You could be forgiven if the Calgary Wranglers weren’t in the forefront of your mind during much of the month of April. After all, many of their best and brightest were playing in the National Hockey League.
Reigning AHL most valuable player (and the league’s top goaltender) Dustin Wolf filled in for Dan Vladar as the Flames’ second goaltender, winning four of his five NHL starts in April. Wolf played just once in the AHL’s regular season in April, posting a loss.
Matt Coronato, the Wranglers’ leading scorer when he was called up in early March, had three points in nine games in the NHL and drew praise for his two-way play. Adam Klapka scored a goal and had a fight. Ilya Solovyov looked like a perfectly acceptable NHL shutdown defender.
With their playoff ticket punched, Wranglers head coach Trent Cull and his staff spent much of April experimenting with their lineup. We saw several Flames prospect make their AHL debuts. And amidst all this experimenting, the Wranglers won just one game in April’s regular season outings – going 1-4-1.
If the experimentation in April results in post-season success, something tells us nobody will remember what their record was.
Let’s dive into this week’s prospect update!

Parker Bell – LW/C, Tri-City Americans, WHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
WHL season to date
59
33
31
64
50
35
31
231
26.86
AHL season to date
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0.00
2022-23 (WHL)
55
25
39
64
51
36
28
187
28.82
Bell played once in the final regular season weekend. He didn’t dress for Game 1 in Tucson.

Jake Boltmann – D, University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NCAA/Big 10

22; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
30
0
2
2
2
2
2
36
1.82
2022-23 (NCAA)
37
1
4
5
3
5
3
42
3.69
Boltmann’s NCAA season is complete. He’s transferred to Northeastern University for the 2024-25 season.

Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Kitchener Rangers, OHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL

19; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
OHL season to date
67
13
79
92
46
65
34
140
36.37
AHL season to date
2022-23 (OHL)
68
6
51
57
32
31
21
110
22.20
Brzustewicz joined the Wranglers on an amateur try-out deal. He’s among a handful of players who stayed in town to work with the development team.

Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 11th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
55
4
2
6
5
6
5
67
4.35
2022-23 (WHL)
63
28
47
75
53
54
37
194
29.48
Ciona didn’t dress for the last regular season weekend or for Game 1 in Tucson.

Matt Coronato – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s first round pick (13th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 2nd-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
41
15
27
42
28
27
17
140
40.82
2022-23 (NCAA)
34
20
16
36
31
19
16
141
24.31
After being in the NHL since early March, Coronato returned to the AHL for the final regular season outing.

Riley Damiani – C, Texas Stars/Calgary Wranglers, AHL

23; Dallas’ fifth round pick (137th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
66
11
13
24
19
16
13
94
14.49
2022-23 (AHL)
59
13
18
31
24
18
14
87
20.94
Damiani didn’t dress for the final two regular season games, but returned to the lineup for game 1.

Artem Grushnikov – D, Texas Stars/Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; Dallas’ second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
63
1
5
6
5
6
5
65
3.80
2022-23 (OHL)
65
8
9
17
10
14
9
116
6.93
Grushnikov dressed once over the final weekend but didn’t dress for Game 1 in Tucson. (The Wranglers have a bunch of defenders healthy right now and they likely opted for a more veteran crew for the first playoff game.)

Samuel Honzek – LW/C, Vancouver Giants, WHL / Slovakia, WJC / Calgary Wranglers, AHL

19; Calgary’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 4th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
WHL season to date
33
10
21
31
22
16
11
86
23.26
WJC season to date
5
3
1
4
3
2
1
10
n/a
AHL season to date
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0.00
2022-23 (WHL)
43
23
33
56
40
36
26
134
32.25
Honzek was cleared for game action after suffering a minor injury in the WHL’s playoffs, and made his AHL debut over the final regular season weekend. He didn’t dress for Game 1 in Tucson.

Axel Hurtig – D, Rögle BK, J20 Nationell/SHL / Kristianstads IK, HockeyEttan

18; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
J20 season to date
27
3
8
11
7
11
7
54
15.10
SHL season to date
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
HockeyEttan season to date
4
0
1
1
1
1
1
5
n/a
2022-23 (J20)
34
2
6
8
3
7
3
47
3.82
Hurtig’s season finally ended, as Kristianstads IK lost the top spot in the HockeyEttan promotion round robin playoffs on the final night of competition. We’ll see if he stays in Sweden for 2024-25, or if he makes the move to North America to join the Calgary Hitmen, who hold his Canadian junior rights.

Ben Jones – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Free agent signing; 12th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
72
21
22
43
34
28
22
208
23.80
2022-23 (AHL)
71
17
37
54
41
28
21
202
30.31
Jones has missed one game for the Wranglers over the past two seasons.

Joni Jurmo – D, Ilves Tampere/KooKoo Kuovola, Liiga/CHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Vancouver’s third round pick (82nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Liiga season to date
46
1
4
5
3
4
3
63
4.03
CHL season to date
6
0
1
1
1
1
1
8
n/a
AHL season to date
2022-23 (Liiga)
52
5
8
13
8
11
6
118
9.27
Jurmo has been practising with the Wranglers but, given the glut of blueliners they have right now, he has yet to slot into a game.

Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 14th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
54
16
16
32
27
22
18
115
23.62
2022-23 (ECHL)
38
17
20
37
31
25
21
117
22.36
Kerins played once over the final weekend of the regular season, but didn’t dress for Game 1 in Tucson.

Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

23; Free agent signing; 18th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
65
21
24
45
34
31
22
182
27.59
2022-23 (AHL)
60
13
12
25
18
16
11
103
16.61
Klapka returned from the NHL in time for the final regular season game of the year.

