Barracuda Pull Away From Wranglers Behind Special Teams Surge
An early Calgary goal gave way to a special-teams swing as San Jose took control in the middle frame and never looked back.
SAN JOSE — The Calgary Wranglers dropped the opener of their three-game road trip Friday night, falling 5–1 to the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena.
Calgary opened the scoring late in the first period when Sam Morton struck at 16:19, finishing a play set up by Zayne Parekh and Dryden Hunt.
San Jose responded in the second period and seized control through special teams. Donavan Houle tied the game at 7:14 before a power-play goal from Filip Bystedt at 11:48, with assists from Luca Cagnoni and Colin White.
The Barracuda extended the lead in the third period with a short-handed goal by Anthony Vincent at 3:21, followed by another power-play marker from Cam Lund at 7:12, assisted by Egor Afanasyev and Kasper Halttunen. Nolan Allan capped the scoring at 7:27, with Vincent recording the assist.
In goal, Ivan Prosvetov stopped 37 of 42 shots for Calgary (.881 save percentage), while Laurent Brossoit turned aside 22 of 23 shots for San Jose (.957 save percentage).
Vincent, who finished with a goal and an assist, was named the game’s first star. Bystedt and Lund earned second and third star honors, respectively.
The Wranglers remain in San Jose and face the Barracuda again Saturday night, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. MT.
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.
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.
Wranglers Shut Out in 1–0 Overtime Loss
Zayne Parekh made his AHL debut and Arsenii Sergeev turned aside 30 shots, but the Calgary Wranglers fell 1–0 in overtime to the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday.
CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers were edged 1–0 in overtime by the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday, dropping the second game of the back-to-back series.
Calgary outshot Bakersfield 33–31 but could not convert, as the game remained scoreless through regulation before the Condors ended it in overtime.
Defenseman Zayne Parekh made his American Hockey League debut for the Wranglers, finishing with two shots on goal. Calgary controlled large stretches of play but was unable to generate a goal despite consistent pressure.
Goaltender Arsenii Sergeev started for the Wranglers and stopped 30 of 31 shots, keeping the game tied through 60 minutes and overtime until the deciding goal.
The Wranglers will return to action next weekend with a two-game home series against the Laval Rocket at Scotiabank Saddledome. The teams meet Saturday, January 24 at 12:00 pm MT, followed by a second game on Monday night.
Calgary defeats Boston 2-1 in overtime behind 24-save night from Wolf
Dustin Wolf made 24 saves as the Calgary Flames defeated the Boston Bruins 2–1 in overtime Monday night, moving to within one point of a playoff spot.
CALGARY — The Calgary Flames earned a 2–1 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Blake Coleman scored for Calgary, beating Jeremy Swayman seven hole for his 12th goal of the season, while Dustin Wolf turned aside 24 of 25 shots in goal for a .960 save percentage.
The game went to overtime, where it ended in unusual fashion. A Bruins own goal sealed the result, with Connor Zary credited for the winner.
The victory was Calgary’s 17th of the season. The Flames move to 38 points and sit one point outside of a playoff spot.
Calgary is back in action on New Year’s Eve, hosting the Philadelphia Flyers at the Saddledome. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT.
Earlier in the evening, Canada defeated Denmark 9–1 at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota. Zayne Parekh recorded a goal and an assist as Canada picked up its second three-point win of the tournament.
Canada now leads Group B with eight points and will close out the preliminary round against Finland on New Year’s Eve at 7:30 p.m. CST. Finland sits second with seven points, with first place in the group on the line.
CHL Top 10 shifts as Canada’s World Juniors tune up begins
Momentum is building across junior hockey as CHL contenders surge up the rankings and Canada’s National Junior Team sharpens its edge ahead of the World Juniors. From league parity to international preparation, the standard continues to rise at every level.
CALGARY – Momentum is building across junior hockey, from the CHL ranks to the national stage, as elite teams and top prospects continue to separate themselves during a critical phase of the season.
The Canadian Hockey League’s latest Top-10 Rankings highlight just how competitive the landscape has become. Everett has climbed to the top spot after becoming the first CHL club to reach 25 wins, driven by sustained consistency and a stretch of dominant play. Brantford remains firmly in contention near the top, while Prince Albert continues its rise, reinforced by recent roster additions and a strong run of results.
Several clubs are trending upward at the right time. Chicoutimi has extended its point streak and moved into the upper tier, Flint has re-entered the rankings behind productive offence and reliable goaltending, and Medicine Hat has pushed into the Top 10 on a prolonged point streak that reflects its championship pedigree. Across the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL, the rankings underscore a league defined by depth, parity, and momentum rather than geography.
That same competitive energy now carries over to the international stage as Canada’s National Junior Team enters its final tune-up phase ahead of the IIHF World Junior Championship. Pre-tournament games offer a critical opportunity for players to establish chemistry, refine special teams, and solidify roles before the tournament begins.
Canada’s opening matchup against Sweden sets the tone both on and off the ice. The team will wear commemorative Rise as One helmet stickers as part of a nationwide initiative connecting national team athletes with more than 115,000 women and girls playing hockey across Canada, reinforcing a shared identity and commitment to the game’s growth.
With additional pre-tournament games against Sweden and Denmark, the focus remains on preparation and performance. These matchups provide valuable game speed and structure against international opponents who demand precision and discipline.
