Wranglers Launch Season in Colorado, Host Firebirds October 24–25
CALGARY — Year four of the Calgary Wranglers begins this fall, marking the latest chapter since the club relocated to southern Alberta in 2022. In three seasons at Scotiabank Saddledome, the Wranglers have made the playoffs every year, including a Pacific Division title in their debut campaign, while building rivalries across one of the toughest divisions in the American Hockey League.
The new season opens October 10 with back-to-back road games against the Colorado Eagles, followed by a two-game trip to face the Tucson Roadrunners on October 18 and 19. The Wranglers’ home opener arrives October 24, when they welcome the Coachella Valley Firebirds for the first of two games that weekend.
The AHL is split into two conferences, the 17-team Western and 15-team Eastern, with four divisions beneath them. Calgary plays in the Pacific Division alongside the Abbotsford Canucks, Henderson Silver Knights, Colorado Eagles, Tucson Roadrunners, San Jose Barracuda, San Diego Gulls, Ontario Reign, Bakersfield Condors, and Coachella Valley Firebirds. Each year, 23 of the league’s 32 teams qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs, with the top seven from the Pacific advancing.
The Wranglers’ leadership has evolved over three seasons. Brett Sutter wore the “C” in the club’s first two years before retiring, with Clark Bishop of St. John’s taking over as captain in 2024. Bishop returns this season alongside veteran forward Martin Frk, who joined last year and quickly became one of the team’s top scorers.
Last season’s points leaders included Rory Kerins with 61, Martin Frk with 60, Dryden Hunt and William Strömgren with 49 each, Sam Morton with 45, Jérémie Poirier with 42, and captain Clark Bishop with 38. These totals reflected a balanced offense, a mix of emerging talent and established contributors.
The Wranglers’ record book has already seen standout marks, highlighted by Matthew Phillips’ 36 goals, 40 assists, and 76 points in 2022–23, and Dustin Wolf’s 42 wins and .932 save percentage that same year. Jakob Pelletier’s 10-point playoff run in 2023 remains a postseason benchmark.
As the Wranglers head into their fourth season in Calgary, the foundation is set: three playoff berths in three years, a growing rivalry with Coachella Valley, and a roster that combines leadership with developing talent. The early-season road trip through Colorado and Tucson sets the stage for a much-anticipated home-opening weekend against the Firebirds.