Good news, gang! The Calgary Wranglers are very, very close to punching their ticket to the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs.
As of this writing, the Wranglers sit in fifth place in the AHL’s Pacific Division. The four teams ahead of them – Colorado, Abbotsford, Ontario and Coachella Valley – have all clinched playoff spots. Any combination of three Wranglers points earned or three points not earned by the Bakersfield Condors will clinch a spot for the Wranglers.
In the Pacific Division, the top seven teams make the playoffs. The first place team gets a bye, and the remaining six teams face off in a best-of-three qualifying series – 2nd vs. 7th, 3rd vs. 6th and 4th vs. 5th. As it stands now, the Wranglers will very likely be the road team in a series against their old rivals, Coachella Valley.
The Wranglers have had an up and down season, but they’ve still been good enough to likely make the playoffs for third consecutive season. That’s a pretty cool accomplishment, and hopefully they can solidify that spot this coming week.
Onto the updates!
Jonathan Aspirot – D/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
25; signed as a free agent; 6’0″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 61 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 77 | 17.64 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 66 | 6 | 27 | 33 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 94 | 19.93 |
Aspirot had two assists this week. He’s playing on a pairing with Ilya Solovyov.
Andrew Basha – LW/C, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
19; Calgary’s second round pick (41st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’11”, 174 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 5th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 23 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 24 | 12 | 9 | 73 | 31.22 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 63 | 30 | 55 | 85 | 69 | 52 | 41 | 189 | 33.41 |
Basha remains out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Medicine Hat will play Prince Albert in the second round of the WHL’s playoffs.
Jacob Battaglia – LW, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL
18; Calgary’s second round pick (62nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 11th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 68 | 40 | 50 | 90 | 67 | 57 | 45 | 239 | 35.06 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 67 | 31 | 34 | 65 | 54 | 39 | 34 | 168 | 25.70 |
Kingston will play Barrie in the second round of the OHL’s playoffs.
Parker Bell – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 192 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 59 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 67 | 8.11 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 59 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 50 | 35 | 31 | 231 | 26.86 |
Bell’s playing on a checking line with Clark Bishop and Lucas Ciona.
Jake Boltmann – D, Northeastern University Huskies, NCAA/Hockey East
23; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 188 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 36 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 24 | 9.10 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 1.82 |
Boltmann’s season is done.
Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’0″, 190 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 3rd-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 67 | 4 | 25 | 29 | 16 | 19 | 12 | 73 | 17.25 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 67 | 13 | 79 | 92 | 46 | 65 | 34 | 140 | 36.37 |
Brzustewicz had three assists this week. He’s playing on a pair with Yan Kuznetsov, as he has most of the season.
Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 210 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 64 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 85 | 12.45 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 55 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 67 | 4.35 |
Ciona is on a checking line with Parker Bell and Clark Bishop.
Matvei Gridin – RW, Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL
18; Calgary’s first round pick (28th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 182 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 6th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 56 | 36 | 43 | 79 | 58 | 40 | 32 | 236 | 32.85 |
2023-24 (USHL) | 60 | 38 | 45 | 83 | 67 | 49 | 42 | 208 | 31.76 |
Shawinigan will play Sherbrooke in the second round of the QMJHL’s playoffs.
Artem Grushnikov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Dallas’ second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas; 6’1″, 203 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 17th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 58 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 41 | 3.44 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 63 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 3.80 |
Grushnikov is paired with Jeremie Poirier.
Sam Honzek – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Calgary’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 186 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 4th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 48 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 73 | 17.44 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 33 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 86 | 23.26 |
Honzek played centre this week – and scored a sweet goal! – with William Strömgren and Martin Frk on his wings.
Trevor Hoskin – RW, Niagara University Purple Eagles, NCAA/AHA
20; Calgary’s fourth round pick (106th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 175 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 36 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 80 | 17.23 |
2023-24 (OJHL) | 52 | 42 | 58 | 100 | 85 | 60 | 50 | 189 | 5.36 |
Hoskin’s season is done.
Axel Hurtig – D, Calgary Hitmen, WHL
19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 202 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 55 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 66 | 7.20 |
2023-24 (J20) | 27 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 54 | 15.10 |
The Hitmen will play Lethbridge in the second round of the WHL’s playoffs.
Eric Jamieson – D, Everett Silvertips, WHL
19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 66 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 26 | 27 | 19 | 175 | 13.51 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 66 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 21 | 27 | 18 | 174 | 12.01 |
Everett will play Portland in the second round of the WHL’s playoffs.
Joni Jurmo – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Rapid City Rush, ECHL
22; Vancouver’s third round pick (82nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’3″, 190 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
AHL season to date | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.00 |
ECHL season to date | 12 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 19.13 |
2023-24 (Liiga) | 46 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 63 | 4.03 |
Jurmo is playing as the Wranglers’ seventh defender. He’s playing with a mix of various defenders, but mostly Ilya Solovyov.
Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 175 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 59 | 32 | 26 | 58 | 49 | 39 | 34 | 128 | 39.18 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 54 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 18 | 115 | 23.62 |
Kerins continues to score! He’s playing on the wing, on a line with Sam Morton and Ty Tullio.
Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing; 6’8″, 235 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 15th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 33 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 21 | 16 | 14 | 101 | 31.40 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 65 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 34 | 31 | 22 | 182 | 27.59 |
Klapka is in the NHL.
