2016-17 Americans Personnel

Head Coach/GM

Jeff Heimel

Jeff Heimel is entering his 5th season as head coach of the Great Falls Americans.

In just 4 seasons, Coach Heimel has compiled an impressive 133-68-11 Record.  In the process Heimel has moved players to all levels of NCAA and ACHA and Junior hockey including a most recent commitment of Evan Hauser to the University of Alaska Anchorage NCAA Division 1.  In 2014-15 The Americans under coach Heimel won their first ever NA3HL Frontier Division title and in the process qualified for the 2015 NA3HL Silver Cup tournament. They repeated as champions in the Frontier Division during the 2015-16 season.

Heimel was selected as the 2013-2014 AWHL Coach of the Year and in his inaugural campaign during the 2012-2013 season the Americans were selected as AWHL Organization of the Year. 

Heimel is originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

Heimel, his wife Megan and their two sons Christian and Preston reside happily in Great Falls, MT. 

Associate Coach/Director of Player Personnel

Erik Gatson

Erik Gatson will be entering his second full season as a part of the coaching staff with the Great Falls Americans.

Gatson, born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, started playing roller hockey at the age of 11. After a year of hockey on wheels he was ready for a more physical and fast paced play style, and sought out his nearest ice rink. At the end of his senior year of high school, Gatson was led to the Great Falls Americans by one of his long-time friends, Lucas Lomax.

Gatson is no rookie when it comes to the Americans program, having played the past three seasons under Coach Heimel. Erik was part of the drastic change in the Americans program which eventually led to a NA3HL Frontier Division Title during the 2014-15 season. When Heimel invited hime to join the Americans coaching staff, Gatson jumped at the opportunity. He looks forward to utilizing his experience with the Americans to become an asset to the staff.

Assistant Coach/Defensive Coach

Mike Walsh

Mike Walsh will be entering his second season with the Great Falls Americans.

Mike grew up playing the game of hockey and is now transitioning that into a coaching career. Mike grew up in Chicago, Illinois playing hockey for Team Illinois AAA Hockey Team. From there he spent three seasons with the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League where he was the captain for two seasons.

After a successful junior hockey career, Mike moved on to playing Division I at the United States Air Force Academy. While at the Academy, Mike was a pivotal member of two AHA conference championship teams making the NCAA tournament multiple times.

Now serving in the United States Air Force at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mike looks to be a fundamental member of the Americans coaching staff.

Assistant Coach/Director of Recruiting

Blake Page

Blake Page will be entering his 5th full season with the Great Falls Americans.

Blake has grown up around the game of hockey and looks forward to beginning his coaching career. Growing up in Southern California Blake began his career in roller hockey making the change to ice hockey at age 12. From there he played midget major AAA in Colorado followed by a season with the Helena Bighorns in the NAHL and one more year of juniors in the EJHL with the Bay State Breakers.

After a successful junior career Blake moved on to the Division 1 level with the Air Force Academy getting the opportunity to play the sport he loved while serving his country. It was at the Academy where Blake was a part of 3 AHA conference championship teams making the NCAA tournament all but one year of his college career. He left the Academy a part of the most winning class in school history defeating multiple top 20 schools such as Yale, Michigan, CC, Denver and so on. 

Now working at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls Blake immediately knew that he wanted to be involved with the Americans. Blake went through the 2012-2013 season as a volunteer and was soon attached to the teaching and community aspects of being a part of the Junior hockey team. This year he looks to be more of a full time role and help the team in any way he can.

Western Area Scout

Josh Frider

Josh Frider will be entering his fifth full season with the Great Falls Americans. 

Josh grew up in Minnesota playing hockey since he was 5 years old.  He led his high school hockey team in scoring as a senior before moving on to play two years of junior hockey in the NAHL.  During juniors, he was recruited to play at the Air Force Academy.

At the Division 1 level, Josh won a regular season championship and three conference tournament championships, advancing to the NCAA tournament his last three years.  As a senior, he helped defeat the University of Michigan before falling in double overtime to the University of Vermont to go to the Frozen Four.  Additionally, Josh was linemates with two Hobey Baker Award Finalists and set the record for most games played at Air Force.

Josh was recently restationed in California and will serve as an area scout for the Americans. 

Billet Coordinator

Vicki Bertelsen

Vicki Bertelsen has been the billet coordinator for the Great Falls Americans for two years. She is primarily responsible for finding and interviewing host families and acting as a liaison between families and coaching.

She and her husband, Dave, first hosted a player from Calgary, Alberta, and are entering their third year as billet parents to four different players. Currently, we are housing Alaskans' Jesse Johnson and Hayden Moistner. The Bertelsens enjoy the close relationships that develop from the billet program and encourage anyone who is interested to contact them to learn more.

There are currently 16 billet families housing 26 players. It is an exciting year for the team, and the families have been very helpful in opening their homes, cheering on the team, hosting team dinners and providing the necessary support for these young men.

Vicki and Dave have been in the Great Falls community for 30 years and are the owners of K&K Trucking, Inc. They have two grown children, Spencer and McKenna. They would sincerely like to thank the generous and kind billet families and look forward to another exciting season. Go Americans!

