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.
| Great Falls Americans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Great Falls, Montana |
| League | NA3HL |
| Founded | 2011 (In the AWHL) |
| Home arena | Great Falls IcePlex (1,500) |
| Colors | Red, white, and blue |
| Owner(s) | Robert Rasmussen |
| General manager | Greg Sears (2018–19) |
| Head coach | Greg Sears (2018–19) |
| Franchise history | |
| 2011–present | Great Falls Americans |
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 |
| 2023–24 | 47 | 22 | 23 | 2 | 46 | 134 | 156 | 734 | 6th of 8, Frontier Div. 21st of 34, NA3HL | Lost Div Semifinal 0-2 (Helena Bighorns) |