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.