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.

Flames Win Shootout Thriller, Wranglers Earn Road Victory, and Calgary Teams Prep for Busy Week

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames and Calgary Wranglers both delivered 3 to 2 victories on Saturday night, giving the city a clean sweep across the NHL and AHL while setting the tone for one of the busiest weeks of the season for Calgary hockey fans.

At the Saddledome, the Flames edged the Dallas Stars 3 to 2 in a shootout, with Nazem Kadri burying the winner and Devin Cooley turning in another composed, confident performance. Cooley entered the night carrying a 1.80 goals against average and a .935 save percentage, and he gave Calgary exactly the kind of calm presence they needed against a Dallas lineup featuring elite offensive threats. Calgary generated timely scoring, defended well late, and finished the job when the skills competition rolled around. Kadri’s finish sealed it, and Cooley shut the door to complete the win.

While the Flames were grinding out their victory at home, the Wranglers were doing the same in San Diego. After giving up the opening goal, Calgary responded with purpose. Martin Frk tied the game in the first period with assists from Matvei Gridin and Rory Kerins. Justin Kirkland followed it up with a powerplay strike to give the Wranglers the lead, and Gridin extended it in the second period with his seventh of the season. San Diego pushed back with a late goal, but Ivan Prosvetov handled the final moments with confidence, finishing with 30 saves on 32 shots. Frk led the way with a three-point night, while both Kerins and Gridin posted two point games.

It was a strong showing from both Flames affiliates, but the schedule now tightens. The Flames are back at it right away with a Sunday night matchup in Vancouver against the Canucks at 7 pm. That game kicks off a tough three-game stretch that includes Tampa Bay on Wednesday, the defending champion Florida Panthers on Friday, and a visit to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday to close out the month of November. It is a challenging run that will test Calgary’s structure, depth, and goaltending.

The Wranglers face their own quick turnaround with a road game today at 3 pm MT against the Coachella Valley Firebirds at Acrisure Arena. After that, they visit the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday as they continue their California swing. With Frk, Kerins, and Gridin producing at a high level, the Wranglers remain one of the most consistent offensive teams in the AHL’s Pacific Division.

Calgary hockey extended beyond the NHL and AHL on Saturday night as well. In major junior action, the Calgary Hitmen fell in a high-scoring 7 to 6 game in Medicine Hat. The Hitmen return home right away for a 4 pm matchup at the Scotiabank Saddledome, giving Calgary fans yet another home event in a packed weekend.

It was a full night for hockey in Calgary, and both the Flames and Wranglers delivered results that matched the effort. With big games coming across every level of the sport in the next few days, the city is stepping into one of the most compelling stretches of the season.

Wranglers fall 5 to 2 in Bakersfield as Condors surge late for home victory

CALGARY -- The Calgary Wranglers could not turn early momentum into a road win on Tuesday night, falling 5 to 2 to the Bakersfield Condors in a game that slipped away during a tough second period. Calgary opened the scoring and traded goals through forty minutes, but Bakersfield’s depth and timely finishing took over late as the Condors pulled away with two empty netters to seal the result.

Martin Frk opened the scoring for Calgary just over four minutes in, finishing a touch pass from Matvei Gridin, the 2024 first round pick who continues to show poise and creativity. Bakersfield answered quickly and the teams went into the intermission even.

William Strömgren restored the lead for the Wranglers early in the second period on the power play, set up by Frk and goaltender Ivan Prosvetov who earned his first assist of the season. But Bakersfield surged with two goals in just over a minute, including a power play strike from Quinn Hutson, shifting the game’s momentum for good.

Josh Samanski, the German Canadian forward who joined the Edmonton Oilers organization in 2025, added a goal and an assist to lead the Condors. Isaac Howard scored twice, including an empty netter, while Roby Järventie also hit the vacant cage to put the game out of reach. Calgary outshot Bakersfield 27 to 26 but could not solve the Condors’ structure in the third period.

Gridin continued to be a bright spot for the Wranglers, building on the strong start to his AHL career as a Flames first round pick. Frk added a multi point night, and Strömgren’s power play goal marked another important step in his development.

The Wranglers now look to regroup as they continue their road stretch and aim to tighten their defensive details heading into their next matchup in San Diego on Saturday night.

Wranglers Fall 5-2 in Henderson as Road Trip Continues on Grey Cup Sunday

The Calgary Wranglers saw their comeback fall short on Sunday, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Henderson Silver Knights in Game 2 of their extended 10-game, 21-day road trip. Calgary scored twice in the third period to make things interesting, but an early 4-0 hole proved too much to overcome less than 24 hours after their 6-4 win at the same rink.

