Barracuda Rally Past Wranglers with Four-Goal Third, 5-3

Photo: David Moll / Calgary Wranglers

CALGARY — A strong two-period effort slipped away in the third as the San Jose Barracuda scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Calgary Wranglers 5-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome in the opener of a four-game homestand.

Calgary opened the scoring early when Aydar Suniev tucked away his 11th goal of the season just 2:10 into the first period, assisted by Sam Morton and Carter King. Lucas Carlsson answered late in the frame to send the teams to intermission tied.

The Wranglers regained control in the second. Rory Kerins restored the lead at 5:18 off a setup from Clark Bishop, and Nick Cicek extended it at 14:00 with a wrister from the blue line through heavy traffic, beating a screened Laurent Brossoit. William Strömgren and Kerins collected assists as Calgary carried a 3-1 advantage into the third. Kerins finished with a multi-point night, recording a goal and an assist.

San Jose shifted momentum early in the final period. Braden Hache cut the deficit to one at 3:19, and Anthony Vincent tied the game less than two minutes later before adding his second of the night at 10:49 to give the Barracuda their first lead. Carlsson sealed the comeback with an empty-net goal at 19:23.

Despite limiting San Jose to 9 shots against in the third, Calgary could not halt the momentum swing, surrendering control of a game they had dictated through much of the first two periods.

Arsenii Sergeev made 25 saves on 29 shots (.862) for Calgary, while Laurent Brossoit stopped 28 of 31 shots (.903) for San Jose.

The Wranglers return to Scotiabank Saddledome tomorrow night for the second half of the weekend set against the Barracuda.

Wranglers Open Homestand as Playoff Push Intensifies

CALGARY — Riding a three-game winning streak and sitting just two points back of a playoff spot, Calgary returns to Scotiabank Saddledome with momentum building around a group finding rhythm at the right time of the season.

The line of Martin Frk, William Strömgren, and Rory Kerins has powered much of Calgary’s recent surge, combining for 15 points over the last three games. Strömgren arrives following a six-point weekend, while defenceman Daniil Miromanov continues to drive offence from the back end with nine points across his last six outings.

The Wranglers have already played 21 overtime or shootout games through 51 contests, putting them within range of the AHL single-season record of 29 set by Milwaukee in 2006-07.

The schedule begins Tuesday with back-to-back matchups against the San Jose Barracuda at 7 p.m. MT before shifting to a pair of afternoon games against the Abbotsford Canucks Friday and Sunday 1 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Strömgren Delivers Overtime Winner as Wranglers Extend Streak With 4-3 Road Victory

SAN JOSE — Calgary surged back from a first-period deficit with a three-goal second-period before finishing off a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena on Saturday night.

San Jose opened the scoring at 6:23 of the first period when Oliver Wahlstrom converted off a feed from Kasper Halttunen, giving the Barracuda a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.

The momentum shifted quickly after the break. Daniil Miromanov tied the game at 1:41 of the second period, finishing a play created by William Strömgren and Nick Cicek. Less than three minutes later, Strömgren put Calgary in front with his ninth goal of the season, igniting a stretch in which the Wranglers controlled possession and tempo.

Martin Frk extended the lead midway through the period, posting his 19th of the year, assists from Rory Kerins and Étienne Morin, to give Calgary a 3-1 advantage. San Jose responded late in the frame as Wahlstrom struck again on the power play, cutting the deficit to one before the second intermission.

The Barracuda forced overtime when Brendan Hoffmann found the equalizer with just over four minutes remaining in regulation, setting up a sudden-death finish between the Pacific Division rivals.

Calgary wasted little time settling matters in the extra frame. Just 48 seconds into overtime, Strömgren finished a setup from Kerins to secure the win, capping a three-point performance that earned him first-star honors.

The Wranglers outshot San Jose 43-36, with Ivan Prosvetov stopping 33 of 36 shots for a .917 save percentage. Laurent Brossoit made 39 saves on 43 shots (.917) for the Barracuda.

Calgary returns to Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday for a rematch with the Barracuda.