From CHL clubs climbing the rankings to Canada’s junior team sharpening its edge, the pathway is clear. The foundation is being set now, and the standard continues to rise across junior hockey.
Blue Jays Clinch AL East Crown as Flames Continue Preseason
CALGARY -- Twenty more wins than a year ago has lifted the Toronto Blue Jays to the American League East crown. The turnaround season ended with Toronto securing its place in the American League Division Series, where the Jays will face either the Yankees or Red Sox once the Wild Card is settled.
While Toronto fans celebrated baseball success, Calgary hockey fans were focused on NHL preseason action. The Flames opened their slate with split-squad games against Edmonton, earning a 3–2 overtime win on the road behind two goals from Morgan Frost, while dropping the home half 3–0. Back at the Dome, they beat Seattle 4–1, then fell 3–1 in Abbotsford against Vancouver. Most recently, in Winnipeg, the Flames came up short 4–2, with goals coming from 2024 first-round draft picks Zayne Parekh, 9th overall, and Matvei Gridin, 28th overall.
Frost has been Calgary’s most consistent forward, leading the team with five points through four appearances. His overtime winner in Edmonton stood out, but his steady production throughout camp has been just as important.
The Flames’ preseason record may not turn heads, but the combination of veteran contributors and first-rounders hitting the scoresheet is giving head coach Ryan Huska a clearer picture as roster cuts continue. For Huska, the emphasis remains less on results and more on which players will be ready when the games count.
Calgary closes out the preseason this week against Seattle, Vancouver, and Winnipeg before opening the regular season October 8 in Edmonton against the Oilers, last year’s Western Conference champions.
Canadian sports fans now find themselves in one of the best stretches of the calendar: the Blue Jays preparing for October baseball and the Flames moving closer to opening night.
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.
Flames Shut Out 3–0 by Oilers in Preseason Split-Squad
CALGARY — Edmonton struck early and never trailed, turning blocked shots and opportunistic finishing into a 3–0 win over Calgary in a split-squad Battle of Alberta preseason game at the Saddledome on Sunday night.
The Oilers opened the scoring at 2:38 of the first period when Kasperi Kapanen slipped behind coverage and beat Flames goalie Devin Cooley on a breakaway. Calgary answered with offensive-zone time and flashes from its younger players, but Edmonton’s structure kept pucks to the perimeter.
Zayne Parekh was one of Calgary’s most noticeable skaters. The rookie defenseman showed poise with the puck, holding the blue line under pressure, threading cross-ice passes, and jumping into the rush to create chances. His confidence carried through all three periods, giving the Flames one of their most consistent sparks.
In the third period, Edmonton capitalized on Calgary mistakes. At 8:18, a defensive-zone giveaway landed on Connor Clattenburg’s stick, and the forward went upstairs glove side to make it 2–0. Just under four minutes later, Riley Stillman’s point shot also found the top corner, pushing the lead to 3–0 at 11:47.
Calgary had chances but ran into Edmonton’s shot-blocking wall. The Oilers closed lanes all night and finished with a 23–9 edge in blocks, a key factor in protecting the lead. Shots ended 29–20 for Edmonton. Cooley made several timely stops early in the third to keep the game close, while Matthew Coronato featured prominently on the top power-play unit alongside Kadri and Aydar Suniev, generating some of Calgary’s best looks.
Connor Clattenburg was named the game’s first star after his third-period goal. Coronato earned the second star for Calgary.
With most of Edmonton’s top players skating in the other half of the split-squad matchup at Rogers Place, this was a younger Oilers lineup in Calgary. Even so, they left with a shutout win, while the Flames saw valuable minutes from their prospects as preseason evaluations continue.
Zayne Parekh Makes Immediate Impact in Calgary
CALGARY — Zayne Parekh’s rise through the hockey ranks is no longer a quiet story. It’s a headline.
The 19-year-old defenceman, born in Nobleton, Ontario, made an immediate impression after being drafted ninth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Known for his offensive instincts and elite skating ability, Parekh is now firmly in the spotlight following a goal-scoring NHL debut on April 17, 2025, in a 5–1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
Parekh’s path to the NHL was marked by excellence at every level. After being selected 19th overall by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft, he made his debut on October 1, 2022, and quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic blueliners in junior hockey. He posted 21 goals and 37 points in just 50 games during his first full OHL season—unprecedented production for a rookie defenceman.
His accolades followed suit. Parekh was named to both the CHL All-Rookie Team and the OHL First All-Rookie Team. He went on to win the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s top defenceman and was later awarded CHL Defenceman of the Year honours, solidifying his status as the best junior defenceman in the country.
Internationally, Parekh represented Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he played a key role in helping Team Canada capture gold. His ability to contribute in high-pressure situations on the international stage only reinforced what scouts and coaches already knew—this is a player with top-pairing potential at the NHL level.
The Calgary Flames signed Parekh to a three-year entry-level contract worth $2.925 million shortly after drafting him. And unlike many young prospects who require time to adjust, Parekh made an instant impact in his first NHL appearance, scoring and showcasing the poise and vision that defined his junior career.
With a combination of high-end hockey IQ, elite edgework, and a calm presence under pressure, Parekh appears poised to become a foundational piece of Calgary’s blue line for years to come.
In a league constantly searching for the next breakout star, Zayne Parekh isn’t just a promising name for the future. He’s a headline today.
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