The Great Falls Americans (7-6-1-1) and the Cody, Wyoming based Yellowstone Quake (3-9-2-0) battled it out on the ice for the third time this season and the first inside the Great Falls Ice Plex on Saturday evening.
The Americans swept their first weekend series on October 3-4 in Cody, Wyoming, as the visiting team from Montana outscored them, 9-1, including a 5-0 shutout victory on October 3rd. Reid Lezubski scored two of the five goals for coach Greg Sears’ team, and Wyatt Hanna led the team with two assists. Cole Murphy was perfect in the net as he redirected all 32 shots in the net. The following night, Reid Lezubski lit up the lamp three times for a hat trick, and Bryce Webb and Fisher Hannesson each provided two assists in a 4-1 decision over the Quake. Cole Murphy won his fourth contest by accruing 66 saves.
The Americans were hoping for a weekend sweep after knocking off the top team in the NA3HL’s Frontier Division, the Sheridan (WY) Hawks, 3-1 on Friday in Great Falls. Keifer Lundmark, Tallon Caron, and Jase Troyer all scored after the first period for the fifth place team in the Frontier Division. Kaden Rhyder provided 49 saves in the victory.
During Friday and Saturday’s home games this weekend, the Great Falls Americans teamed up with the Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute for the 3rd Annual “Think Pink for the Girls” Weekend, bringing awareness and raising funds for Breast Cancer Awareness. In addition to the ice being painted pink for the home games with Sheridan and Yellowstone (Quake), there was a variety of raffles and sales made to support the cause. “Think Pink for the Girls” is a local breast cancer support group that offers assistance for victims and families in Cascade County.
There are four DASH activation auction items that will be available including a #1 Fan special edition Pink jersey signed by the members of the Americans team that will be auctioned off during this weekend and through November 3rd. Another item for auction up for bid is a signed and framed 8″ X 10″ photo of the Americans wearing their pink jerseys. The Americans will also be making a donation to the local breast cancer support group for each fan in attendance during the weekend series with the Wyoming clubs. There will also be raffle items and baskets from a few of our sponsors. Click here to view the auction.
Great Falls forward Ethan Miller scored four goals to help the Great Falls Americans easily defeat the Yellowstone Quake, 7-1, in Great Falls on Saturday. A trio of players each made more than two assists, including Cooper Clouse (three assists), AJ Prioli, Gordon Jennings, and Wyatt Rust each finished the contest with two assists.
The Americans raced out to a 3-0 lead after the first twenty minutes. AJ Prioli secured his first goal in his first weekend with Great Falls four minutes into the period. Cooper Clouse was credited with his tenth assist of the year. Ethan Miller tacked on a secondary assist. Nine minutes later, it was Fisher Hannesson’s turn to light up the lamp with helpers going to Reid Lezubski and Tallon Caron. Ethan Miller added his fourth score with Cooper Clouse assisting for the eleventh time this season and second of the game. Gordon Jennings also earned an assist with 5:10 remaining.
The Great Falls Figure Skating Club was back for a second night, showing off their talent after a few months of practice during the first intermission of Saturday’s contest.
After eight seconds ticked off the clock to begin the second period, Great Falls put the puck in the net for their fourth goal. Ethan Miller now has five goals after having one in the opening period. AJ Prioli and Wyatt Rust helped set up the scoring play. The home team increased their lead to 5-0 as Ethan Miller connected on his sixth goal while and Wyatt Rust and Cooper Clouse created the scoring drive. Miller’s hat trick occurred with 6:34 left before the second intermission. The home team took 30 shots after the first two periods while holding Yellowstone to 18.
Gavin Denis continued the scoring for the Americans in the third frame. His shot near the net sailed by Yellowstone goaltender Damen Baxter to stretch the lead to six (goals) midway through the final frame. EJ Sanchez and Wyatt Hanna each earned one assist on the power play score. Great Falls’ offense tallied one final goal with Ethan Miller accumulating his seventh goal of the year with under six minutes on the clock for the Americans first successful power play opportunity. Before the game ended, Yellowstone scored with 2:15 left as Shayne Smith found the back of the net off the stick of Carson Joersz to get the Quake in the scoring column while the host team was down a man.
The Americans outshot the Quake, 22-8, to finish with 52 shots. Yellowstone had a team-high of 13 shots in the middle period to end the night with 26 shots.
Kaden Rhyder (2-2-1-0) had a perfect game until the final two minutes, when he allowed one goal. The Pennsylvania netminder added 25 saves to his resume. Rhyder’s counterpart, Damen Baxter, made 45 saves, and his record slipped to 1-9-2-0 for the Quake.
By Kevin Scott: October 25, 2025 – Great Falls, Mt