Miromanov ends it early in OT as Wranglers storm back to beat Condors 5-4

BAKERSFIELD — Calgary clawed back from multiple deficits Friday night and sealed a high-event Pacific Division thriller when Daniil Miromanov struck just 31 seconds into overtime, lifting the Wranglers to a 5-4 win over the Bakersfield Condors.

The night demanded resolve. The Wranglers trailed 3-1 midway through the game and again surrendered a late third-period lead before finding their finishing touch in extra time.

After Seth Griffith opened the scoring for Bakersfield at 5:48 of the first period, Calgary answered late when William Strömgren buried his eighth of the season at 19:02, finishing an opportunity generated by Rory Kerins and Miromanov to even the contest heading into intermission.

The Condors surged in the second. Alec Regula restored the lead at 2:47 before Ethan Keppen extended it at 7:39, pushing Bakersfield ahead 3-1 and putting Calgary on its heels.

Momentum shifted late in the frame.

Turner Ottenbreit scored his first career shorthanded goal at 18:05, assisted by Carter King and Sam Morton, cutting the deficit to one and injecting life into the Wranglers’ bench.

Calgary carried that energy into the third period. David Silye netted his first of the season at 10:04 to tie the game, but Atro Leppanen responded on the power play at 12:18 to restore Bakersfield’s advantage.

With 1:13 remaining and the net empty, Martin Frk stepped into space and wired home his 18th of the season to force overtime.

Extra time barely began before it ended. Off a quick sequence from Strömgren and Kerins, Miromanov jumped up in the play and finished at 0:31, completing the comeback and securing the two points.

Miromanov and Strömgren each finished with a goal and two assists, while Kerins added two helpers as Calgary outshot Bakersfield 33-29.

In goal, Arsenii Sergeev stopped 25 of 29 shots, posting a .862 save percentage while weathering key stretches of second-period pressure. Connor Ungar turned aside 28 of 33 shots for Bakersfield, finishing with a .848 save percentage.

Calgary now heads to San Jose to face the Barracuda at Tech CU Arena on Saturday night.

Kerins scores twice, Gridin seals shootout win as Wranglers snap six-game skid vs Moose

WINNIPEG — The Calgary Wranglers snapped a six-game losing streak Monday afternoon, defeating the Manitoba Moose 3-2 in a shootout in American Hockey League action.

The Moose opened the scoring in the first period when Ville Heinola found the back of the net at 13:37, finishing a play set up by Mason Shaw and David Gustafsson. Manitoba doubled its lead in the second period as Gustafsson scored at 13:09, with Heinola recording the assist.

Calgary responded later in the second period when Rory Kerins gave the Wranglers life on the power play, converting at 16:55 off feeds from Sam Morton and Matvei Gridin. The momentum carried into the third period, where Kerins struck again at 15:41, cleaning up a bouncing puck in front of the net to tie the game. Daniil Miromanov and Martin Frk were credited with the assists.

Overtime solved nothing, sending the game to a shootout. Rookie Matvei Gridin scored the decisive goal, while Arsenii Sergeev shut the door, denying attempts from Nikita Chibrikov, Danny Zhilkin, and Heinola to secure the victory.

Sergeev stopped 25 of 27 shots for a .926 save percentage and was perfect in the shootout. At the other end, Domenic DiVincentiis delivered a strong performance for Manitoba, turning aside 38 of 40 shots for a .950 save percentage to help push the game beyond regulation.

The Wranglers finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Moose went 0-for-1.

Around the hockey world earlier in the day, Team Canada advanced to the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, defeating Switzerland 2-1 in semifinal action. Marie-Philip Poulin scored both goals for Canada, recording her 19th and 20th Olympic tallies to surpass Hayley Wickenheiser as the country’s all-time Olympic goal-scoring leader. Canada will face the United States for gold on Thursday.

Calgary now heads to Bakersfield to face the Condors at Dignity Health Arena on Friday, February 20, with puck drop scheduled for 8:00 p.m. MT.

Perunovich Caps Wild Back-and-Forth Night With OT Power-Play Winner

CALGARY — In one of the most entertaining games of the season at Scotiabank Saddledome, the Calgary Wranglers battled back and forth with the Tucson Roadrunners before falling 6-5 in overtime Saturday night in a high-event matchup defined by special teams, momentum swings and playoff-style intensity.

