The Great Falls Americans (21-12-1-1) finished off their final out-of-state road trip of the regular season on Saturday when they battled the Badlands Sabres (17-12-2-2) for the second game in as many nights.
Five different Badlands Sabres scored after the first period on Saturday evening as the home team prevailed 5-3 over the Great Falls Americans to earn the weekend sweep in Rapid City, South Dakota. Gavin Marx, Matthew Cordis, Dayton Niedert, Sawyer Vann, and Justin Reams each put the biscuit in the basket for the winning side. Great Falls scored once in each of the three periods with scoring drives by Tallon Caron, AJ Prioli, and Wyatt Hanna.
Tallon Caron stopped the scoreless first-period drought as Ethan Miller and Cooper Clouse assisted on Caron’s 13th goal of the season with 34 seconds remaining to put the Americans in front, 1-0, before the first intermission.
The Sabres outscored the Americans, 2-1, in the middle frame. Gaven Marx tied the score (1-1) when his slapshot sailed over Great Falls netminder Cole Murphy with 14 minutes remaining. Both NA3HL teams traded goals during the final two minutes. Matthew Cordis converted his seventh goal with Ethan Seanor and Sawyer Vann getting credit for the assists, for the Sabres’ first lead. The Sabres stayed ahead for 34 seconds until AJ Prioli lit up the lamp that was set up by Jaxen Savage and Aidan Mulheran. The period saw 24 totalshots-on-goal being attempted by both clubs.
The South Dakota NA3HL franchise scored three goals (Dayton Niedert, Sawyer Vann, and Justin Reams) after the second intermission. Ethan Seanor tacked on two more assists while Rhylan Olson, Justin Reams, Dayton Niedert, and Cole Schneider each added one to their season totals. Wyatt Hanna pulled the visiting Montana team to within two goals (5-3) with 2:20 left in regulation, but the comeback was too late. Reid Lezubski and Jordan Murray tallied the final assists of the contest.
The Sabres offense outshot their rivals, 34-18, after the first period to finish with 43. Great Falls attempted 21 of their 29 shots in the first and second stanzas.
Badlands went 1-for-7 on their power play chances, converting one goal in the third period by Sawyer Vann while the Americans were in the sin bin. Great Falls had four power play chances go unanswered.
Parker Kelly picked up his first win in two appearances against Great Falls on Saturday. The Crookston, Minnesota netminder made 26 saves to see his record improve to 7-2-0-0 in ten games. Cole Murphy (9-5-1-0) will have to wait another day to seek his tenth victory. He swatted away 38 shots in his fifth regulation defeat.
Back-to-back weekend losses for Great Falls and two Helena Bighorns victories over the Yellowstone Quake saw the Bighorns jump up to second place in the Frontier Division standings. Great Falls is now in third place, and Badlands stays in the fourth spot.
By Kevin Scott: January 17, 2026 – Rapid City, SD