The Silver Knights came out flying, scoring four times through 40 minutes, including goals from Davies, Cormier, Johansen and Connelly. Henderson controlled most of the run of play early, outshooting Calgary heavily through the first half of the game and making life difficult for rookie goaltender Owen Say, who playing in his eigth game this year. Say settled in as the game went on and finished with 28 saves on 32 shots, good for an .875 save percentage.

At the other end, former NHL netminder Carter Hart turned aside all 10 shots he faced through 40 minutes. Hart, who returned to professional hockey this fall after being found not guilty along with four others in the 2025 World Junior case, finished with 12 saves on 14 shots for an .857 save percentage.

The Wranglers finally broke through in the third period, generating their best pressure of the night. Matvei Gridin cut the deficit to 4-1 before Daniil Miromanov scored to make it 4-2 with just over four minutes remaining. Jaycob Megna iced it for Henderson with a short handed goal at the buzzer.

Despite the loss, the Wranglers split the weekend series and move to 1-1 on their 10-game road swing, which continues Tuesday in Bakersfield.

Meanwhile in Calgary, the Flames rest on Grey Cup Sunday following last night’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Fans across Canada paused their game-day routines as the nation turns its attention to Winnipeg as quarterback Trevor Harris and the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 for the championship, but the AHL grind continues uninterrupted—and the Wranglers’ road-heavy schedule means plenty more late starts, mileage, and momentum swings ahead.

Next up: Wranglers at Condors, Tuesday night, 7:30 pm MT.

Wranglers Drop 4–1 Decision to Barracuda on Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the Saddledome

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers fell 4–1 to the San Jose Barracuda Saturday afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome, as San Jose completed the two-game sweep in front of a strong crowd for the team’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer game.

The Barracuda struck first at the 8:00 mark of the opening period, when Egor Afanasyev (#11) cut in over the blue line and snapped a low shot far side past Ivan Prosvetov. The goal was the first of the season for the 6'4" left winger from Tver, Russia, who was drafted 45th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2019 and traded to San Jose earlier this year.

San Jose added to their lead after Calgary forward Rory Kerins was called for interference. On the power play, Pavol Regenda (#84) sent a puck into traffic that eventually found Kasper Halttunen (#14), who buried it to make it 2–0. Just minutes later, Halttunen scored again — this time on a clean shot from the left circle for his second of the game and third of the season. The Helsinki-born forward was a second-round pick (36th overall) in 2023 and is currently in the final year of his three-year entry-level contract.

Calgary’s best chance of the first came in the dying seconds, when a Wranglers forward broke in alone, but goaltender Gabriel Carriere stood tall. San Jose outshot Calgary 11–5 in the first.

Tempers flared late in the period as Alex Gallant and Anthony Vincent dropped the gloves, although the fight didn’t escalate beyond a quick exchange. Jimmy Huntington, who had earlier laid a heavy hit on Hunter Brzustewicz, was involved in a scrap of his own later in the second with Calgary’s Nick Cicek — possibly in response to that earlier collision.

Calgary found some life late in the second. After several chances turned away by Carriere, the Wranglers finally broke through with 2:17 left in the period. Aydar Suniev’s shot from the right dot deflected off Sam Morton and then off Lucas Ciona (#17), who redirected it in for his first goal of the season. That cut the deficit to 3–1 heading into the third.

The Wranglers had two power play opportunities in the game but were unable to convert, falling to 6-for-40 on the season (15.0%). San Jose went 1-for-2, improving their power play efficiency to 13-for-50 (26%).

In the third, Calgary pushed hard. Parker Bell had multiple rushes, Matvei Gridin had several looks, and Brzustewicz nearly scored on a wraparound. Carriere was sharp throughout, including a glove save on Regenda shorthanded and a key stop on Brzustewicz walking in from the point.

With time running down, Calgary pulled Prosvetov for the extra attacker, but Colin White sealed the game with an empty net goal — his second goal of the year — making it 4–1 San Jose.

After the game, Barracuda GM Joe Will praised his forward depth, saying several players could contribute at the NHL level this season. He also noted confidence in both of San Jose’s AHL goalies — Carriere and Škarek — to step in and help the big club if needed.

Calgary Wranglers Surge With 8 Straight Points and Battle of Alberta Sweep

CALGARY – The Calgary Wranglers are heating up in a hurry. After a slow start to the season, Calgary has flipped the script with points in eight straight games and a five-game win streak, capped by a dominant weekend sweep over the Bakersfield Condors.

Saturday’s opener saw Calgary take Round 1 of the AHL’s Battle in Alberta with a 4–3 overtime win. Ivan Prosvetov was sharp again, turning aside 35 of 38 shots. Calgary jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first, with Martin Frk and Rory Kerins both hitting the scoresheet. Bakersfield clawed back and forced overtime, where Sam Morton sealed it with his first career OT winner. Morton, William Strömgren, and Matvei Gridin all posted multi-point nights.