With the NHL schedule paused, the AHL took center stage in Calgary and delivered a game that featured eleven goals, multiple fights, a charged crowd and a constant shift in momentum from start to finish.

Special teams set the tone immediately.

The first three goals of the game all came on the power play. Miko Matikka opened the scoring for Tucson just 2:40 into the first period, before William Strömgren responded for Calgary at 13:36 with a man-advantage goal assisted by Daniil Miromanov and Ivan Prosvetov. Kevin Rooney restored Tucson’s lead late in the period, converting on another power play opportunity off feeds from Austin Poganski and Cameron Hebig to give the Roadrunners a 2-1 edge after one.

The back-and-forth continued in the second period.

Ben McCartney extended Tucson’s lead early in the frame, but Calgary responded quickly when Miromanov struck at 7:46, finishing a setup from Aydar Suniev and Martin Frk to pull the Wranglers within one. Carter King tied the game minutes later, converting a play created by Turner Ottenbreit and Parker Bell as the Saddledome crowd came alive.

Momentum fully swung when Dryden Hunt gave Calgary its first lead of the night with a shorthanded goal midway through the period, another example of how special teams shaped the contest. Tucson answered before the intermission through Owen Allard, leveling the score at 4-4 and setting up a dramatic third period.

Calgary regained the lead in the final frame when Rory Kerins finished a chance created by Sam Morton, pushing the Wranglers ahead 5-4 and putting the home side in position to secure the win. But the Roadrunners responded late, as Dmitri Simashev found the equalizer with just seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

In the extra frame, special teams again proved decisive. Scott Perunovich scored the overtime winner on the power play at 2:09, assisted by Ben McCartney and Simashev, completing Tucson’s comeback and sealing a 6-5 final.

Five of the game’s eleven goals came on special teams, underscoring how penalties and momentum shifts defined the night. Tucson’s Rooney finished with a three-point performance (one goal, two assists), while Miromanov led Calgary with a goal and an assist and was named the game’s third star. Perunovich earned first-star honours for his overtime winner.

The atmosphere reflected the significance of the matchup, with a strong Saturday-night crowd treated to a spirited contest featuring physical play, multiple scrums and an energy that mirrored playoff hockey.

As the AHL spotlighted centre stage locally, Canadian fans also saw the national team open its Olympic tournament earlier in the day with a 4-0 victory over Switzerland, powered by goals from Natalie Spooner, Sarah Fillier, Julia Gosling and Daryl Watts, while Emerance Maschmeyer recorded the shutout.

In a game defined by momentum swings and special teams, Calgary showed resilience throughout, even as Tucson ultimately claimed the extra point in overtime.

Wranglers Fall 7–2 in San Jose as Barracuda Pull Away Late

SAN JOSE — The Calgary Wranglers dropped the second game of their back-to-back Saturday night, falling 7–2 to the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena as the home side pulled away over the final 40 minutes.

San Jose struck first just 1:33 into the game when Braden Hache opened the scoring, finishing a play set up by Colin White and Egor Afanasyev. Calgary responded midway through the opening period as Sam Morton scored unassisted, tying the game and briefly slowing the Barracuda’s early momentum.

That push proved short-lived. San Jose took control in the second period, restoring the lead 31 seconds in on a goal by Oliver Wahlstrom before adding two more as the frame wore on. Mattias Hävelid and Anthony Vincent both found the net as the Barracuda turned sustained zone time into offense. Morton answered again for Calgary at 10:34 of the second, converting a feed from Rory Kerins for his second goal of the night, but San Jose continued to dictate play.

The Barracuda put the game out of reach in the third period, opening the frame with a goal from Afanasyev before adding tallies from Cam Lund and Filip Bystedt to close out the scoring. San Jose finished the night with seven goals on 28 shots, spreading offense throughout the lineup and scoring in every period.

Calgary used both goaltenders over the course of the game. Ivan Prosvetov allowed four goals on 17 shots over 30:03 of ice time, finishing with a .765 save percentage. Arsenii Sergeev followed in relief, stopping eight of 11 shots over 29:57 for a .727 save percentage. At the other end, San Jose leaned on Gabriel Carriere, who turned aside 22 of 24 shots for a .917 save percentage in 59:28 of work to earn the win.

