Junior A Hockey www.gfamericans.com

Media Relations * 417 Central Ave. Suite 303 * Great Falls, MT 59401 * Phone (406) 403-8146

2015-16 Americans Hockey Prospectus

QUICK FACTS COACHING STAFF Name ...... Great Falls Americans (Junior A) Head Coach ...... Jeff Heimel (4th Season) Seasons ...... 1979-1980, 1994-2003, 2011-Present Phone ...... (602) 501-0464 Location...... Great Falls, Email ...... [email protected] Population ...... 58,505 Record at Great Falls ...... 93-55-9 Team Owner ...... Jim Keough Assistant Coaches ...... Blake Page (4th Season) National Affiliation ...... NA3HL Mike Walsh (1st Season) Division...... NA3HL Frontier Erik Gatson (1st Season)

National Association ...... USA Hockey Key Newcomers Team Mascot ...... Baldy The Eagle Tegan Harrington ...... 6-0, F, Wasilla, AK Team Colors ...... Red, White & Blue Stevan Goran ...... 5-10, F, Thompson, MB General Manager ...... Jeff Heimel Jesse Johnson ...... 5-11, D, Eagle River, AK Public Relations/Media ...... Mr. Kevin Scott Jake Stephan ...... 6-0, G, Eagle River, WI Home...... Great Falls Ice Plex Ricards Bernhards ...... 6-4, F, Jelgava, Latvia Capacity...... 1,500

Key Returners 2014-15 Season Recap Lauren Massie ...... 5-10, G, Wasilla, AK Overall Record ...... 38-13-3 Arseny Ivanov ...... 5-11, D. Moscow, Russia Home Record ...... 20-5-1 Wade Wylie ...... 6-0, F, Wasilla, AK Road Record ...... 18-5-2 Reed Link ...... 6-0, D, St. Louis, MO Neutral Record ...... 0-3-0 Josh Larson ...... 5-8, F, Anchorage, AK 2015-16 Preview Austin Krantz ...... 5-8, F, Highlands Ranch, CO Returning Players ...... 12 Adam Apangalook ...... 5-7, F, Wasilla, AK Players Lost ...... 13 Brendan Jester ...... 5-11, F, Anchorage, AK

Connor Barta ...... 6-2, D, Great Falls, MT Key Losses Robert Kalata ...... 6-0, F, Park Ridge, IL Malachi Bushey ...... 5-8, F, Tucson, AZ Dylan Garton ...... 5-11, F, Great Falls, MT Miles Giorgione ...... 5-10, D, Anchorage, AK Malachi Bushey ...... 5-8, F, Tucson, AZ Georgy Ostapchuk ...... 6-4, F, Eniseysk, Russia Zack Mese ...... 5-9, F, Kenai, AK Lucas Stover ...... 6-1. D. Corona, CA Lucas Lomax ...... 5-11. F. Phoenix, AZ Cody Page ...... 5-6, F, Capistrano Beach, CA Erik Gatson ...... 5-7, F, Phoenix, AZ

Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405 2015-16 Great Falls Americans Hockey Roster

No. Name Pos. Shot Height Weight Hometown 1 Lauren Massie G 5’10” 175 Wasilla, AK 3 Arseny Ivanov D L 5’11” 178 Moscow, Russia 4 Caleb Andersen G R 5’8” 180 Fargo, ND 7 Blake Miller D L 5’11” 166 Great Falls, MT 8 Tegan Harrington F L 6’0” 185 Wasilla, AK 9 Stevan Goran F R 5’10” 180 Thompson, MB 10 Jesse Johnson D R 5’11” 170 Eagle River, AK 13 Kyle Johnson F R 5’10” 160 Eagle River, AK 14 Hayden Moistner F L 5’5” 125 Wasilla, AK 16 Matt Larson F R 5’10” 170 Anchorage, AK 18 Reed Link D L 6’0” 170 St. Louis, MO 19 Josh Larson F L 5’8” 160 Anchorage, AK 21 Wade Wylie F R 6’0” 185 Wasilla, AK 22 Tanner Congdon F R 5’9” 165 Anchorage, AK 23 Jacob Draves F L 5’9” 155 Marshfield, WI 24 Mitchell Ramstad F R 5’11” 183 Redwing, MN 25 Austin Krantz F R 5’8” 165 Highlands Ranch, CO 26 Miles Giorgione D L 5’10” 185 Anchorage, AK 27 Malachi Bushey F L 5’8” 175 Tucson, AZ 28 Tyler Garcia F L 6’0” 205 Anchorage, AK 29 Connor Barta D L 6’2” 180 Great Falls, MT 30 Jake Stephan G 6’0” 185 Eagle River, WI 61 Brendan Jester F R 5’11” 190 Anchorage, AK 93 Adam Apangalook F L 5’7” 145 Wasilla, AK 97 Ricards Bernhards F R 6’4” 170 Jelgava, Latvia

