Wranglers Win Winter Wranglerfest as Sergeev Shines in 52 Save AHL Debut
A milestone goal, a power play strike, and a stunning 52 save debut carried the Wranglers to a hard earned Winter Wranglerfest win.
CALGARY — The night belonged to the goalie, the milestone man, and a festive Saddledome crowd as the Calgary Wranglers edged the San Diego Gulls 2–1 on Sunday in the second annual Winter Wranglerfest.
Martin Frk set the tone early and emphatically. Skating in his 500th career American Hockey League game, the veteran winger ripped home his 12th goal of the season just seven minutes into the opening period, sending the building into full holiday mode. Call it Blasty Claus, delivered right on schedule.
Calgary doubled the lead in the second period when Matvei Gridin capitalized on the power play, wiring his 10th of the year off feeds from Sam Morton and Daniil Miromanov. The Wranglers appeared in control, but the night was only beginning to tilt toward survival hockey.
San Diego responded late in the frame as Sam Colangelo cut the deficit to one, opening the floodgates for a relentless third period push. The Gulls threw everything they had toward the net, finishing the night with a staggering 53 shots.
Standing in the way was rookie goaltender Arsenii Sergeev, and he was unshakeable.
Making his AHL debut, Sergeev delivered a performance for the memory banks, stopping 52 of 53 shots to secure his first career win. Calm under pressure and technically sound as the shot clock kept climbing, the 22 year old was the clear difference in a game that demanded composure as much as talent.
The Wranglers now head into the Christmas break riding momentum and confidence, knowing they can win games in different ways. When scoring dries up, the structure holds. When pressure mounts, the crease answers.
Calgary returns to action on December 27 and 28 on the road against the Tucson Roadrunners, before coming home to face the Colorado Eagles on December 30 and January 1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
All Wranglers games are available live on AHLTV via FloHockey.
Sometimes the story is about scoring first.Sometimes it is about holding the line.
Sunday night was about trust in the net, and the Wranglers delivered a winter classic of their own.
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.
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.