Email: vicki@kktruckingmt.com

Phone: 406-788-1981

Public Relations/Media Coordinator

Kevin Scott

Kevin Scott is entering his 4th season as Public Relations Coordinator of the Great Falls Americans for the 2016-17 season. Kevin is in charge of the distribution of information regarding the hockey team. His duties include writing game summaries after home and away games, creating press releases for news announcements regarding the Americans, posting information and news to the Greatfalls Americans Facebook and Twitter pages, and updating the website with current information. In January 2014, he created a FREE weekly Great Falls Americans E-Newletter for fans during the hockey season. He also assists the news media with informaiton and keeps them informed on news and events.  He previously worked for the team in 2012 as a Parking Attendant.

Kevin grew up in Sand Coulee, MT (just east of Great Falls) and attended Centerville High School where he graduated in 1997. After high school, he attended the University of Montana-Western located in the small town of Dillon, MT, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Communications in 2002.

Previously, Kevin was the Sports Information Director at the University of Great Falls and he was also the Marketing Coordinator for the University of Great Falls Athletic Association Lancer Booster Club.

In his spare time, Kevin enjoys attending a variety of sporting events including hockey, football, basketball and baseball.

Kevin and his wife, Alta live in Great Falls and have one daughter, Lily born in June 2015.

Team Doctor

Michael A. Dube, MD

Dr. Dube joined Great Falls Orthopedic Associates (GFOA) in 2001. He is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and is fellowship trained in trauma surgery. He also specializes in spine surgery. In addition, he practices general orthopedics, sports medicine, and total joint replacement.

Dr. Dube grew up in New England. After he completed his training, he worked as a trauma surgeon in Boston. He and his wife, Adrienne, loved the West and decided to move to Montana for the quality of life. Great Falls is a good place to raise their two young daughters. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fly fishing, skiing, and hockey.

Medical Degree: 
University of Vermont, College of Medicine
Burlington, Vermont

Orthopedic Surgery Residency: 
University Hospital and Affiliated Programs
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts

Trauma Fellowship: 
University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center
University of Maryland Medical Center
Baltimore, Maryland

Professional Affiliations: 
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
American Medical Association 
North American Spine Society
Montana Orthopedic Society
Montana Medical Association

Team Doctor

Gregory Scot Tierney, MD

Dr. Tierney is Chief of Medical Staff at Benefis Health System. He is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and is fellowship trained in sports medicine. He specializes in arthroscopy, knee and shoulder reconstruction, and cartilage implantation. He joined GFOA in 1994.

Dr. Tierney is team physician for Great Falls High School and C. M. Russell High School, as well as the Great Falls White Sox baseball team. He is an orthopedic consultant to the University of Great Falls. He spends a lot of time providing team coverage at the many sporting events of these institutions. As a sports enthusiast, he enjoys this community service.

Dr. Tierney and his wife wanted to raise their four children in his native Montana because of the lifestyle. The family has a place on Lake Blaine, where they enjoy boating and fishing. He also loves skiing and golf.

Medical Degree: 
University of Washington, School of Medicine 
Seattle, Washington

Orthopedic Surgery Residency: 
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Sports Medicine Fellowship: 
Minneapolis Sports Medicine Center 
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Professional Affiliations: 
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Montana Orthopedic Society 
Montana Medical Association 
American Medical Association 
American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine 
American College of Sports Medicine

Team Doctor

Paul Johnson, MD

Dr. Johnson joined Benefis Medical Group (BMG) in 2009. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine and did his Fellowship training with the University of Notre Dame. He specializes in non surgical sports medicine and concussion management. Dr. Johnson is the medical director of the Walk-In Clinic and Benefis Injury Center.

Dr. Johnson is the team physician for C.M. Russell High School and the University of Great Falls. He helps with the Great Falls Voyagers minor league baseball team in addition to coverage of local sporting events of football and hockey to name a few. Dr. Johnson is an officer in the Army Reserve Medical Corp.

Dr. Johnson grew up in Minot, North Dakota adn participated in many sports and greatly enjoyss living in Montana. He and his wife, Janelle, enjoy the outdoors and consider Great Falls a great hockey community to raise their four children. He likes fly fishing, camping, hunting and hockey.

Team Chiropractor

Jerald D. Wiley, B.S., D.C.

Dr. Wiley graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1995 with honors. After graduation, he spent eight years in a multi-disciplinary practice in Colorado. He opened Mountain View Chiropractic PC in the fall of 2003 in Great Falls. Dr. Wiley's practice primarily consists of treatment of neuromuscular skeletal conditions and sprains and strains. He has been involved with the Pro Sport Chiropractic Rodeo Team for eight years, and is board certified with the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA).

Dr. Wiley grew up in Arkansas and has lived out west for the past 33 years. He and his wife, Lisa are active in Charlie Russell Backcountry Horsemen where he has served on the Board of Directors for the past nine years. He also enjoys all team sports, and hunting, fishing and packing in the back country.