Team Owner Jim Keough (5th Season) Head Coach/General Manager Jeff Heimel (4th Season) Associate Coach/Director of Player Erik Gatson (1st Season) Personnel Assistant Coach/Defensive Coach Mike Walsh (1st Season) Assistant Coach/Director of Blake Page (4th Season) Recruiting Public Relations/Media Coordinator Kevin Scott (3rd Season) Billet Coordinator Vikki Bertelson (1st Season) Education Coordinator/Academic Ryan and Angel Turoski (5th Season) Advisors Team Doctors Gregory Tierney, M.D., Paul Johnson, M.D. & Michael A. Dube, M.D. Team Chiropractor Jerald D. Wiley, B.S., D.C. Team Dentist Dr. Kenneth Small Team Optometrist Dr. Pat Stibel

Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405 2015-16 Great Falls Americans Hockey Schedule

Day/Date Game Time Location Fri., Sept. 18 vs. Glacier Nationals 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri., Sept. 25 @ 7:30PM Victor J. Riley Arena, Cody, WY Sat. Sept. 26 @ Yellowstone Quake 7:30PM Victor J. Riley Arena, Cody, WY Fri. Oct. 2 @ Glacier Nationals 8:00PM Havre Ice Dome, Havre, MT Sat. Oct. 3 vs. 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri. Oct. 9 vs. Yellowstone Quake 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Sat. Oct. 10 vs. Yellowstone Quake 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri. Oct. 16 @ Billings Bulls 7:30PM Centennial Ice Arena, Billings, MT Thurs. Oct. 22 @ Gillette Wild 7:00PM Spirit Hall Ice Arena, Gillette, WY Fri, Oct. 23 @ Gillette Wild 7:00PM Spirit Hall Ice Arena, Gillette, WY Sat. Oct. 24 vs. Bozeman Ice Dogs 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri. Oct. 30 vs. 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Sat. Oct. 31 @ Helena Bighorns 7:05PM Helena Ice Arena, Helena, MT Fri. Nov. 6 vs. Gillette Wild 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Sat. Nov. 7 vs. Gillette Wild 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri. Nov. 13 @ Helena Bighorns 7:05PM Helena Ice Arena, Helena, MT Sat. Nov. 14 vs. Billings Bulls 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri. Nov. 20 @ Bozeman Ice Dogs 7:30PM Haynes Pavilion, Bozeman, MT Sat. Nov. 21 vs. Glacier Nationals 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Wed. Nov. 25 @ Billings Bulls 7:30PM Centennial Ice Arena, Billings, MT Fri. Nov. 27 @ Glacier Nationals 8:00PM Havre Ice Dome, Havre, MT Sat. Nov. 28 @ Bozeman Ice Dogs 7:30PM Haynes Pavilion, Bozeman, MT Fri. Dec. 4 vs. Helena Bighorns 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri. Dec. 11 vs. Glacier Nationals 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Thurs. Dec. 17 NA3HL Showcase Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, MN vs. Euless Jr. Stars 5:15PM (MST) Fri. Dec. 18 NA3HL Showcase Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, MN @ NA3EHL East 2:15PM (MST) Sat. Dec. 19 NA3HL Showcase Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, MN vs. Toledo Cherokee 9:45AM (MST) Fri. Jan. 1 @ Gillette Wild 7:05PM Spirit Hall Ice Arena, Gillette, WY Sat. Jan. 2 @ Gillette Wild 7:05PM Spirit Hall Ice Arena, Gillette, WY Fri. Jan. 8 vs. Helena Bighorns 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Sat. Jan. 9 @ Glacier Nationals 7:30PM Havre Ice Dome, Havre, MT Fri. Jan. 15 vs. Bozeman Ice Dogs 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Sat. Jan. 16 vs. Gillette Wild 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Sun. Jan. 17 vs. Gillette Wild 4:00PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri. Jan. 22 @ Yellowstone Quake 7:30PM Victor J. Riley Arena, Cody, WY Sat. Jan. 23 @ Yellowstone Quake 7:30PM Victor J. Riley Arena, Cody, WY Fri. Jan. 29 @ Bozeman Ice Dogs 7:30PM Haynes Pavilion, Bozeman, MT Sat. Jan. 30 vs. Bozeman Ice Dogs 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Thurs. Feb. 4 vs. Billings Bulls 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri. Feb. 12 @ Billings Bulls 7:30PM Centennial Ice Arena, Billings, MT Sat. Feb. 13 @ Helena Bighorns 7:05PM Helena Ice Arena, Helena, MT Mon. Feb. 15 NA3HL Top Prospects USA Hockey Arena, Plymouth, MI Tournament 18U Selects Black vs. 1:30PM 18U Selects Black Roster l South South (MST) Roster 18U Selects Red vs. 4:30PM Frontier Roster l 18U Selects Red Frontier (MST) Roster Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405 Tues. Feb. 16 NA3HL Top Prospects USA Hockey Arena, Plymouth, MI Tournament 18U Selects Black vs. 7:30AM 18U Selects Black Roster l Midwest Midwest (MST) Roster West vs. Frontier 10:30AM Frontier Roster l West Roster (MST) Wed. Feb. 17 NA3HL Top Prospects USA Hockey Arena, Plymouth, MI Tournament South vs. Frontier 7:30AM Frontier Roster l South Roster (MST) 18U Selects Black vs. 10:30AM 18U Selects Black Roster l 18U Selects 18U Selects Red (MST) Red Roster Sat. Feb. 20 vs. Helena Bighorns 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Fri. Feb. 26 vs. Billings Bulls 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Sat. Mar. 5 @ Billings Bulls 7:30PM Centennial Ice Arena, Billings, MT Fri. Mar. 11 vs. Yellowstone Quake 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex Sat. Mar. 12 vs. Yellowstone Quake 7:30PM Great Falls Ice Plex End of Regular Season

2015-16 Great Falls Americans Address/Ice Plex Location

Mailing Address: Great Falls Ice Plex Address: Great Falls Americans Hockey 4001 29th Street SW 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303 Great Falls, Montana 59405 Great Falls, Montana 59401 Great Falls Ice Plex Information/Directions

2015-16 Great Falls Americans Media List

Media Contact Information: Kevin Scott Great Falls Americans Public Relations/Media Coordinator Phone: 406-403-8146 Email: [email protected]

Newspaper:

Great Falls Tribune: Sports Department

Phone: 406-791-1470 or 406-791-1444 Website: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/section/sports General Sports Desk: [email protected]

Sports Editor: Scott Mansch ([email protected]) Phone: 406-899-8811

Sports Writer: Steven Schreck ([email protected]) Phone: 847-513-2541

Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405

Local Television Stations:

KRTV: (CBS-TV, Great Falls)

Phone: 406-791-5455 Website: http://www.krtv.com/sports/ General Sports Desk: [email protected]

Sports Director: Tom Wylie ([email protected])

Weekend Sports Anchor: Brenna Greene ([email protected])

KFBB-TV: (ABC-TV/FOX Network, Great Falls)

Phone: 406-540-2100 or 406-453-4370 Website: http://www.kfbb.com/category/259549/sports General Sports Desk: [email protected]

Sports Director: Ben Kaplan ([email protected])

Weekend Sports Anchor: Alexis Hatfield ([email protected])

Sports Reporter: Derek Opina ([email protected])

KTVH/KBGF-TV: (NBC-TV, Helena/Great Falls)

Phone: 406-750-6257 Website: http://www.ktvh.com/category/sports/

Sports Director: Richie Melby ([email protected])

Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405

2014-15 Great Falls Americans Hockey Schedule/Results

Please click on "Results/Story" for Stats/Game Story for each game. Day/Date Game Results/Story Record

Sat. Sept. 20 @ Glacier Nationals 8-2 W 0-0 (Home) / 1-0 (Road)

Fri. Sept. 26 vs. Bozeman Ice Dogs 7-0 W 1-0 (Home) / 1-0 (Road)

Sat. Sept. 27 @ Billings Bulls 4-3 W 1-0 (Home) / 2-0 (Road)

Fri. Oct. 3 vs. Gillette Wild 2-1 W 2-0 (Home) / 2-0 (Road)

Sat. Oct. 4 vs. Gillette Wild 3-1 W 3-0 (Home) / 2-0 (Road)

Fri. Oct. 10 vs. Yellowstone Quake 12-1 W 4-0 (Home) / 2-0 (Road)

Sat. Oct. 11 vs. Yellowstone Quake 4-2 W 5-0 (Home) / 2-0 (Road)

Fri. Oct. 17 @ Gillette Wild 5-2 W 5-0 (Home) / 3-0 (Road)

Sat. Oct. 18 @ Gillette Wild 3-1 W 5-0 (Home) / 4-0 (Road)

Fri. Oct. 24 @ Bozeman Ice Dogs 4-2 W 5-0 (Home) / 5-0 (Road)

Sat. Oct. 25 vs. Helena Bighorns 1-0 W 6-0 (Home) / 5-0 (Road)

Sat. Nov. 1 vs. Bozeman Ice Dogs 4-1 W 7-0 (Home) / 5-0 (Road)

Fri. Nov. 7 vs. Billings Bulls 1-0 L 7-1 (Home) / 5-0 (Road)

Sat. Nov. 8 vs. Helena Bighorns 4-2 W 8-1 (Home) / 5-0 (Road)

Fri. Nov. 14 @ Billings Bulls 3-0 W 8-1 (Home) / 6-0 (Road)

Sat. Nov. 15 vs. Bozeman Ice Dogs 5-3 W 9-1 (Home) / 6-0 (Road)

Fri. Nov. 21 vs. Glacier Nationals 2-1 L 9-2 (Home) / 6-0 (Road)

Sun. Nov. 23 @ Helena Bighorns 3-1 W 9-2 (Home) / 7-0 (Road)

Sat. Nov. 29 @ Bozeman Ice Dogs 4-0 W 9-2 (Home) / 8-0 (Road)

Fri. Dec. 5 @ Glacier Nationals 7-5 W 9-2 (Home) / 9-0 (Road)

Sun. Dec. 7 @ NA3HL Showcase Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, MN

@ Minnesota Flying 3-1 W 9-2 (Home) / 10-0 (Road) Aces

Mon. Dec. 8 @ NA3HL Showcase Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, MN

vs. St. Louis Jr. Blues** 4-3 W (SO) 10-2 (Home) / 10-0 (Road)

Tues. Dec. 9 @ NA3HL Showcase Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, MN

vs. Point Mallard 2-1 W 11-2 (Home) / 10-0 (Road) Ducks**

Fri. Dec. 12 vs. Gillette Wild 5-0 L 11-3 (Home) / 10-0 (Road)

Sat. Dec. 13 vs. Gillette Wild 4-1 W 12-3 (Home) / 10-0 (Road)

Fri. Dec. 19 @ Bozeman Ice Dogs 3-2 W 12-3 (Home) / 11-0 (Road)

Sat. Dec. 20 vs. Bozeman Ice Dogs 9-2 W 13-3 (Home) / 11-0 (Road)

Wed. Dec. 31 @ Billings Bulls 6-1 L 13-3 (Home) / 11-1 (Road)

Fri. Jan. 2 vs. Helena Bighorns 3-1 W 14-3 (Home) / 11-1 (Road)

Sat. Jan. 3 @ Helena Bighorns 2-0 L 14-3 (Home) / 11-2 (Road)

Sat. Jan. 10 vs. Billings Bulls 5-2 W 15-3 (Home) / 11-2 (Road)

Sun. Jan. 11 vs. Glacier Nationals 2-1 W 16-3 (Home) / 11-2 (Road)

Fri. Jan. 16 @ Glacier Nationals 7-2 W 16-3 (Home) / 12-2 (Road)

Sat. Jan. 17 @ Helena Bighorns 4-3 L (OT) 16-3 (Home) / 12-2-1 (Road)

Fri. Jan. 23 @ Gillette Wild 3-2 L 16-3 (Home) / 12-3-1 (Road)

Sat. Jan. 24 @ Gillette Wild 3-0 L 16-3 (Home) / 12-4-1(Road)

Fri. Jan. 30 @ Billings Bulls 4-3 L (SO) 16-3 (Home) / 12-4-2 (Road)

Sat. Jan. 31 vs. Glacier Nationals 2-1 L 16-4 (Home) / 12-4-2 (Road)

Fri. Feb. 6 @ Glacier Nationals 7-0 W 16-4 (Home) / 13-4-2 (Road)

