The Calgary Wranglers and Abbotsford Canucks kicked off a weekend series in Abbotsford, BC on Friday night. In a lighter game schedule this week, this was Calgary’s first match-up and Abbotsford’s second of the week. Calgary had fresh legs for this game and a reunited top line that helped energize them.
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They controlled this game for the majority of the night and took a 5-1 win over their Western Canadian rivals.
<h2>Coaching news</h2>
Prior to this game, the <a href="https://calgarywranglers.com/wranglers-interim-head-coach-joe-cirella-undergoes-routine-eye-surgery/">team announced</a> that Joe Cirella underwent routine eye surgery and will be away from the team for two weeks. In his place, former Wranglers Captain and this year’s Assistant Coach, Brett Sutter will be filling in as Interim Head Coach. Martin Gelinas is still on the bench as an Interim Assistant Coach and the team added former Flame and current development staff member, Michael Stone as Interim Assistant Coach.
In their press release, they also confirmed that Brett Sutter would be the coaching representative who will be representing the Wranglers at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic in early February.
<h2>Wranglers lines</h2>
William Stromgren &#8211; Rory Kerins &#8211; Dryden Hunt
Sam Honzek &#8211; Sam Morton &#8211; Martin Frk
Jonathan Aspirot &#8211; David Silye &#8211; Lucas Ciona
Connor Mylymok &#8211; Brett Davis &#8211; Parker Bell
Yan Kuznetsov &#8211; Hunter Brzustewicz
Jarred Tinordi &#8211; Ilya Solovyov
Artem Grushnikov &#8211; Jeremie Poirier
Devin Cooley
Connor Murphy (backup)
<h2>Game at a glance</h2>
This game put up two solid goaltenders in Devin Cooley for Calgary and Arturs Silovs on the home team’s end. Calgary had the first looks in the offensive zone to start this game before Abbotsford took a few chances the other way. The first goal in this game came just 5:58 into the first period off a rocket of a slap shot from Martin Frk.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Frk puts us up first doing what he does best 💥 <a href="https://t.co/ciBKZNfll7">pic.twitter.com/ciBKZNfll7</a>
&mdash; Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) <a href="https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885529734198567409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Sam Morton and Sam Honzek earned assists on this opening goal and the momentum continued for Calgary when they activated their first power play of the evening just 19 seconds later. The Canucks were able to kill off this penalty then went on a power play of their own at 13:25.
This power play turned out to be a good showing for the Canucks but nothing to even up the scoring. Instead, another penalty went against Abbotsford later in the period and Sam Morton used this man-advantage to score the second Wranglers goal of the night with just eight seconds to go in the period. He put a backhand shot on the net and beat the opposing netminder. Hunter Brzustewicz and Martin Frk assisted on this tally.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Morty with the backhand 😮‍💨 <a href="https://t.co/Bg4rGzM9AA">pic.twitter.com/Bg4rGzM9AA</a>
&mdash; Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) <a href="https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885536397345399248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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This put the Wranglers up 2-0 at the end of the first period despite being outshot 10-8 in that frame. In the second period, David Silye was taken down along the boards early and Jonathan Aspirot stood up for his teammate because of this play. Aspirot was tagged for roughing just 27 seconds into the period, putting the Wranglers on the penalty kill early.
They killed off most of the penalty before the Canucks cut it short with an interference call against John Stevens. At the trail end of this power play, Arshdeep Bains was sprung on a breakaway that Devin Cooley read perfectly and denied him on the shorthanded chance.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
ABSOLUTELY ROBBED ❌ <a href="https://t.co/BuPSjeQO5F">pic.twitter.com/BuPSjeQO5F</a>