Demetrios Koumonztis – D/RW, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL

23; Calgary’s fourth round pick (108th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
47
9
10
19
11
14
10
84
9.28
2022-23 (NCAA)
37
7
11
18
12
10
7
67
13.28
Koumontzis has yet to play a game for the Steelheads in the ECHL playoffs.

Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 17th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
63
5
8
13
9
12
8
88
8.22
2022-23 (AHL)
63
5
14
19
11
19
11
65
12.02
Kuznetsov played both games over the final weekend of the season and dressed for Game 1 in Tucson.

Jaden Lipinski – C, Vancouver Giants, WHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL

19; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 16th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
WHL season to date
67
24
42
66
47
33
23
181
24.39
AHL season to date
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
2022-23 (WHL)
66
19
32
51
36
35
23
152
19.14
Lipinski didn’t dress in the final regular season games, or for Game 1 in Tucson.

Cade Littler – C, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, USHL / Penticton Vees, BCHL

19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
USHL season to date
13
8
3
11
9
8
6
30
19.43
BCHL season to date
24
9
12
21
17
9
6
5.51
2022-23 (BCHL)
51
29
39
68
47
36
27
8.75
Littler returned from injury to start the Vees’ second-round series with Vernon.

Brady Lyle – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Free agent signing
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
47
6
9
15
9
7
3
102
12.72
2022-23 (AHL)
51
7
24
31
16
13
6
124
24.22
Lyle returned from a lengthy injury and played one of the final weekend’s games, but he didn’t dress for Game 1 in Tucson.

Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL

18; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; tied for 5th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
QMJHL season to date
58
12
37
49
32
21
13
191
19.67
AHL season to date
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0.00
2022-23 (QMJHL)
67
21
51
72
47
34
21
213
25.03
Morin didn’t dress over the final weekend of the regular season or for Game 1 in Tucson.

Sam Morton – C, Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks, NCAA / Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Free agent signing
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
NCAA season to date
37
24
10
34
32
20
19
151
24.00
AHL season to date
13
5
2
7
7
5
5
25
21.46
2022-23 (NCAA)
10
6
2
8
7
3
3
28
21.00
Morton has found a nice bit of chemistry on a second line between William Strömgren and Adam Klapka. He played both games of the final regular season weekend – scoring twice – and for Game 1 in Tucson.

Ilya Nikolaev – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Rapid City Rush, ECHL

22; Calgary’s third round pick (88th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
AHL season to date
29
3
3
6
6
6
6
33
8.25
ECHL season to date
6
2
6
8
7
5
5
16
30.61
2022-23 (ECHL)
40
13
20
33
21
22
15
97
18.94
Nikolaev didn’t dress over the final weekend of the regular season or for Game 1 in Tucson.

Jakob Pelletier – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Calgary’s first round pick (26th overall); 3rd-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
18
5
7
12
8
7
6
45
26.57
2022-23 (AHL)
35
16
21
37
32
18
14
92
42.13
Pelletier has carved out a spot for himself on the Wranglers’ top line with Matt Coronato and Cole Schwindt. He seems to be getting his momentum back.
Over at Postmedia, Wes Gilbertson chatted with Pelletier recently.

Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; tied for 5th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
23
3
10
13
5
5
2
44
22.53
2022-23 (AHL)
69
9
32
41
20
21
13
172
23.68
Poirier is starting to get his mojo back.
Over at The Athletic, Julian McKenzie dug into Poirier’s challenging season – including a really gripping description of the arm laceration that could have turned out much worse than it did.

Cole Schwindt – C/RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Florida’s third round pick (81st overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Florida; 9th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
66
14
22
36
27
23
15
128
21.74
2022-23 (AHL)
70
14
18
32
20
16
10
118
18.22
Schwindt has quietly had a really effective season for the Wranglers and as the playoffs begin, he’s centring their top line.

Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

23; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 8th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
51
5
10
15
10
14
10
88
11.72
2022-23 (AHL)
68
4
14
18
9
16
8
82
10.55
Solovyov returned to the AHL from the big league in time for the final regular season outing.

William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 19th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
68
7
20
27
23
18
15
74
15.82
2022-23 (SHL)
45
3
5
8
6
6
5
31
8.69
Strömgren played both final regular season weekend games and had two assists. He finished off a really promising first North American regular season.

Aydar Suniev – LW/C, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NCAA/Hockey East

19; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 13th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
35
12
13
25
19
16
12
100
23.02
2022-23 (BCHL)
50
45
45
90
73
47
40
11.81
Suniev’s season is finished.

Daniil Chechelev – G, HC Vityaz, KHL / Ryazan-VDV, VHL

22; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
GP
TOI
SV%
KHL season to date
1
58
.880
VHL season to date
5
271
.908
2022-23 (ECHL)
39
2135
.892
Chechelev’s season is finished.

Arsenii Sergeev – G, University of Connecticut Huskies, NCAA/Hockey East

20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 15th-ranked prospect
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
16
934
.913
2022-23 (NCAA)
19
1104
.912
Sergeev’s season is finished. He’ll be joining Penn State for the 2024-25 season.

Dustin Wolf – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Calgary’s seventh round pick (214th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 1st-ranked prospect
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
36
2082
.922
2022-23 (AHL)
55
3239
.932
Wolf lost his final start of the regular season, but still had a pretty strong year overall.

Yegor Yegorov – G, MHK Dynamo Moskva, MHL

18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
25
1319
.917
2022-23 (MHL)
15
786
.915
Yegorov’s season is finished.

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