Wranglers Blank Firebirds 3–0 Behind Say’s 43 Save Shutout at the Saddledome

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers returned to the Scotiabank Saddledome and delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, shutting out the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3–0 in AHL game 352. With the win, Calgary leapfrogged Coachella Valley in the Pacific Division standings and tightened an already crowded Western Conference race.

Rookie goaltender Owen Say was the story of the night. Making his first professional shutout, he turned aside all 43 shots he faced, including a flurry of point blank chances during a heavy Firebirds push late in the second period and again in the final minutes with the net empty.

The intensity began early. Six minutes into the first period, Alex Gallant dropped the gloves with Firebirds defender Kaden Hemmell in a spirited fight that set the tone. The scrum spilled into the TV timeout, resulting in ten minute misconducts to Coachella Valley’s Ian McKinnon and Calgary’s Clark Bishop. The game had bite from the opening shift and never really cooled off.

Calgary opened the scoring shortly after. A clean three way rush started by Sam Morton and Matvei Gridin sent the puck into the middle for Aydar Suniev, who snapped home his sixth of the season at 11:43. It was Suniev’s second goal in as many games and gave the Wranglers the early lead despite Coachella Valley controlling the shot clock.

The Firebirds continued to press in the second period and were handed a 5-on-3 advantage after back-to-back Calgary penalties to Gallant and Cicek. Say stood tall through the sequence, turning away multiple high danger chances. Then, just moments later, the Wranglers doubled their lead when defenseman Danil Miromanov stepped into space and ripped home his fourth of the season at 3:53. Kerins and Stromgren picked up the assists as Miromanov extended his run to four points in his last five games.

Coachella Valley’s heaviest surge came late in the second period when Say was forced into a flurry of stops. He fought off two quick chances in tight, battled through a crease scramble, and made a save while down to preserve the 2–0 lead heading into the intermission. By the end of the middle frame the Firebirds held a 20–9 edge in shots but still had nothing past Calgary’s rookie goaltender.

The push continued in the third. Coachella Valley pulled their goalie with 2:44 left and fired from everywhere, driving the shot total above 40 and generating several near misses including one that sailed just wide of the far post. The Wranglers weathered the storm and blocked shots at key moments before sealing the win.

With thirty nine seconds remaining, Firebirds defender Jesper Froden lost an edge at the blue line, leaving Martin Firk with a clean lane toward an empty net. Calgary’s leading scorer hit the cage from a sharp angle for his 11th of the season and his 400th AHL career point. Morton recorded his second point of the night on the play.

The three stars of the game reflected the story:

1. Owen Say with his perfect 43 save shutout

2. Alex Gallant for his physical presence and first period fight

3. Aydar Suniev with the opening goal that set the tone

Calgary will face the Firebirds again on Thursday, December 11 at 7:00 pm MT back at the Saddledome. Fans can watch on AHLTV via FloHockey at the link provided by the team.

Upcoming Schedule

December 11 — 7:00 PM vs Coachella Valley Firebirds - Scotiabank Saddledome

December 13 — 6:00 PM vs Abbotsford Canucks - Scotiabank Saddledome

December 14 — 4:00 PM vs Abbotsford Canucks - Scotiabank Saddledome

December 19 — 7:00 PM vs San Diego Gulls - Scotiabank Saddledome

Calgary Wranglers Drop Both Games in Ontario, Finish Road Trip With OT Heartbreaker

Ontario, California — The Calgary Wranglers ended their longest road stretch of the season with a pair of losses to the Ontario Reign, falling 6–1 on Saturday before dropping a 2–1 overtime decision on Sunday. The results captured a turbulent 48 hours for Calgary, who battled a surging Reign team in the final leg of their 10-game trip.

Saturday’s matchup started with genuine optimism. Calgary opened the scoring when defenseman Daniil Miromanov jumped into the rush and buried his third goal of the season, giving the Wranglers an early spark. But Ontario quickly seized momentum, scoring twice before the first intermission and piling on three more goals in the second. Owen Say made 17 saves before Connor Murphy relieved him in the third, but the Reign added one more in a decisive 6–1 win.

Sunday told a different story. The Wranglers tightened their defensive structure, clogged passing lanes, and played far more composed hockey against an Ontario team riding confidence from the night before. The first period was scoreless, and Calgary broke through early in the second when Aydar Suniev buried his fifth goal of the year off a feed from Miromanov and Sam Morton. The Reign answered later in the frame, and the teams skated through a defensive third period still tied 1–1.