&mdash; Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) <a href="https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885541597896438034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Canucks had a bit more of a jump in the second period and continued to look for their first goal of the night to try and work against the Wranglers lead. The next goal came at 13:27 and it was once again the Wranglers who lit the lamp. Lucas Ciona pounced on a rebound that popped out and hit a Canucks player before going in the back of the net. David Silye picked up the lone assist on this marker.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
FRIDGE widens the gap🚨 3-0 us!! <a href="https://t.co/41taSs3w0g">pic.twitter.com/41taSs3w0g</a>
&mdash; Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) <a href="https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885545825826463830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Canucks were looking to keep their energy going and not let the 3-0 deficit get to them so Dino Kambeitz made an effort to get his bench going with a fight against Calgary’s Connor Mylymok at 14:10. It was a short lived fight but still achieved its goal. 
In the last four minutes of the period, the Canucks were on a five-on-three for their best opportunity of the night. Arshdeep Bains got another look on Cooley and didn’t miss his chance this time. The Canucks won an offensive zone faceoff and when Bains received a pass just outside of the corner of the crease, he elevated over Cooley to put his team on the board. This goal came at 16:50 and was assisted by Christian Wolanin and Max Sasson.
 A couple more penalty calls were whistled to each side before the end of the period but the score remained 3-1 after 40 minutes of play. Shots through the middle frame were 8-7 Abbotsford. 
The Canucks didn’t give up in the third but still had a hard time getting anything past Cooley. They had a solid effort in the opening half of the period but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Instead, Calgary struck again at 9:51 with Lucas Ciona’s second goal of the night. Hunter Brzustewicz came up on a partial breakaway and his rebound was buried by Ciona. Parker Bell also picked up an assist on this fourth Wranglers goal of the night. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Ciona puts up a three goal lead once again 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/BePJc4qNP3">pic.twitter.com/BePJc4qNP3</a>
&mdash; Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) <a href="https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885557675661942804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Canucks once again took the majority of the time in the offensive zone but still struggled to change the number of their side of the scoreboard. In the dying minutes, they took a timeout and pulled Silovs at 17:31 but could only get a couple of shots on goal.
The Wranglers were able to clear the puck and Jonathan Aspirot scored an empty net goal at 18:27 that pretty well put this game away. The final buzzer sounded and the Wranglers finished with a 5-1 win. The shots finished 31-20 favouring Abbotsford. Lucas Ciona earned the first star for his two goal night and Devin Cooley earned the second star for his 30 save night.
<h2>Scoring stat summary</h2>
Hunter Brzustewicz &#8211; 2A
Ilya Solovyov &#8211; 1A
Lucas Ciona &#8211; 2G
Parker Bell &#8211; 1A
David Silye &#8211; 1A
Martin Frk &#8211; 1G, 1A
Sam Honzek &#8211; 1A
Sam Morton &#8211; 1G, 2A
Jonathan Aspirot &#8211; 1G
<h2>Next up</h2>
These two play the back half of their back-to-back on Saturday with another 8:00 p.m. MT puck drop. Calgary looks for the sweep to carry them into the All-Star game on Sunday and Monday.
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The Calgary Wranglers and Abbotsford Canucks kicked off a weekend series in Abbotsford, BC on Friday night. In a lighter game schedule this week, this was Calgary’s first match-up and Abbotsford’s second of the week. Calgary had fresh legs for this game and a reunited top line that helped energize them.
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They controlled this game for the majority of the night and took a 5-1 win over their Western Canadian rivals.
<h2>Coaching news</h2>
Prior to this game, the <a href="https://calgarywranglers.com/wranglers-interim-head-coach-joe-cirella-undergoes-routine-eye-surgery/">team announced</a> that Joe Cirella underwent routine eye surgery and will be away from the team for two weeks. In his place, former Wranglers Captain and this year’s Assistant Coach, Brett Sutter will be filling in as Interim Head Coach. Martin Gelinas is still on the bench as an Interim Assistant Coach and the team added former Flame and current development staff member, Michael Stone as Interim Assistant Coach.

