CODY, Wyo., December 8, 2023 — Four months ago when the 2023-24 NA3HL junior hockey season began, the Great Falls Americans (14-10-0-0) opened the season at the Great Falls Ice Plex against tonight’s opponent, the #8 Yellowstone Quake (0-22-1-0).
Great Falls prevailed by scoring five goals each night for a 5-4 win (September 8th) and a 5-3 win on September 9th. A few things have changed since their initial meeting. Zac Orwig and Sebe Perez were still members of the Quake and now they are with the Americans. The Americans have won 13 games while the Quake are still searching for their first victory.
The Americans trailed the Quake 4-3 after two periods on September 8th but then outscored the visitors, 2-0 in the third for the 5-4 win. Ty O’Bey made his debut and scored two goals and dished out one assist for Great Falls. Kaden Ryhder made his debut in the net and stopped 24 shots while his counterpart with the Quake, John Hughes recorded 31 saves.
Ty O’Bey had a repeat performance in his second game with Great Falls by adding two scores and helping on another to lead the Americans to their second straight win (5-3) after the home team led 4-2 after the first period. Returning goalie Ryan Stowe had 23 saves in his season debut. Max Rotsaert had two goals and one assist for the Quake.
This weekend will mark the final time this year that Great Falls and Yellowstone will clash on the ice. They are not scheduled for any more matchups in the regular season.
The #3 Great Falls Americans scored nine goals enroute to a 9-1 dominating victory over the last place Yellowstone (WY) Quake on Friday night inside Wyoming’s Riley Arena. Ty O’Bey led both teams with two goals and one assist and Great Falls netminder Kaden Ryhder recorded 27 saves for the Americans 14th win of the 2023-24 season.
The Americans offense raced out to a three-goal lead after the first period. The Montana visitors received scoring drives from Aaron Leaf, Cade Bendigo, Dmitri Kuleshov and Phil Harrell. Caleb Gamboa and Tariq Khan each made two assists each while Jacob James, Aiden Kennedy, Aaron James, and Ty O’Bey also helped set up the four scores. Yellowstone’s Wesley Amos put the biscuit in the basket for the Quake’s lone score with 5:41 remaining. Dawson William and Joey Good each provided their second assists of the year. Great Falls took twenty more shots than Yellowstone, 32-12.
After the first break, the Americans contained the Quake’s defense and outscored the host team, 2-0. Great Falls’ Ty O’Bey and Masen Kerr each added a lamplighter in the middle period. Aiden Kennedy and Phil Harrell assisted on O’Bey’s score with six minutes remaining and newcomer Zac Orwig, who came over in November from the Quake, made his first assist in a Great Falls uniform for the 6-1 lead. Blake Komrofske also added a helper.
After making his first assist in the second stanza, Zac Orwig was the recipient of his first goal of the season with assistance from Ty Brander and Masen Kerr 6:48 into the third frame. The 7-1 advantage last nearly nine minutes before the visitors tacked on two more goals in the final 4:25 when Ty O’Bey collected his second score and Sam Duehlmeier chipped in his first of the night. Ty Brander and Aaron James created their second assists of the night and Dmitri Kuleshov garnered his first.
One of the differences in the game occurred when the Americans scored on four of their five power play opportunities. Yellowstone’s first period goal came when Great Falls was in the sin bin as they finished 1-for-4.
Kaden Ryhder (9-4-0-0) won his second game against the Quake this season as he redirected 27 of 28 shots sent by Yellowstone’s offense. He accrued 24 saves in a 5-4 victory in the season opener at the Great Falls Ice Plex.