Overtime looked promising for Calgary early, but at the three-minute mark, Joe Hicketts found space off the rush and snapped home the winner for the Reign. Calgary finished the game with 16 shots to Ontario’s 27, but the structure and discipline were a marked improvement from Saturday’s result.

The Wranglers now head home for an important three-game stretch at the Scotiabank Saddledome, beginning Tuesday night against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. After ten straight games on the road, Calgary returns to familiar ice with an opportunity to reclaim momentum in the Pacific Division race.

Wranglers Beat Firebirds 5-4 in OT as Kerins, Frk, and Gridin Lead Calgary on the Road

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers continued to show their resilience on the road, picking up a 5-4 overtime win against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Sunday afternoon. It was a game full of swings, momentum shifts, and high-end skill, and Calgary’s top players stepped up when it mattered most.

Coachella Valley opened the scoring just 40 seconds into the game, but the Wranglers answered quickly. Rory Kerins tied it, and Nick Cicek followed with another shortly after to give Calgary its first lead. The Firebirds managed to even the score in the final seconds of the first period, setting up a back-and-forth afternoon.

The second period followed the same pattern. Coachella regained the lead on the powerplay, but Martin Frk responded with a powerplay marker of his own. That goal moved Frk into second place in AHL goal scoring and first in league points, with teammate Matvei Gridin sitting third. Both players continued their red-hot offensive pace.

Gridin put Calgary ahead early in the third, but Coachella tied it again with 10 minutes left. The game headed to overtime, where Kerins delivered the winner, burying his second goal of the day to secure the extra point. Kerins finished with two goals and one assist, while Frk and Gridin each put up three-point nights of their own.

Rookie goaltender Owen Say held strong throughout the high-event game, stopping 31 of 35 shots for a .886 save percentage. It was another composed outing from the young netminder, who continues to give Calgary steady play during this long road stretch.

With the win, the Wranglers move to the halfway point of their 10-game road stand. Calgary now shifts its focus to Wednesday, November 26, when the team visits the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena. Puck drop is at 8:00 pm MT, and fans can catch the action live on AHLTV via FloHockey.

Calgary’s road-heavy November continues with key Pacific Division matchups ahead, and with Kerins, Frk, Gridin, and Say leading the charge, the Wranglers are building solid momentum as the season approaches December.

Wranglers edge Coachella Valley 4–3 as Morton and Brzustewicz lead the way

CALGARY — Sam Morton led the way with a three-point performance and Hunter Brzustewicz scored twice as the Calgary Wranglers defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds 4–3 on Saturday night to close out their home-opening weekend at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Morton opened the scoring in the first period and later helped tee up Brzustewicz for one of his two goals in what became the defenceman’s first multi-goal night as a pro. Matvei Gridin and Dryden Hunt each recorded two assists, while Hunt extended his run to four multi-point performances in his last five games.

Coachella Valley pushed throughout the night, outshooting Calgary 27–26. Ivan Prosvetov turned aside 24 shots to record his first win as a Wrangler.

Calgary protected its lead through a final push by the Firebirds, who scored with 7.2 seconds left to make it 4–3 before time ran out.

The win closes out the weekend split after Friday’s overtime loss and moves Calgary to 2–2–2 on the season.

The Wranglers now pivot to a four-game stretch in six days, beginning with a road back-to-back against the Abbotsford Canucks on Tuesday and Wednesday. Puck drop for both games is 8:00 p.m. MT at Abbotsford Centre. Calgary then returns home to host the Bakersfield Condors for matinee games at the Scotiabank Saddledome on November 1 and 2.

Fans can watch the upcoming road series live on AHLTV via FloHockey at https://flosports.link/46YqCIJ.

Wranglers Fall 5–4 in Overtime to Coachella Valley in Home Opener

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers dropped their home opener 5–4 in overtime to the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, giving up a late tying goal before Jacob Melanson ended the game 44 seconds into the extra frame.

Clark Bishop from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, opened the scoring in the first period on Calgary’s fifth shot of the game and later added a shorthanded goal in the third, finishing with two of the Wranglers’ four goals. Rory Kerins and Matvei Gridin also had multi-point efforts, each recording one goal and one assist, while William Stromgren added two assists in the loss.

Coachella Valley cut into the Wranglers’ lead on a first-period rebound goal by Jakov Novak to make it 2–1 after one. Calgary regained a two-goal cushion when Gridin redirected a point shot in the second period to make it 3–1, before Jagger Firkus answered in the third to bring the Firebirds within one.

