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Series Preview: Wranglers finally return home to host the Seattle Kraken affiliate
Photo credit: David Moll/Calgary Wranglers
Dec 9, 2025, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 9, 2025, 09:52 EST
After nearly a month away, the Calgary Wranglers are finally back on home ice to host the Coachella Valley Firebirds this week. Calgary had a pretty even split in their 10 game road trip, going 4-4-1-1. Their last game resulted in an overtime loss against the Ontario Reign on Sunday afternoon. They currently sit in fifth place in the Pacific Division and will face the Seattle Kraken affiliate, who sit a spot above them in the standings.
Last game’s lines
Calgary
Rory Kerins – William Stromgren – Andrew Basha
Clark Bishop – Justin Kirkland – Martin Frk
Carter King – Sam Morton – Matvei Gridin
Alex Gallant – Carter Wilkie – Aydar Suniev
Daniil Miromanov – Turner Ottenbreit
Nick Cicek – Jeremie Poirier
Simon Mack – Artem Grushnikov
Connor Murphy (starter)
Owen Say
Coachella Valley
John Hayden – Ben Meyers – Jacob Melanson
J.R. Avon – Logan Morrison – Jagger Firkus
Carson Rehkopf – Mitchell Stephens – Lleyton Roed
Eduard Sale – Oscar Fisker Molgaard – David Goyette
Charlie Wright – Ty Nelson
Tyson Jugnauth – Ville Ottavainen
Caden Price – Lukas Dragicevic
Victor Ostman
Nikke Kokko
Leaders
Calgary
Martin Frk – 24GP, 10G, 12A
Matvei Gridin – 22GP, 8G, 13A
Rory Kerins – 21GP, 7G, 12A
Coachella Valley
Jagger Firkus – 21GP, 11G, 12A
Logan Morrison – 21GP, 10G, 9A
J.R. Avon – 20GP, 6G, 9A
Notes and expectations
On Sunday against the Ontario Reign, Hunter Brzustewicz was absent from the lineup. It was not assumed to be a healthy scratch and by Monday mid-morning, it was confirmed to be due to a call up to the Flames. Brzustewicz got a one game look with the Flames in their season closer last spring but this is his first call-up of the 2025-26 season.
Brzustewicz had an incredible October, keeping pace with forwards in scoring. In November, he cooled off but has still played at a level to earn this opportunity with the NHL club. He had a goal and three assists last month with a three game point stretch from Nov. 11-15. His last point was on Dec. 3 against the Abbotsford Canucks with the primary assist on Justin Kirkland’s goal. He’s in the Wranglers top 10 for scoring and sits at four goals and eight assists in 23 games in the AHL.
For those who are left with the Wranglers, they remain without Ivan Prosvetov as he is on week-to-week status with a lower body injury. Between Owen Say and Connor Murphy, Murphy played the better game in the Reign series and played more minutes as he came in for the third period of Say’s game on Saturday. It might very well be Murphy’s start for game one of this series but Owen Say might get the preference because he was the AHL assigned goaltender from the get-go this season.
This series gets started on Tuesday at the Saddledome and continues into Thursday. Both games go at 7:00 p.m. MT. You can catch these games in person for the first time since November 12th or stream them for a fee on Flo Hockey. FlamesNation contributors, Ryan Pike and I will have updates on X (formerly Twitter).
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