In their press release, they also confirmed that Brett Sutter would be the coaching representative who will be representing the Wranglers at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic in early February.
<h2>Wranglers lines</h2>
William Stromgren - Rory Kerins - Dryden Hunt

Sam Honzek - Sam Morton - Martin Frk

Jonathan Aspirot - David Silye - Lucas Ciona

Connor Mylymok - Brett Davis - Parker Bell

Yan Kuznetsov - Hunter Brzustewicz

Jarred Tinordi - Ilya Solovyov

Artem Grushnikov - Jeremie Poirier

Devin Cooley

Connor Murphy (backup)
<h2>Game at a glance</h2>
This game put up two solid goaltenders in Devin Cooley for Calgary and Arturs Silovs on the home team’s end. Calgary had the first looks in the offensive zone to start this game before Abbotsford took a few chances the other way. The first goal in this game came just 5:58 into the first period off a rocket of a slap shot from Martin Frk.

https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885529734198567409

Sam Morton and Sam Honzek earned assists on this opening goal and the momentum continued for Calgary when they activated their first power play of the evening just 19 seconds later. The Canucks were able to kill off this penalty then went on a power play of their own at 13:25.

This power play turned out to be a good showing for the Canucks but nothing to even up the scoring. Instead, another penalty went against Abbotsford later in the period and Sam Morton used this man-advantage to score the second Wranglers goal of the night with just eight seconds to go in the period. He put a backhand shot on the net and beat the opposing netminder. Hunter Brzustewicz and Martin Frk assisted on this tally.

https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885536397345399248

This put the Wranglers up 2-0 at the end of the first period despite being outshot 10-8 in that frame. In the second period, David Silye was taken down along the boards early and Jonathan Aspirot stood up for his teammate because of this play. Aspirot was tagged for roughing just 27 seconds into the period, putting the Wranglers on the penalty kill early.

They killed off most of the penalty before the Canucks cut it short with an interference call against John Stevens. At the trail end of this power play, Arshdeep Bains was sprung on a breakaway that Devin Cooley read perfectly and denied him on the shorthanded chance.

https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885541597896438034

The Canucks had a bit more of a jump in the second period and continued to look for their first goal of the night to try and work against the Wranglers lead. The next goal came at 13:27 and it was once again the Wranglers who lit the lamp. Lucas Ciona pounced on a rebound that popped out and hit a Canucks player before going in the back of the net. David Silye picked up the lone assist on this marker.

https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885545825826463830

The Canucks were looking to keep their energy going and not let the 3-0 deficit get to them so Dino Kambeitz made an effort to get his bench going with a fight against Calgary’s Connor Mylymok at 14:10. It was a short lived fight but still achieved its goal. 

In the last four minutes of the period, the Canucks were on a five-on-three for their best opportunity of the night. Arshdeep Bains got another look on Cooley and didn’t miss his chance this time. The Canucks won an offensive zone faceoff and when Bains received a pass just outside of the corner of the crease, he elevated over Cooley to put his team on the board. This goal came at 16:50 and was assisted by Christian Wolanin and Max Sasson.

 A couple more penalty calls were whistled to each side before the end of the period but the score remained 3-1 after 40 minutes of play. Shots through the middle frame were 8-7 Abbotsford. 

The Canucks didn’t give up in the third but still had a hard time getting anything past Cooley. They had a solid effort in the opening half of the period but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Instead, Calgary struck again at 9:51 with Lucas Ciona’s second goal of the night. Hunter Brzustewicz came up on a partial breakaway and his rebound was buried by Ciona. Parker Bell also picked up an assist on this fourth Wranglers goal of the night. 

https://twitter.com/AHLWranglers/status/1885557675661942804

The Canucks once again took the majority of the time in the offensive zone but still struggled to change the number of their side of the scoreboard. In the dying minutes, they took a timeout and pulled Silovs at 17:31 but could only get a couple of shots on goal.

The Wranglers were able to clear the puck and Jonathan Aspirot scored an empty net goal at 18:27 that pretty well put this game away. The final buzzer sounded and the Wranglers finished with a 5-1 win. The shots finished 31-20 favouring Abbotsford. Lucas Ciona earned the first star for his two goal night and Devin Cooley earned the second star for his 30 save night.
<h2>Scoring stat summary</h2>
Hunter Brzustewicz - 2A

Ilya Solovyov - 1A

Lucas Ciona - 2G

Parker Bell - 1A

David Silye - 1A

Martin Frk - 1G, 1A

Sam Honzek - 1A

Sam Morton - 1G, 2A

Jonathan Aspirot - 1G
<h2>Next up</h2>
These two play the back half of their back-to-back on Saturday with another 8:00 p.m. MT puck drop. Calgary looks for the sweep to carry them into the All-Star game on Sunday and Monday.

Sponsored by bet365:
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