Bishop restored the two-goal lead at 4–2 with his shorthanded marker, but Coachella Valley responded again when Logan Morrison capitalized from in tight. With 2:32 remaining in regulation, Firkus scored his second of the night to force overtime.

In overtime, Coachella Valley completed the comeback when Melanson carried the puck down the left side and beat Calgary goaltender Owen Say with a backhand finish at 0:44, sealing the 5–4 decision.

Say made 21 saves on 26 shots in the loss. The Wranglers held a 31–18 shot advantage at one point in the third period but were unable to close out the game in regulation.

Multiple Calgary players recorded their first points on home ice this season, with Bishop scoring the Wranglers’ first home goal of 2025–26 and the club’s first shorthanded goal of the year. Kerins’ two-point performance moved him to five points on the season, while Gridin recorded his third goal of the campaign.

With the overtime loss, Calgary moves to 1-2-2 on the season. Coachella Valley (2-2-1) has now won back-to-back games and they sit fifth in the Pacific Division.

The Wranglers and Firebirds will meet again on Saturday night for a rematch at 6:00 p.m. at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The game will be available for streaming on AHLTV via FloHockey.

Wranglers Shut Out 1–0 in Loveland as Owen Say Impresses in AHL Debut

CALGARY – The Calgary Wranglers wrapped up their weekend in Loveland with a 1–0 loss to the Colorado Eagles on Saturday night, a tight defensive contest that saw Calgary shut out despite steady pressure and strong goaltending.

Colorado struck just 42 seconds into the opening frame, and that lone tally stood as the game-winner. The Wranglers battled but couldn’t find the equalizer, going 0-for-5 on the power play and managing 18 shots on goal.

The bright spot came in net, where 24-year-old Owen Say of London, Ontario made his first AHL start and turned heads. The rookie goaltender looked confident and composed, stopping 21 of 22 shots to keep Calgary within striking distance all night. Say joins the Wranglers after playing 27 games last season with the University of Notre Dame in the Big Ten Conference, where he posted a .920 save percentage and a 10-15 record.

Despite the loss, Say’s debut offered encouraging depth between the pipes for a Wranglers team that has leaned heavily on Dustin Wolf in recent seasons.

Calgary now returns home to reset before heading south to Tucson for a two-game weekend series against the Roadrunners. The Wranglers face Tucson on Saturday, October 18 at 8:00 p.m. MST, and again on Sunday, October 19 at 5:00 p.m. MST, with both games taking place at the Tucson Convention Center. After that, the team returns to the Scotiabank Saddledome for back-to-back home games against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on October 24 at 7:00 p.m. MST and October 25 at 6:00 p.m. MST.

Fans can catch all upcoming Wranglers action live on FloHockey.

Countdown to Flames & Wranglers Hockey: Wolf, Brzustewicz, and Calgary’s Next Chapter

Few players in the Flames system draw more attention right now than Dustin Wolf and Hunter Brzustewicz.

Wolf is coming off his first full NHL season, where he played 53 games, won 29, posted a .910 save percentage, and earned recognition as a Calder Trophy finalist. At 24, he has shifted from top prospect to a starter who gives the Flames a level of consistency in goal that had been missing in recent years.

Brzustewicz, meanwhile, is pushing from the AHL. After a 92-point season with the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League, he posted 32 points as a rookie with the Wranglers and made his NHL debut late in the year. His poise with the puck and ability to drive play from the blue line make him one of the most intriguing young players in the organization.

Their development provides an added layer of interest as the new season approaches. Calgary opens its preseason September 21 with a split-squad doubleheader against Edmonton, one game at the Saddledome and the other at Rogers Place. The regular season begins October 8 in Edmonton, followed immediately by a visit to Vancouver on October 9. That means the Flames will start their year with back-to-back road games before finally returning home October 11 to face St. Louis in front of the C of Red.

The Wranglers open their season October 10 with a two-game set in Colorado, continue with another pair in Tucson, and then return to Calgary for back-to-back games against Coachella Valley on October 24 and 25. That stretch represents six games across three cities in just over two weeks, a demanding way to open the year and a reminder of how quickly the AHL schedule tests a roster.

Wolf and Brzustewicz don’t define the future on their own, but they represent where the Flames and Wranglers are headed: a stronger connection between the NHL roster and the pipeline below it. One is already carrying NHL responsibility. The other is forcing his way into the conversation. Together, they are part of the bigger picture as hockey returns to Calgary this fall.

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.