Bystedt led the way offensively for San Jose with a goal and two assists, earning first-star honors. Morton was named the second star after accounting for both of Calgary’s goals, while Afanasyev added a goal and an assist to round out the three stars.

The Wranglers finished the night 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Barracuda were also held scoreless on four man-advantage opportunities. At even strength, however, San Jose outscored Calgary 6–1 over the final two periods and held a slight edge in shots, 28–24.

Calgary will look to reset as the road trip continues Tuesday night in Bakersfield before the team returns home later in the week for a two-game set against Tucson ahead of the AHL All-Star break.

Wranglers build early cushion, hold off Rocket to earn 6-3 win

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers built a three-goal first-period lead, extended it to four early in the second, and answered a late push to defeat the Laval Rocket 6-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome, splitting the two-game set.

Calgary opened the scoring 3:23 into the first period when Nick Cicek finished a play from Martin Frk and Dryden Hunt to give the Wranglers a 1-0 lead. The advantage doubled just 32 seconds later as Zayne Parekh scored his first of the season off feeds from Hunt and Frk, making it 2-0.

The Wranglers closed the opening period with their third goal at 16:44, when Frk blasted a long-range slap shot past Jacob Fowler to send Calgary into the intermission with a 3-0 lead.

Calgary continued to control play early in the second period. Parekh struck again at 3:41, scoring his second goal of the game to extend the lead to 4-0.

Laval began to generate momentum late in the period. Jared Davidson broke the shutout at 14:43, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Just over two minutes later, Adam Engström scored on the power play at 16:47 to make it a 4-2 game.

The Rocket pulled within one at 15:56 when Sean Farrell scored his 11th of the season, trimming Calgary’s lead to 4-3. The Wranglers responded before the second intermission, however, as Dryden Hunt restored a two-goal cushion with a power-play goal at 19:15, sending Calgary into the break ahead 5-3.

Calgary protected the lead throughout the third period and sealed the result late, when Frk scored into an empty net at 18:53, his second goal of the night, pushing the final score to 6-3.

Hunt was named the game’s first star after recording one goal and four assists. Parekh earned second-star honors with a two-goal performance, while Frk was named the third star after finishing with two goals and two assists.

Ivan Prosvetov made 33 saves on 36 shots for Calgary, finishing with a .917 save percentage. Fowler stopped 20 of 26 shots for Laval, posting a .769 save percentage.

Rocket score twice in third, beat Wranglers 5–3

CALGARY — The Laval Rocket scored twice early in the third period to break open a tie game and defeat the Calgary Wranglers 5–3 on Saturday afternoon at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Laval set the tone quickly, opening the scoring just 37 seconds into the game when Filip Mešár netted his fifth of the season off a setup from Lucas Condotta and Adam Engström. Calgary answered at 5:32, as Dryden Hunt buried his 12th of the year, finishing a play created by Martin Frk and Daniil Miromanov.

The Rocket regained the lead midway through the first period. At 9:39, David Reinbacher jumped into the rush and snapped home his fourth of the season, with Condotta recording his second assist of the period and Owen Beck adding the secondary helper to make it 2–1 after 20 minutes.

The second period saw momentum swing back and forth as both teams traded goals. Calgary tied the game at 6:41 when Lucas Ciona scored his fourth of the season, finishing a setup from David Silye with Zayne Parekh picking up the secondary assist. The Wranglers then took their first lead of the night at 8:47, as Aydar Suniev buried his ninth of the season with Parekh collecting his second assist of the period and Rory Kerins adding the secondary helper.

Laval responded late in the frame. With 43 seconds remaining, William Trudeau tied the game at 19:17, scoring his sixth of the season off a feed from Laurent Dauphin to send the teams into the second intermission knotted 3–3.

The Rocket wasted little time pulling ahead in the third period. At 1:54, Engström scored his second goal of the game and seventh of the season, finishing a play set up by Jared Davidson and Mešár to make it 4–3. Laval struck again at 4:12, when Davidson added his 13th of the year, with Beck and Tyler Thorpe recording the assists to extend the lead to two.

