BOZEMAN, Mont., January 27, 2024 — The Great Falls Americans (17-16-0-1) have not fared well in the win column in the NA3HL Frontier Division standings since the middle of December at the NA3HL Showcase Tournament in Blaine, Minnesota.
There last victory came on the first day of the tournament when they defeated the New Jersey Titans, 2-1 on December 17th. Since then, Great Falls finished out the tournament with losses to the Alexandria (MN) Blizzard (West Division) and the Louisiana Drillers (South Division) in December and Frontier Division setbacks in January to the Butte Irish (two games) and Bozeman Ice Dogs (three games).
In the Frontier, the Helena Bighorns (34-2-0-0, 68 pts.) lead the pack followed by the Gillette (WY) Wild 32-4-0-1, 67 pts.) and the Bozeman Ice Dogs (22-14-0-1, 45 pts.). The Americans are currently in third place (17-16-0-1, 35 pts.) in the Frontier Division with the Sheridan (WY) Hawks (15-19-2-1,33 pts.) not far behind in fourth place. The Badlands (SD) Sabres sit in fifth with a record of 13-16-3-3 (32 pts).The top four teams when the season ends in the first week of March head to the playoffs.
Great Falls Americans head coach Greg Sears has been waiting awhile to pick up his 300th career win in the junior ranks as he needs just one victory to reach that accomplishment. Would the Americans help him get to that milestone tonight and return to their winning ways?
The #4 Great Falls Americans looked like a different team on Saturday night after falling to the #3 Bozeman Ice Dogs on Friday, 4-2. Great Falls scored three goals in the first period for the 5-1 victory on Saturday in the final meeting between these two clubs in the regular season. Ty O’Bey, one of the top scoring leaders for the Americans, helped Great Falls Americans coach achieve his 300th career junior hockey win by scoring a hat trick (three goals).
The Great Falls defensive efforts kept Bozeman’s offense from successfully finding the back of the net during the first period. Ty O’Bey, Sebe Perez, and Zac Orwig each put in one goal apiece for the 3-0 advantage. Aaron James contributed his 24th assist and Dmitri Kuleshov assisted for the 14th time this year. Great Falls took twice as many shots (21-9) against the Ice Dogs.
The scoring was quiet after the first intermission. The lone scoring drive was made by Great Falls’ Ty O’Bey with his second score of the night. Dmitri Kuleshov and newcomer Hayden Grabas ensured the goal happened by setting up the fourth score. Grabas made his first assist in his fourth game with the Americans.
Ty O’Bey lit up the lamp for the third time tonight for his first hat trick of the season to give the Americans a 5-0 advantage with 5:56 remaining in the third period. Bozeman’s Bodie Shepardson prevented the shutout win for Americans goaltender Kaden Ryhder with 1:44 left on the game clock. Dylan Miller was responsible for the Ice Dogs lone goal.
Great Falls accumulated 29 of their 40 shots-on-goal before the second intermission. The host team finished with 30 shots.
Great Falls went 1-for-6 on power play chances and accrued six minor infractions in their road victory. Bozeman was whistled for nine penalties with 34 minutes spent in the penalty box.
Kaden Ryhder (10-7-0-1) picked up his third win this season against the Ice Dogs (3-2-0-1). The Pennsylvania goaltender recorded 29 saves. Sean Smer is now 2-2-0-0 when playing Great Falls. Smer, who is from Mission Viejo, California, made 25 saves and is now 7-2-0-0 on the season. Matthew Ryynanen, who earned the victory on Friday, stopped ten of the eleven shots for Bozeman.
FRONTIER DIVISION UPDATE: The #1 Helena Bighorns (34-2-0-0) downed #7 Butte Irish, 6-2 to keep their top spot in the Frontier Division standings alive. Braden Cunningham led the way for the Bighorns with two goals. Patrick Crooks scored once in the second and another goal in the third for Butte. Alex Lamont won for the twelfth time in 13 games (12-1-0-0) by swatting away 26 of the 28 shots sent his way. Braylon Rogers (9-9-1-0), a third-year goalie for Butte, gathered 53 saves in the loss.
The #2 Gillette (WY) Wild (32-4-0-1) simply outplayed the #8 Yellowstone (WY) Quake (0-34-3-0) in all areas of the game on Saturday night in Cody, Wyoming. A trio of players led the Wild in scoring. Matt Siems, Cade Voge and Isaac Young combined for six goals as Gillette earned the 15-1 win over the Quake. Former Great Falls American player, Austin Blackner scored the only goal for Yellowstone in the third frame. Some of the stats were not finalized as of Saturday night.
The #5 Sheridan (WY) Hawks (15-19-2-1) were looking for the series sweep against the #6 Badlands (SD) Sabres (13-16-3-3) in Rapid City, South Dakota on Saturday. The Hawks defeated the Sabres, 4-3 on Friday. Sheridan’s offense looked good during the first period as they led 3-1 but the host team scored once in the second and another in the third to send the contest into an extra frame. Brooks Roaldson put in the game-winner with ten seconds left in overtime for the Sabres. Kiefer Dunham, Kyler Couture and Makhai Sparks had the goals for Sheridan. Aden Cobbs, Ian Vannelli and Benjamin Larson were credited with the regulation scores for Badlands. Easton Eriksmoen (9-7-1-0) stopped 35 shots in 64 minutes for his ninth victory this season for the Sabres. John Simon (Sheridan) continues to struggle (0-8-1-0) in the net as he registered 38 saves in the setback.
NOTES: Americans forward Dmitri Kuleshov got back this week from playing for Team Australia at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championships (Division II, Group B) held in Belgrade, Serbia from January 14-20. Team Australia In five contests, Kuleshov, originally from Sydney Australia, scored three goals and dished out two assists to lead his country to a 2-3-0-0 record (fourth overall finish). Congrats to Dmitri for representing his country.
The Americans play the top team in the Frontier Division this week when the Helena Bighorns come to Great Falls on Friday, February 2nd for a 7:00PM (MST) start at the Great Falls Ice Plex. Both teams will play at Steed Arena in Helena, Montana on Saturday, February 3rd at 7:05PM (MST).
