Wranglers Win Winter Wranglerfest as Sergeev Shines in 52 Save AHL Debut
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.