Demetrios Koumontzis – LW/D, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL
24; Calgary’s fourth round pick (108th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 183 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 32 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 59 | 10.76 |
2023-24 (ECHL) | 47 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 84 | 9.28 |
Koumontzis got back into Idaho’s lineup and put up a few points.
Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 209 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 20th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 68 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 90 | 11.72 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 63 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 88 | 8.22 |
Kuznetsov has been paired with Hunter Brzustewicz for most of this season.
Hunter Laing – C/RW, Prince George Cougars/Saskatoon Blades, WHL
18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (170th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’5″, 205 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 64 | 25 | 23 | 48 | 40 | 35 | 29 | 153 | 18.57 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 66 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 18 | 20 | 14 | 101 | 9.38 |
Laing’s season is done.
Jaden Lipinski – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Vancouver Giants, WHL
20; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 204 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 16th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
WHL season to date | 59 | 17 | 41 | 58 | 45 | 30 | 27 | 134 | 24.34 |
AHL season to date | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 67 | 24 | 42 | 66 | 47 | 33 | 23 | 181 | 24.39 |
Lipinski’s season is done.
Cade Littler – C/RW/LW, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA/NCHC
20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 197 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 33 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 9.82 |
2023-24 (BCHL) | 24 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 17 | 9 | 6 | – | 5.51 |
Littler’s season is done.
Henry Mews – D, Ottawa 67’s/Sudbury Wolves, OHL
18; Calgary’s third round pick (74th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 181 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 9th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 68 | 14 | 68 | 82 | 51 | 40 | 27 | 233 | 31.94 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 65 | 15 | 46 | 61 | 38 | 35 | 24 | 153 | 24.86 |
Mews’ season is done.
Luke Misa – LW/C, Brampton Steelheads, OHL
19; Calgary’s fifth round pick (150th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 170 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 13th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 67 | 34 | 51 | 85 | 58 | 63 | 43 | 204 | 33.41 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 66 | 26 | 55 | 81 | 56 | 58 | 39 | 210 | 32.51 |
Misa’s season is done.
Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
19; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 180 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 10th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 62 | 14 | 44 | 58 | 29 | 40 | 24 | 222 | 21.79 |
2023-24 (QMJHL) | 58 | 12 | 37 | 49 | 32 | 21 | 13 | 191 | 19.67 |
Moncton will play Baie-Comeau in the second round of the QMJHL’s playoffs.
Sam Morton – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
25; Free agent signing; 6’0″, 185 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 67 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 33 | 23 | 17 | 157 | 26.17 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 37 | 24 | 10 | 34 | 32 | 20 | 19 | 151 | 24.00 |
Morton’s on a nice little run lately. He’s centring the Wranglers’ top line, playing between Rory Kerins and Ty Tullio.
Zayne Parekh – D, Saginaw Spirit, OHL
18; Calgary’s first round pick (9th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 179 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 1st-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 61 | 33 | 74 | 107 | 69 | 52 | 40 | 243 | 46.46 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 66 | 33 | 63 | 96 | 66 | 54 | 39 | 224 | 38.53 |
Parekh is in the NHL.
Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 7th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 67 | 5 | 32 | 37 | 21 | 23 | 13 | 126 | 22.01 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 23 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 44 | 22.53 |
Poirier is paired with Artem Grushnikov.
Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 208 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 14th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 55 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 11 | 22 | 9 | 75 | 19.56 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 51 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 88 | 11.72 |
Solovyov is paired with Jonathan Aspirot.
William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 175 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 8th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 66 | 13 | 33 | 46 | 33 | 24 | 19 | 102 | 27.78 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 68 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 15 | 74 | 15.82 |
Strömgren is playing on a line with Sam Honzek and Martin Frk.
Aydar Suniev – LW/C, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NCAA/Hockey East
20; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 198 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 12th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 35 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 31 | 21 | 17 | 119 | 34.99 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 35 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 100 | 23.02 |
Suniev is in the NHL.
Daniil Chechelev – G, Yunison-Moskva, VHL
23; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 187 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 11 | 399 | .888 |
2023-24 (VHL) | 5 | 271 | .908 |
Chechelev’s season is done.
Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
25; Signed as a free agent; 6’3″, 200 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 24 | 1287 | .889 |
2023-24 (SWE-1) | 45 | 2614 | .918 |
Ignatjew didn’t play this week, but he dressed as Devin Cooley’s back-up.
Arsenii Sergeev – G, Penn State University Nittany Lions, NCAA/Big 10
22; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 192 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 32 | 1923 | .918 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 16 | 934 | .913 |
Penn State plays Boston University on Thursday night in the national semi-final game.
Yegor Yegorov – G, HC Tambov, VHL / MHC Tambov, NMHL / MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva/MHK Spartak Moskva, MHL
19; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 183 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
VHL season to date | 4 | 160 | .870 |
NMHL season to date | 8 | 449 | .891 |
MHL season to date | 20 | 1032 | .904 |
2023-24 (MHL) | 25 | 1319 | .917 |
Yegorov has been re-assigned by Spartak Moskva to their VHL affiliate, MHK Spartak Moskva, as they’re still active in the playoffs. They also have six goalies on their roster, so Yegorov hasn’t dressed.
Kirill Zarubin – G, AKM Tula, MHL
19; Calgary’s third round pick (84th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 178 pounds; FN’s 19th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 21 | 1157 | .935 |
2023-24 (MHL) | 45 | 2473 | .927 |
AKM Tula was eliminated from the playoffs, so Zarubin’s season is done.
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