On Sunday, Calgary followed it up with a statement. The Wranglers handled Bakersfield 6–1, erasing an early Condors powerplay goal and taking control the rest of the way. Turner Ottenbreit scored his first as a Wrangler, Hunter Brzustewicz added another in the dying seconds of the first, and Calgary never looked back. Aydar Suniev, Morton, Dryden Hunt, and Gridin all scored in a third-period push that buried the Condors. Goaltender Owen Say picked up his second win of the season, stopping 21 of 22 shots.

There are standout performances across the roster during this stretch. Morton has nine points in his last five games, including five across the weekend. Prosvetov has been lights-out with a 1.26 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage over his last three games, including a shutout. Suniev has scored in two of his last four as his offensive confidence continues to build. Gridin sits second in AHL rookie scoring with 11 points.

Calgary now turns its attention to a four-game homestand at the Scotiabank Saddledome, beginning Thursday against the San Jose Barracuda at 7:00 pm. The Wranglers will also host San Jose on Saturday afternoon before Ontario visits for back-to-back games on November 11 and 12.

The Wranglers have found their stride, and the Dome is feeling it.

Wranglers Extend Point Streak to Six as Gridin Scores Shootout Winner in Abbotsford

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — The Calgary Wranglers extended their point streak to six games with a 2–1 shootout win over the Abbotsford Canucks on Wednesday night, finishing their two-game road set with another strong defensive showing and efficient goaltending.

Abbotsford opened the scoring in the first, but Calgary weathered early pressure and began to tilt the ice in the second period. Goaltender Ivan Prosvetov kept the Wranglers within one, turning aside several high-danger chances before the skaters in front of him found their rhythm.

The equalizer came midway through the third when Daniil Miromanov beat Abbotsford’s Jiri Patera. Matvei Gridin and David Silye drew the assists as the Wranglers pressed, outshooting the Canucks 9–5 in overtime and closing the night with a 30–26 edge in total shots.

In the shootout, Gridin—Calgary Flames’ 2024 first-round pick (28th overall)—clinched the win as the third shooter. The 19-year-old rookie from Kurgan, Russia, now with eight points through six AHL games, continues to show poise beyond his years after a 79-point QMJHL season and four-game NHL debut with the Flames earlier this fall.

Prosvetov, also Russian-born, finished with 25 saves on 26 shots, earning first-star honours. Miromanov’s goal was his second point in four AHL games this season, and the Wranglers’ special teams struggled going 0/1 on the penalty kill and 0/2 with the man advantage.

Calgary, now 4-2-2 — third in the Pacific Division, heads home for a weekend series against the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors on November 1 and 2. Both games are set for 1:00 p.m. MT at the Scotiabank Saddledome, followed by a mid-week series with the San Jose Barracuda on November 6 and 8.

Fans can catch all the action live on AHLTV via FloHockey at flosports.link/46YqCIJ.

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.

Flames Close Preseason With Shootout Loss to Jets

CALGARY – Calgary’s preseason finale had energy, offense, and a dramatic finish, but the Flames came up short in a 5–4 shootout against the Winnipeg Jets at the Saddledome on Friday night. The game capped off exhibition play and offered a final look at veterans and prospects before the regular season begins next week.

Nazem Kadri led the Flames with two goals, showing sharp form in his final tune-up. His first came midway through the opening frame when Adam Klapka worked the puck below the goal line and slipped a backhand pass to Kadri, who buried it from in close. Joel Farabee added the secondary assist.

Calgary doubled the lead minutes later as rookie forward Matvei Gridin continued his standout preseason. The 19-year-old forward collected a feed from Kevin Bahl and converted on the backhand to make it 2–0, adding to an already impressive exhibition showing.

Winnipeg responded late in the period, but the Flames answered right back. Defenceman Joel Hanley stepped into a point shot and sniped it high blocker side at 17:13, restoring the two-goal advantage with assists to MacKenzie Weegar and Morgan Frost. The Flames led 3–1 after 20 minutes, with the Saddledome crowd energized by a heavy Klapka hit on Neal Pionk that drew a roar through the building.

Kadri struck again early in the second period, finishing a return feed from Bahl for his second of the night, while Klapka picked up his second assist. That stretched Calgary’s lead to 4–1, but Winnipeg — dressing regulars Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey, and former Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck — rallied with two goals to trim the gap to 4–2 after 40 minutes.

The Jets completed their comeback in the third, tying the game 4–4 to force extra time. Overtime solved nothing, and the contest went to a lengthy shootout. Calgary converted twice, but Winnipeg edged ahead with three goals to secure the win.

