchase. In this week’s “Baldy’s Puck Drop” Newsletter, Americans team owner Matt Leaf has a player profile of forward Jacob James, sponsor information, and upcoming Americans events. This week, another episode of the “Americans Podcast with Jim Quick” was completed with his guest being forward Cade Bendigo. Check out the Bendigo interview and the previous six podcasts by Jim Quick. FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: Ryan Hipsag and Adam Severson served up a combined six goals as both players received hat tricks in leading the #1 Gillette (WY) Wild to an easy 7-3 for their 16th victory in eighteen games over the #7 Sheridan (WY) Hawks. The Hawks goal scorers were Tanner Freed, Ayden Attungana, and Kiefer Dunham. Gillette’s netminder Josh Bieniewicz (1-0-0-0) had 22 saves in his first career win for the Sabres. Tyler Ouren (2-3-0-0) from Sheridan made 15 saves while allowing four goals in the setback. Zach Broxterman played the final two periods for the Hawks stopping 36 shots. The third-ranked Bozeman Ice Dogs (11-6-0-1) scored two goals each in the final two periods for a 5-2 decision over the #6 Bute Irish (7-9-0-0) to complete the weekend sweep over their rivals. Dylan Miller, Braden Koliha, Bodie Shepardson, Aidan Clements, and Chris Porciuncula. Butte’s Corbin Breen and Andrew Browe scored in the second and third periods, respectively. Sean Smer got his fourth win in five games by redirecting 16 of 18 shots for the Ice Dogs. Butte’s Keegan Strong dropped to 2-4-0-0 and added 29 saves to his season statistics. The #4 Badlands (SD) Sabres (8-5-1-2), who moved into the fourth spot in the NA3HL Frontier Division standings with their win over the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-17-1-0) on Friday evening with the Americans loss to Helena, earned the sweep over their Wyoming counterparts on Saturday by posting a 5-1 win over the Quake. Carter Kilen, Rhylan Olson, Peyton Wilson, Brooks Roaldson, and Ian Vannelli netted goals for the Sabres. The Quake’s Dawson William lit up the lamp for the first time this season in the loss. The Sabres win gave goaltender Hunter Oger (29 saves) his first victory of the season (1-3-0-1). Despite a 50 save effort, John Hughes (Quake) dropped to 0-6-1-0. NEXT CONTEST: The Sheridan (WY) Hawks will make their one and only appearance this season in Great Falls with a two-game series on Friday and Saturday, November 17-18, 2023. Game time is set for 7:00PM (MST) both nights. The Great Falls Americans will celebrate “Military Appreciation Weekend.” Military Personnel can show their Military ID for half off tickets ($4.00 each night) and 25% off Beer and merchandise with special prizes and events for those in attendance.