Wranglers Blank Firebirds 3–0 Behind Say’s 43 Save Shutout at the Saddledome
Wranglers shut out the Firebirds 3–0 as Owen Say stops all 43 shots for his first pro shutout.
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
The Calgary Wranglers wrapped up their 10-game road trip with back-to-back losses in Ontario, including a 2–1 overtime finish on Sunday. Calgary now returns home looking to reset at the Saddledome.
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
The Calgary Wranglers picked up a 5-4 overtime win in Coachella Valley as Kerins, Frk, and Gridin all posted three-point nights and rookie goalie Owen Say stopped 31 shots for a .886 save percentage. Calgary battled through a back-and-forth matchup before Kerins buried the OT winner. The Wranglers now continue their long road trip in San Jose.
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.
Blue Jays open ALCS, Wranglers fall in Colorado, Flames host Vegas Tuesday night showdown
Momentum is building across Canada’s sports scene as October heats up. The Blue Jays are back under the postseason spotlight in Toronto, the Wranglers are finding their rhythm after a tough opening weekend, and the Flames are gearing up for an early-season test against a high-powered Vegas squad. From playoff pressure to fresh starts, Calgary fans have plenty to keep their eyes on this week.
CALGARY — October sports are hitting full stride across Canada, with playoff baseball and early-season hockey all colliding this week.
The Toronto Blue Jays continue their World Series run as they host the Seattle Mariners in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Kevin Gausman gets the start, backed by a deep rotation that includes Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt. Bo Bichette remains out after missing the division series, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been on fire, and the Jays have been getting balanced production throughout the lineup — exactly the kind of depth needed to go the distance in October.
In the AHL, goaltender Owen Say made his first start for the Calgary Wranglers on Saturday night and impressed in his debut, stopping 21 of 22 shots in a 1–0 loss to the Colorado Eagles. The Wranglers return home to reset before heading to Tucson for a weekend series against the Roadrunners.
And in the NHL, the Calgary Flames prepare for a marquee Tuesday night matchup at the Scotiabank Saddledome against the Vegas Golden Knights. Both teams will be looking for their second win of the season. Vegas forward Pavel Dorofeev leads the NHL with five goals in three games, while Jack Eichel sits atop the league with seven points. Expect the Dome to be buzzing for this one.
Wranglers Shut Out 1–0 in Loveland as Owen Say Impresses in AHL Debut
A strong AHL debut from 24-year-old Owen Say wasn’t enough as the Calgary Wranglers were shut out 1–0 by the Colorado Eagles on Saturday night in Loveland. Say, from London, Ontario, stopped 21 of 22 shots in his first start after joining Calgary from Notre Dame, where he posted a .920 save percentage last season.
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.
Kerins, Coronato Lead Calgary Past Seattle in Preseason Win
CALGARY — The Calgary Flames leaned on a mix of youthful energy and veteran stability Tuesday night, skating to a 4–1 preseason win over the Seattle Kraken at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Yegor Sharangovich opened the scoring midway through the first period, deflecting a Hunter Brzustewicz shot to give Calgary an early edge. Seattle answered before the intermission, knotting the game 1–1.
Early in the second, Rory Kerins restored the Flames’ lead. After Connor Zary carried the puck into the zone, a broken play left the puck bouncing loose in front. Kerins pounced and snapped a shot past the Kraken goaltender from close range to make it 2–1 Calgary. The 23-year-old prospect, who scored 33 goals last year for the AHL Wranglers, added an assist later in the night to cap a strong outing.
On fresh ice to start the third, Matt Coronato struck quickly. Stationed below the left circle, he one-timed a slick low cross-slot feed from Morgan Frost, beating the Seattle goalie clean to push the Flames ahead 3–1. Jonathan Huberdeau also picked up an assist on the play.
Sam Morton sealed it with an empty-netter at 17:26, created by a sharp defensive play from Sam Honzek, who broke up a Seattle rush and turned the puck the other way before sliding it ahead for Morton’s finish.
Brzustewicz finished with two assists and two shots on goal, continuing to impress with his poise from the back end. Sharangovich, Huberdeau, and Frost each chipped in helpers to round out a balanced offensive showing.
Between the pipes, Dustin Wolf stopped 12 of 13 shots before giving way to Owen Say, who turned aside all seven attempts he faced to close out the win.
The victory offered a glimpse of Calgary’s depth in action — with veterans setting the tone and young players like Kerins, Brzustewicz, and Honzek making strong cases to stick around as roster battles intensify heading toward opening night.