Calgary pressed for a response but could not break through the rest of the way. The Wranglers outshot Laval 33–26 on the afternoon, but the Rocket goaltender, Jacob Fowler turned aside 30 of 33 shots for a .909 save percentage. Calgary netminder, Arsenii Sergeev finished with 21 saves on 26 shots for a .808 save percentage in the loss.

Tucson posts 5-2 win over Wranglers as Kerins ties franchise point streak record

CALGARY -- The Calgary Wranglers opened the scoring Friday night but ultimately fell 5-2 to the Tucson Roadrunners at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Rory Kerins gave Calgary an early lift, finishing a play set up by Dryden Hunt and William Stromgren. The goal extended Kerins’ point streak to 11 games, tying a Wranglers franchise record.

Lucas Ciona accounted for Calgary’s other goal, converting on a setup from Etienne Morin and Parker Bell as the Wranglers worked to stay within reach.

Tucson generated consistent offense throughout the game, finishing with a 43-20 edge in shots on goal. Owen Say faced heavy workload in net for Calgary, stopping 38 shots and posting a .884 save percentage.

Special teams played a role in the outcome, with Tucson going 2-for-6 on the power play while Calgary was held scoreless on four opportunities.

The Wranglers will have a chance to respond quickly as the two teams meet again Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 pm MT at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Wranglers rally past Pacific-leading Eagles 3-2 in OT, move within four of division lead

CALGARY – The Calgary Wranglers opened the new year by rallying for a 3–2 overtime win over the Colorado Eagles at the Saddledome, erasing a two-goal first-period deficit to pick up two points against the Pacific Division leaders.

Colorado jumped out early, scoring twice in the opening period. Nikita Prishchepov opened the scoring at 13:20, followed by Tye Felhaber’s goal at 15:19 to give the Eagles a 2–0 lead.

Calgary responded late in the first period on the power play. William Strömgren got the Wranglers on the board at 17:04, finishing a setup from Dryden Hunt and Rory Kerins to cut the deficit in half.

The Wranglers tied the game early in the second period, again with the man advantage. Martin Frk scored at 7:16, converting a setup from Hunt and Strömgren to make it 2–2. That goal forced overtime, as neither team was able to break through during a scoreless third period.

Calgary carried play as the game went on, outshooting Colorado 33–25 overall and holding a 16–6 edge in shots after the first period. The Wranglers finished 3-for-6 on the power play, while Colorado went 0-for-4.

In goal, Owen Say made 23 saves on 25 shots for Calgary, finishing with a .920 save percentage. At the other end, Isak Posch stopped 30 of 33 shots for Colorado.

The game was decided 1:16 into overtime when Dryden Hunt scored his first game-winning goal of the season on the power play, finishing a play set up by Martin Frk and Rory Kerins.

Hunt finished with a goal and two assists. Strömgren recorded a goal and an assist, giving him eight points in his last three games. Rory Kerins added two assists, extending his point streak to 10 games.

The victory was Calgary’s 15th of the season and moved the Wranglers to 38 points, four points back of Colorado for the Pacific Division lead. The Eagles sit at 42 points and hold six games in hand. The Wranglers return to action Friday with a 7:00 pm MT matchup against the Tucson Roadrunners at the Saddledome, followed by another meeting with Tucson on Sunday afternoon. Calgary then heads to Abbotsford for a two-game road set on January 10 and January 11.

Eagles edge Wranglers 6-5 in OT after Calgary scores four straight at Scotiabank Saddledome

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers scored four straight goals to flip the game on its head, but the Pacific Division-leading Colorado Eagles answered late and escaped with a 6–5 overtime win Tuesday at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Colorado struck early, opening the scoring just 41 seconds into the contest when Jayson Megna buried his 14th of the season, assisted by Jack Ahcan and T.J. Tynan. The Eagles made it 2–0 at 7:54 of the first period as Matthew Stienburg finished his second of the year, set up by Nikita Prishchepov and Ahcan.

Calgary got on the board late in the opening frame. Parker Bell cut the deficit to 2–1 at 15:11, finishing a play created by Clark Bishop and Daniil Miromanov.

The Eagles extended the lead early in the second period when Tye Felhaber scored at 5:13. From there, the Wranglers took control.

William Strömgren ignited the push at 8:44, scoring his fourth of the season off feeds from Dryden Hunt and Rory Kerins. Just 25 seconds later, Hunt tied the game at 9:09, finishing a setup from Strömgren and Jeremie Poirier. Strömgren struck again at 11:43 to give Calgary the lead, converting a pass from Hunt and Sam Morton.

The Wranglers were not done. Rory Kerins made it four straight Calgary goals at 18:49 of the second period, scoring his 12th of the season with assists from Strömgren and Daniil Miromanov to give Calgary a 5–3 advantage heading into the third.

Colorado pushed back late. Ronnie Attard pulled the Eagles within one at 6:07 of the third period, assisted by Sean Behrens and Felhaber. Megna tied the game at 17:48 with his second of the afternoon and 15th of the season, set up by Alex Barré-Boulet and Ahcan.

The Eagles completed the comeback in overtime, with Ahcan ending it at 3:14 of the extra frame to seal the 6–5 victory.

The Wranglers entered the game looking for their 15th win of the season, sitting at 35 points through 33 games. Colorado earned its 20th win of the season, maintaining its hold atop the Pacific Division.

Wranglers Fall 5–2 in Tucson, Set for Sunday Rematch and Busy Holiday Home Stand

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers dropped a 5–2 decision to the Tucson Roadrunners on Saturday night at the Tucson Convention Center, opening a holiday back-to-back in Arizona.

Martin Frk paced the Wranglers offensively with a goal and an assist, while Rory Kerins recorded two assists in the loss. Artem Grushnikov added an assist on Frk’s goal, collecting his first point of the season.

Owen Say made the start in goal and stopped 17 of 22 shots, finishing the night with a .773 save percentage as Tucson pulled away.

Calgary is back in action later today, Sunday, December 28, for an immediate rematch with the Roadrunners. Puck drop is set for 4:00 pm MT in Tucson.

The holiday schedule remains busy for the Wranglers following the rematch. Calgary returns home to host the Colorado Eagles on December 30 and January 1 before welcoming Tucson to the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 2. The stretch concludes with a home matinee on January 4, with a 1:00 pm MT puck drop at the Saddledome.

Elsewhere in the hockey world, the World Junior Championship continues today in Minnesota, with Sweden facing Switzerland and Finland taking on Latvia.

Gulls Defeat Wranglers 4–3 in Overtime at Scotiabank Saddledome

CALGARY - The San Diego Gulls defeated the Calgary Wranglers 4–3 in overtime Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome, winning on a power-play goal late in the extra period.

The game-winner came at 4:32 of overtime, when Tristan Luneau scored from the point, beating goaltender Owen Say blocker side. Matthew Phillips and Tim Washe recorded the assists on the deciding play.

Calgary opened the scoring at 6:16 of the first period. Andrew Basha set up Lucas Ciona in the high slot, and Ciona’s quick release beat Callie Clang high on the blocker side for his second goal of the season. Filip Cicek added the secondary assist.

San Diego tied the game at 11:03 of the first on the power play. Phillips, a former Wrangler and Calgary native, scored on a rebound just two seconds into the man advantage, with Justin Bailey and Washe picking up the assists.

The second period featured a rapid stretch of scoring, with three goals coming in a span of 1:05. Phillips scored his second of the night at 11:25 to give the Gulls a 2–1 lead. Calgary responded 30 seconds later when Parker Bell scored from close range at 11:55. Just 35 seconds after that, Rory Kerins put the Wranglers back in front at 12:30, finishing at the side of the net after a pass from Daniil Miromanov. Martin Frk also earned an assist on the play.

San Diego tied the game again in the third period. Jan Myšák scored on the power play at 10:04, with assists from Sasha Pastujov and Ryan Carpenter, evening the score at 3–3.

Say finished the night with 46 saves on 50 shots, helping Calgary extend the game to overtime despite San Diego holding a significant advantage in shot attempts.

Both teams had opportunities in the extra session before San Diego capitalized on a late power play to secure the win.

Wranglers Fall 3–2 to Abbotsford in Overtime After Back-and-Forth Battle

CALGARY — The Abbotsford Canucks picked up a 3–2 overtime win over the Calgary Wranglers on Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, closing out a tightly contested American Hockey League matchup with a game-winner 1:06 into the extra frame.

Calgary struck first in the opening period. Rory Kerins capitalized on a defensive-zone giveaway and finished unassisted at the 6:28 mark of the first to give the Wranglers a 1–0 lead. It was Kerins’ ninth goal of the season and his 21st point in 23 games. Calgary protected the lead through the remainder of the period, including a successful penalty kill shortly after the opening goal.

The game turned in the second period as Abbotsford found its footing. Nick Poisson tied the contest at 11:53, finishing a play set up by Arnaud Durandeau and Danila Klimovich to make it 1–1. Later in the period, Abbotsford took the lead when Mackenzie MacEachern converted a feed from Ben Berard at 16:20, giving the Canucks a 2–1 advantage heading into the second intermission.

Abbotsford carried a slight territorial edge through forty minutes, holding a 23–19 shots advantage entering the third period.

Calgary responded in the final frame. The Wranglers pushed the pace and were rewarded with the tying goal in the third period, leveling the game at 2–2 and sending the contest beyond regulation. The equalizer capped a strong push from Calgary as the home side looked to reclaim control late.

Overtime was brief. Just 1:06 into the three-on-three session, Jonathan Lekkerimäki ended it, scoring the overtime winner for Abbotsford to secure the 3–2 victory.

The game featured contributions across both lineups, strong special-teams moments early, and timely execution late. Abbotsford earned the extra point on the road, while Calgary collected one after forcing overtime in front of a Saturday night crowd at the Saddledome.

Firebirds Hold Off Wranglers in 7–4 Win at the Dome

The Calgary Wranglers’ comeback bid came up short Thursday night as the Coachella Valley Firebirds earned a 7–4 win at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Coachella Valley opened the scoring 1:30 into the first period, but rookie Matvei Gridin responded quickly, scoring his ninth goal of the season to tie the game 1–1. The Firebirds then took control with four unanswered goals, building a 5–1 lead before the period ended.

Calgary showed signs of life late in the opening frame. Aydar Suniev scored to make it 5–2, setting the stage for a push in the second period. Coachella extended the lead to 6–2 early in the middle frame, but the Wranglers responded again. Rory Kerins cut the deficit to 6–3, and Justin Kirkland followed with a power-play goal less than two minutes later to pull Calgary within two at 6–4.

Both teams made goaltending changes during a wide-open game. Owen Say started for Calgary and allowed five goals on 11 shots before Connor Murphy took over, stopping 11 of 12 shots the rest of the way. Coachella Valley countered with Nikke Kokko in relief of Victor Ostman, and Kokko closed the door in the third period.

Calgary generated sustained pressure late, firing 19 shots in the final frame and finishing with 36 shots on goal, but could not solve Kokko. Coachella added an insurance goal to secure the 7–4 result.

With the win, the Firebirds improve to 29 points, moving ahead of Calgary in the Pacific Division standings. The Wranglers remain at 28 points after the regulation loss.

Calgary now turns its attention to another divisional matchup, hosting the Abbotsford Canucks on Saturday, December 13, at the Saddledome.

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 blank Abbotsford 3–0 to open back-to-back road set

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- The Calgary Wranglers opened their back-to-back in Abbotsford with a 3–0 win over the Canucks on Tuesday night. The first two periods produced no scoring before Calgary broke through in the third.

Yan Kuznetsov opened the scoring eight minutes into the period. Aydar Suniev added a second goal on the power play three and a half minutes later, his first as a professional. Rory Kerins scored the third to finish with a two-point night.

The win was driven by a trio of Russian-born contributors. Kuznetsov, a 6-foot-4 defender from Murmansk, set the tone. Suniev, a 20-year-old wing from Kazan in his first season pro after a 38-point year at UMass, doubled the lead. In goal, Moscow native Ivan Prosvetov made 33 saves for his seventh career AHL shutout in his 150th appearance.

The Wranglers and Canucks complete the two-game set in Abbotsford on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. MT. Calgary then returns home to host Bakersfield in a Saturday–Sunday set at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Nov. 1 and 2, before San Jose visits on Nov. 6.

Fans can watch Wednesday’s road meeting 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.