Great Falls Americans
CityGreat Falls, Montana
LeagueNA3HL
Founded2011 (In the AWHL)
Home arenaGreat Falls IcePlex (1,500)
ColorsRed, white, and blue
     
Owner(s)Robert Rasmussen
General managerGreg Sears (2018–19)
Head coachGreg Sears (2018–19)
Franchise history
2011–presentGreat Falls Americans

The Great Falls Americans are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team from Great Falls, Montana, playing at the Great Falls IcePlex in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The players, ages 16–20, carry amateur status under Junior A guidelines and hope to earn a place on a Canadian major junior, collegiate or minor professional team.

History

The Americans were founded in 2011 (in 1992 actually as a Jr. B team in the International Junior Hockey League with Kanai, Taber, Brooks, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge) as an expansion team scheduled to be part of the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac) for the 2011–12 season.[1] Instead, the team joined the rest of the eastern NorPac teams in creating the new American West Hockey League (AWHL).

In March 2014, the AWHL joined the North American 3 Hockey League as the Frontier Division for the 2014–15 season.[2]

In the first year in the NA3HL the Americans won the Frontier division championship and progressed through the playoff to the Silver Cup finals. They followed up the second year with a march through the playoffs to once again appear in the Silver Cup championships.

Season-by-season records

Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA PIM Regular Season Finish Playoffs
American West Hockey League
2011–12 48 1 46 1 2 97 359 1,343 6th of 6, AWHL Did not qualify
2012–13 48 16 30 2 34 129 194 954 6th of 7, AWHL Did not qualify
2013–14 48 36 9 3 75 216 121 981 2nd of 8, AWHL Won semifinals, 3–1 vs. Gillette Wild
Lost finals, 0–3 vs. Helena Bighorns
North American 3 Hockey League
2014–15 47 34 10 3 71 168 87 644 1st of 7, Frontier Div.
3rd of 31, NA3HL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Billings Bulls
Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Helena Bighorns
0–3–0 in Silver Cup Round Robin
(L, 1–3 vs. Wolves; L, 1–3 vs. Jets; L, 1–6 vs. Bulls)
2015–16 47 34 11 2 70 203 93 735 2nd of 7, Frontier Div.
8th of 34, NA3HL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Bozeman Icedogs
Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Yellowstone Quake
2–1–0 in Silver Cup Round Robin
(W, 2–1 vs. Ducks; L, 1–4 vs. Bulls; W, 8–1 vs. Quake)
Lost semifinal game, 4–5 vs. Metro Jets
2016–17 47 38 4 5 81 258 96 699 2nd of 8, Frontier Div.
4th of 48, NA3HL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Gillete Wild
Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Yellowstone Quake
2017–18 47 34 11 2 70 195 107 633 2nd of 6, Frontier Div.
8th of 42, NA3HL		 Lost div. semi-finals, 0–2 vs. Helena Bighorns
2018–19 47 38 8 1 77 258 96 821 2nd of 7, Frontier Div.
5th of 36, NA3HL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Bozeman Icedogs
Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Helena Bighorns
2019–20 47 33 9 5 71 184 98 763 3rd of 8, Frontier Div.
7th of 34, NA3HL		 Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Helena Bighorns
Led Div. Semifinals, 1–0 vs. Sheridan Hawks
Playoffs cancelled
2020–21 40 27 11 2 56 154 113 749 2nd of 8, Frontier Div.
9th of 31, NA3HL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Gillete Wild
Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Sheridan Hawks
2021–22 47 22 20 5 49 181 172 745 4th of 8, Frontier Div.
18th of 34, NA3HL		 Won play-in series, 2–0 vs. Badlands Sabres
Lost div. semi-finals, 0-2 Helena Bighorns
2022–23 47 17 27 3 37 125 182 745 6th of 8, Frontier Div.
25th of 34, NA3HL		 Did not qualify for Post Season Play

References

  1. ^ Staff (June 13, 2011). "Americans now part of AWHL". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  2. ^ "AWHL to join NA3HL in 2014-15".

External links

Sports teams based in Montana
Categories