Sat. Feb. 7 vs. Billings Bulls 5-0 W 17-4 (Home) / 13-4-2 (Road)

Sun. Feb. 8 vs Helena Bighorns 3-2 L (SO) 17-4-1 (Home) / 13-4-2 (Road)

Thurs. Feb. 12 @ Yellowstone Quake 6-0 W 17-4-1 (Home) / 14-4-2 (Road)

Fri. Feb. 13 @ Yellowstone Quake 2-1 W 17-4-1 (Home) / 15-4-2 (Road)

Fri. Feb. 20 @ Bozeman Ice Dogs 3-2 W 17-4-1 (Home) / 16-4-2 (Road) Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405 Sat. Feb. 21 @ Helena Bighorns 3-1 L 17-4-1 (Home) / 16-5-2 (Road)

Mon. Feb. 23 @ NA3HL Top Ann Arbor Ice Cube, Prospects Tourney Ann Arbor, MI >> NA3HL 18U Frontier WINS Frontier WINS 3-2 (SO)

Selects vs. & 3-2 (SO) Frontier Frontier Roster l NA3HL 18U Selects Roster

Tues. Feb. 24 @ NA3HL Top Ann Arbor Ice Cube, Prospects Tourney Ann Arbor, MI >> NA3HL 18U NA3HL 18U NA3HL 18U WINS 5-4

Selects vs. South WINS 5-4 NA3HL 18U Selects Roster

East vs. & Frontier East WINS 5-4 East WINS 5-4

Frontier Roster

Fri. Feb. 27 vs. Glacier Nationals 5-1 W 18-4-1 (Home) / 16-5-2 (Road)

Sun. Mar. 1 vs. Billings Bulls 2-1 L 18-5-1 (Home) / 16-5-2 (Road) End of Regular Season

2015 NA3HL Playoffs: Frontier Semi-Finals Best-of-3

2015 NA3HL Divsional Semifinals: Americans win the best-of-three series 2-0

#4 Billings Bulls (25-18-6) vs. #1 Great Falls Americans (36-10-3) Day/Date Game Results/Story Location/Record Thurs. Mar. 5 vs. Billings Bulls 5-4 W Great Falls leads series 1-0 19-5-1 (Home) / 16-5-2 (Road)

Fri. Mar. 6 @ Billings Bulls 6-2 W Great Falls WINS SERIES 2-0 19-5-1 (Home) / 17-5-2 (Road)

2015 NA3HL Playoffs: Frontier Finals Best-of-3

2015 NA3HL Divisional Finals: Americans win the best-of-three series 2-0

#2 Helena Bighorns (36-14-2) vs. #1 Great Falls Americans (38-10-3)

Day/Date Game Results/Story Location/Record

Fri. Mar. 13 5-2 W vs. Helena Great Falls leads series 1-0 20-5-1 (Home) / 17-5-2 (Road)

Sat. Mar. 14 @ Helena 6-2 W Great Falls wins series 2-0 20-5-1 (Home) / 18-5-2 (Road)

Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405

2015 NA3HL Silver Cup Tournament: Round Robin Format

2015 NA3HL Silver Cup Tournament: Americans record is 0-3

Pool A: #1 Nashville Jr. Predators, #4 , #6

Pool B: #2 , #3 Great Falls Americans, #5 West Michigan Wolves

Tournament Pool Play Records #6 Granite City Lumberjacks: 3-1 #2 North Iowa Bulls: 3-1 #1 Nashville Jr. Predators: 2-1 #5 West Michigan Wolves: 1-2 #4 Metro Jets: 1-1-1 #3 Great Falls Americans: 0-3

Thursday, March 19th:

Time (MST) Game Results/Story 4:00PM (MST) #3 GF Americans (0-1) vs. #5 West West Michigan

Michigan Wolves (1-0) WINS 3-1

Friday, March 20th:

Time (MST) Game Results/Story

12:00PM (MST) #3 GF Americans (0-2) vs. #4 Metro Metro WINS 3-1 Jets (1-0-1)

Saturday, March 21st: Time (MST) Game Results/Story 6:00PM (MST) #2 North Iowa Bulls (3-0) vs. #3 GF North Iowa WINS 6-

Americans (0-3) 1

2014-15 Great Falls Americans Season Summary

Overall Home Road Neutral Regular Season 34-10-3 18-5-1 16-5-2 0-0 Playoffs 4-3 2-0 2-0 0-3 Season Total 38-13-3 20-5-1 18-5-2 0-3

Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405

2015-16 Great Falls Americans Season Preview

Great Falls Americans Hockey ready for another successful season

By Kevin Scott

GREAT FALLS, Mont., September 26, 2015 — The Great Falls Americans Junior A Hockey team is preparing themselves for their second season in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) after 3 years in the Americans West Hockey League (AWHL). They are hoping to be even better than last season’s team that posted a 38-13-3 overall record including 18 wins on home ice at the Great Falls Ice Plex.