Despite the loss, the Flames closed the preseason with encouraging signs: Kadri producing offensively and leading by example, Gridin showing flashes of high-end skill, Klapka bringing both physicality and playmaking, and Dustin Wolf once again drawing loud support from the home crowd with timely saves.

Calgary now turns its attention to the regular season, which begins next week

Blue Jays Clinch AL East Crown as Flames Continue Preseason

CALGARY -- Twenty more wins than a year ago has lifted the Toronto Blue Jays to the American League East crown. The turnaround season ended with Toronto securing its place in the American League Division Series, where the Jays will face either the Yankees or Red Sox once the Wild Card is settled.

While Toronto fans celebrated baseball success, Calgary hockey fans were focused on NHL preseason action. The Flames opened their slate with split-squad games against Edmonton, earning a 3–2 overtime win on the road behind two goals from Morgan Frost, while dropping the home half 3–0. Back at the Dome, they beat Seattle 4–1, then fell 3–1 in Abbotsford against Vancouver. Most recently, in Winnipeg, the Flames came up short 4–2, with goals coming from 2024 first-round draft picks Zayne Parekh, 9th overall, and Matvei Gridin, 28th overall.

Frost has been Calgary’s most consistent forward, leading the team with five points through four appearances. His overtime winner in Edmonton stood out, but his steady production throughout camp has been just as important.

The Flames’ preseason record may not turn heads, but the combination of veteran contributors and first-rounders hitting the scoresheet is giving head coach Ryan Huska a clearer picture as roster cuts continue. For Huska, the emphasis remains less on results and more on which players will be ready when the games count.

Calgary closes out the preseason this week against Seattle, Vancouver, and Winnipeg before opening the regular season October 8 in Edmonton against the Oilers, last year’s Western Conference champions.

Canadian sports fans now find themselves in one of the best stretches of the calendar: the Blue Jays preparing for October baseball and the Flames moving closer to opening night.

Flames Prospects Hold Off Oilers 5–4 to Sweep NextGen Showcase

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames prospects capped the NextGen Showcase with a 5–4 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday at the Scotiabank Saddledome, sweeping the weekend home-and-home series between the provincial rivals.

Edmonton struck first just over two minutes in, when Tommy Lafrenière (#54) converted from the slot to give the visitors an early lead. Calgary answered late in the opening frame. Mael Lavigne (#85) tied the game at 1–1, finishing a play set up by Kadon McCann (#73) and Simon Mack (#88).

The first period also featured a heavy hit from defenseman Mace’o Phillips (#92) that energized the crowd, as well as a key stop from goaltender Arsenii Sergeev (#40) to keep the game even heading into intermission.

Second Period
Nathan Brisson (#82) put Calgary ahead midway through the period, converting on a rush created by Jacob Battaglia (#60), with Mack earning his second assist of the night. Matvei Gridin (#51) then extended the lead, hammering a one-timer home off feeds from Carter King (#95) and Sam Honzek (#29).

Lafrenière responded with his second of the game on an Edmonton power play, cutting the Flames’ lead to 3–2 after forty minutes.

Third Period
Calgary wasted little time adding insurance. At 2:51, Colton Alain (#71) snapped a shot from the high slot after a setup by David Silye (#83) and Aydar Suniev (#36) to make it 4–2.

Edmonton’s Josh Samanski replied minutes later, finishing off a setup from Quinn Hutson to make it 4–3, but the Flames restored their cushion on the power play. Hunter Laing (#53) finished off a passing play from Parker Bell (#87) and Suniev to push the lead to 5–3.

Von Richter’s point shot brought Edmonton back within one, but Sergeev shut the door in the dying seconds. With the Oilers pressing and their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Calgary held firm through a frantic scramble in front to seal the win.

Top Performers

• Nathan Brisson (CGY): Scored the go-ahead goal in the second and added an assist.

• Simon Mack (CGY): Two assists, steady presence on the back end.

• Aydar Suniev (CGY): Involved in multiple plays, including a key setup on the Laing power-play goal.

• Hunter Laing (CGY): Power-play goal that ultimately stood up as the game-winner.

• Tommy Lafrenière (EDM): Two goals to pace the Oilers’ attack and keep them within striking distance.

• Arsenii Sergeev (CGY): Steady in net, closing the door during a wild final scramble.

Final Score: Flames 5, Oilers 4

What’s Next
The NHL preseason begins next weekend. On Saturday, September 20, the Dallas Stars host the St. Louis Blues (5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET). The following day is a busy one across the league, with 14 games on the schedule, including split-squad matchups between the Flames and Oilers. Both games are set for Sunday, September 21, with puck drop at 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET.