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

A dominant first period and timely answers late allowed Calgary to turn back Laval’s surge and secure a 6–3 victory at Scotiabank Saddledome.

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.

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Rocket score twice in third, beat Wranglers 5–3

The Laval Rocket scored twice early in the third period to break a 3–3 tie and defeat the Calgary Wranglers at Scotiabank Saddledome.

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.

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

Calgary got goals from Rory Kerins and Lucas Ciona, but Tucson pulled away as the Roadrunners earned a 5-2 win Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.

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.

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

The Calgary Wranglers erased a two-goal deficit and defeated the Pacific-leading Colorado Eagles 3–2 in overtime, moving within four points of the 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.

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

The Calgary Wranglers scored four straight goals to seize control, but the Colorado Eagles rallied late and claimed a 6–5 overtime win at the 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.

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

The Calgary Wranglers fell 5–2 in Tucson on Saturday night and return to the ice Sunday as a busy holiday stretch continues.

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.

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Gulls Defeat Wranglers 4–3 in Overtime at Scotiabank Saddledome

The San Diego Gulls defeated the Calgary Wranglers 4–3 in overtime Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, closing the game on a late power-play goal. Tristan Luneau scored the winner at 4:32 of overtime, while Matthew Phillips recorded two goals against his former club.

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.

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

A tight-checking AHL Pacific Division matchup Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome ended with the Abbotsford Canucks earning a 3–2 overtime win over the Calgary Wranglers, scoring 1:06 into the extra frame after Calgary forced overtime late in regulation.

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.

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

The Calgary Wranglers mounted a second-period comeback but could not complete it, falling 7–4 to the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Thursday night at the Saddledome.

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.

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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.

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

Calgary hockey delivered across every level. The Flames edged Dallas 3-2 in a shootout behind Devin Cooley and Nazem Kadri, while the Wranglers earned a 3-2 win in San Diego powered by Frk, Kerins, and Gridin. The Flames now visit Vancouver before a challenging road swing, and the Wranglers and Hitmen both return to action today as Calgary’s busy week continues.

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.

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

The Calgary Wranglers opened their back-to-back in Abbotsford with a 3–0 shutout win. Yan Kuznetsov scored first in the third period, Aydar Suniev followed with his first professional goal on the power play, and Rory Kerins added the third. Ivan Prosvetov stopped all 33 shots for his seventh AHL shutout in his 150th career game.

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.

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

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers lost 5–4 in overtime to the Coachella Valley Firebirds in their AHL home opener Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Clark Bishop from St. John’s scored twice, including a shorthanded goal in the third period to make it 4–2, but Coachella Valley forced overtime with 2:32 left and Jacob Melanson scored the winner 44 seconds into the extra frame.

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.

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Wranglers Look to Even Series in Colorado

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers will look to bounce back Saturday night in Colorado after opening their 2025–26 season with a 7–4 loss to the Eagles on Friday at Blue FCU Arena.

Despite the final score, there were bright spots for Calgary in the opener. The top line of William Stromgren, Rory Kerins, and Dryden Hunt powered the offense, combining for five points and generating consistent pressure throughout. Martin Frk provided the team’s lone power-play goal, while goaltender Ivan Prosvetov turned aside 36 of 42 shots for an .857 save percentage in his Wranglers debut.

Special teams were the difference in Game 1, as Colorado converted on three of four opportunities with the man advantage. The Wranglers, meanwhile, finished 1-for-4 on the power play and will be looking to tighten up their penalty kill and defensive coverage in front of Prosvetov for tonight’s rematch.

Friday’s assists from Jeremie Poirier and Rory Kerins moved both players into a tie with Adam Klapka for second on the Wranglers’ all-time points list (97), just one behind Ben Jones (98). Poirier, entering his third full season with the club, remains one of the team’s key transition catalysts and is expected to log heavy minutes again tonight.

Head coach Brett Sutter’s group will try to re-establish its defensive rhythm while building on the offensive chemistry that showed flashes in the opener. Calgary’s transition game and power-play execution will be focal points against a Colorado team that thrives on tempo and puck retrieval.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. MT at Blue FCU Arena. After tonight’s contest, the Wranglers hit the road to Tucson for back-to-back games against the Roadrunners next weekend before returning home to the Scotiabank Saddledome on October 24 to face the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

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AHL’s Top 5 Goal Scorers From 2024–25: Kerins Breaks Through for Wranglers

CALGARY — The American Hockey League once again served as a proving ground for scoring talent in 2024–25. Five forwards stood out above the rest, combining consistency, durability, and finishing ability to separate themselves from the pack.

At No. 5 was Bradly Nadeau of St-François-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick. The 19-year-old rookie forward scored 32 goals in 64 games for the Chicago Wolves, immediately putting himself on the radar as one of the league’s most promising young players.

Fourth place went to Rory Kerins of Caledon, Ontario, who delivered a breakout year with 33 goals in 63 games for the Calgary Wranglers. Now entering his fifth year in the Flames organization, Kerins’ progress has Flames fans wondering if he can take the next step and earn a full-time spot with the NHL roster in 2025–26.

Two players tied for second with 36 goals. Alex Steeves, born in St. Paul, Minnesota and raised in Bedford, New Hampshire, scored 36 goals in 59 games for the Toronto Marlies, continuing to make his case as one of Toronto’s most reliable scoring options at the AHL level. Sharing second was John Leonard of Amherst, Massachusetts, who matched Steeves with 36 goals while appearing in all 72 games for the Charlotte Checkers.

The league’s top scorer was Matěj Blümel of Tábor, Czechia. Blümel found the net 39 times in 67 games for the Texas Stars, earning the Willie Marshall Award as the AHL’s leading goal scorer. Dallas will be watching closely to see how quickly his production can translate to the NHL.

From Nadeau’s rookie splash to Kerins’ Calgary breakthrough and Blümel’s award-winning season, the AHL’s top scorers in 2024–25 showed the depth of young talent pushing for NHL opportunities.

For Flames fans, Kerins’ emergence may prove one of the most intriguing storyline as the organization continues to build its roster for the 2025–26 season.

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