Making their second playoff appearance since the return of the franchise in 2011, Great Falls took the best-of-five playoff series (2-0) over the Billings Bulls in the league semi-finals. The Americans had to face league rival Helena (Bighorns) for the league title and won that series 2-0. With the win, the Americans advanced to the 2015 Silver Cup Tournament in Illinois where they lost three straight to end their season.

In March of 2014, the seven members of the American West Hockey League joined the North American 3 Hockey League in the Frontier Division. In addition to the Americans, the other teams in their new division that came over with Great Falls from the AWHL include the Billings Bulls, Bozeman Ice Dogs, Helena Bighorns, Glacier Nationals, Yellowstone Quake and the Gillette Wild.

The Americans, under the direction of Head Coach/General Manager Jeff Heimel, will look for leadership from twelve returning players from the 2014-15 squad that won the North American 3 Hockey League Frontier Division championship series over the Helena Bighorns.

Training camp for all players for the new season began in September competing for a roster spot. Prospective players played in a team scrimmage as well as two pre-season games against the rival Helena Bighorns in preparation for the franchise’s fifth year. The team also spent a week (September 7- 10) conducting a youth camp with emphasis on fundamental skating techniques in Great Falls. Before the season began, the Americans held two exhibition contests against the Helena Bighorns to see the strengths and weaknesses are that they needed to work on before the season starts.

The Great Falls Americans will start out the year with a core group of returning players Including Lauren Massie, Arseny Ivanov, Blake Miller, Wade Wylie, Reed Link, Josh Larson, Austin Krantz, Miles Giorgione, Malachi Bushey, Brendan Jester and Adam Apangalook. In addition to leadership, these veterans are looked upon to provide depth and experience throughout the year and they know what it is like to win at a high level. Robert Kalata, Dylan Garton, Georgy Ostapchuk, Zach Mese, Lucas Stover, Lucas Lomax, Cody Page and Erik Gatson are among the key contributors from last season’s squad that won’t be returning due to college commitments and eligibility requirements. Tegan Harrington, Stevan Goran, Jesse Johnson, Jake Stephan and Ricards Bernhards are newcomers that should give the team an immediate impact on the ice.

Heimel, along with assistant coach Blake Page, return to the bench this season to guide the Americans into their new league. Page also serves as the Director of Recruiting while new coaches Mike Walsh and Erik Gatson round out the coaching staff. Gatson will also be the Director of Player Personnel while Walsh will work with the defense.

The schedule for the upcoming season will not be easy as each opponent in the Frontier Division will be tougher and more competitive than last season. Great Falls opens the 2015-16 campaign at home facing the Glacier Nationals at the Great Falls Ice Plex on September 18th. A week later, they face their first road trip of the season against the Yellowstone Quake for a two game series in Cody, Wyoming. After a trip to play the Glacier Nationals in Havre, Montana, they have a three game home stand against the Billings Bulls and Yellowstone Quake (2 games).

In December, the Americans will participate in the NA3HL Showcase Tournament in Blaine, Minnesota where all 34 league members will play other teams from outside their division in the three-day prestigious Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405 event. Before closing out their season with two home games with Yellowstone, selected players will take part in the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament in Plymouth, Michigan on February 15-17th. This all-star format event features many college scouts in the NCAA, junior leagues, and the NHL in attendance.

Although, no one knows in the organization what’s in store for this season, coach Heimel remains optimistic and excited about the new season. The team looks to continue their winning ways this season with hopes of another successful playoff run.

CONTACT:

Kevin Scott Great Falls Americans Public Relations/Media Coordinator Cell Phone: 406-403-8146 Email: [email protected]

Visit our website: http://www.gfamericans.com Join Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greatfalls.americanshockey Twitter: https://twitter.com/@gfamericans

“North American 3 Hockey League: http://www.na3hl.com

Great Falls Americans Hockey 417 Central Avenue, Suite #303, Great Falls, MT 59405