With a new coaching staff, new team, new attitude and new mission statement, the Amarillo Wranglers took the four-hour bus ride east bound on I-40 to begin their season against a very good Oklahoma Warriors hockey team at the Blazer Ice Centre.
No doubt about it, this is a new look for a Wranglers team with over 15 new skaters, a new head coach in Taylor Harnett, two new assistant coaches and four goalies in camp.
There were a lot of questions going into the first two of 11 away games that lay ahead of the Amarillo. The arduous challenge of starting off the season with 11 away games is a franchise record.
Friday’s Recap
Like Neil Young used to say “Rust never Sleeps,” both teams started off the first period experiencing some wide awake “Rust.” Halfway through the first period, both teams started to gel as they powered through the sloppiness and began to play at a high level of ice hockey.
The perimeter game from the Wranglers put the Warriors on notice that this new team was a force to be reckoned with. After the rust, this game was a defensive clinic. The first period saw no scoring as Amarillo goalie Charlie Zolin made his North American Hockey League debut, stopping 11-of-11 shots.
In what can only be described as cumbersome, the referees removed numerous players from the puck drop more than any other game this writer has ever witnessed.
At the 7:13 mark of the second period with the Wranglers in a power-play, Canadian and return defenseman Cole Semeniuk lasered a beautiful pass from the point to another returner forward Trace Day as he was able to “find twine” to start off the scoring, giving Amarillo its first lead of the season.
Later in the period and on the power-play, the Warriors Louie Kamienski got lucky when the puck bounced off the very challenging playing ice surface at the Blazer Ice Centre to knot this game up 1-1.
This clash remained scoreless through the end of regulation and something very familiar to the Wranglers happened yet again in the form of overtime.
Last season, Amarillo led the league in overtime games, and it was déjà vu all over again, in what most hockey experts call the most exciting overtime protocol in hockey.
The five minute, three-on-three action resulted in no scoring as both goalies stood on their head. With a shootout eminent, the Warriors’ fans were energized like the Energizer Bunny.
Texas native and returner Gerhard Grayson drew first blood in the shootout as he rifled on the unsuspecting Warriors goalie. Warriors forward Domink Kiss was able kiss the back of the net as the shootout continued. Day decided to end this game in a beautiful misdirection shot that ended it to give Amarillo its first win in their season debut.
Canadian import goalie Charlie Zolin was masterful between the pipes, saving 30-of-31 shots in an impressive debut.
Saturday’s Recap
With a shootout victory firmly positioned in their holsters, Amarillo started Saturday night’s game with aggressive and productive offensive play.
The Warriors fan base was hungry to avenge the previous night’s loss and were boisterous. From the get-go, you could see both teams did not like one another. At almost every whistle there was some sort of skirmish. The unseasonably hot temperatures in Oklahoma City, Okla., added drama to the weekend game as the skating surface in the Blazer Ice Centre was filled with puddles and thin ice, causing challenges for both teams.
While in a power play after a very questionable unsportsmanlike penalty against Wranglers Gerhard Grayson, the Warriors struck first when forward Domink Kiss slapped one past Amarillo goalie Zolin to score his second goal of the weekend and give the Warriors their first lead of this young season.
The Warriors held onto this 1-0 lead going into the first intermission. At the 7:35 mark of the second period, Grayson created a masterful turnover and was able to finish the play to score his second goal of the weekend and tied this game up 1-1.
With a litany of skater removal from the puck drop dot, both teams seem to be frustrated with the officiating with regards to this consistent officiating behavior. At the 13:24 mark of the second period, Amarillo struck again when Canadian forward Aidan Dres scored his first NAHL goal of his career to give Amarillo a brief 2-1 lead.
Shortly thereafter, as a result of some puddling in front of the Wranglers net Warriors forward Sebastian Speck got lucky as the puck floated by Amarillo goalie Zolin.
This game remain tied going into this second intermission. After a long Zamboni delay, Amarillo scored at the 16:35 mark of the third period. Swedish import Alexander Aleslov scored his first NAHL goal to give the Wranglers a 3-2 lead that would never be relinquished.
With strong defensive play and amazing goaltending, Amarillo swept the Oklahoma Warriors to start off their 11-game road trip.
With the head coaching debut of Harnett, he and his staff put the NAHL on notice that the Amarillo Wranglers are a physical team, a finesse team and a team that will execute smash mouth hockey for 60 minutes.
Goalie Charlie Zolin was impressive in his NAHL debut for the weekend, stopping a total of 52-of-55 shots for the weekend.
The Wranglers sit on top of the NAHL South Division with a record of 2-0 with 4 points in this young season.
What’s Next
The Amarillo Wranglers continue their arduous away schedule by making the nine hour trip to Greeley, Colo., for two games against the Colorado Grit.
The Wranglers get back on the bus for yet another long bus ride to Omaha, Neb., for a week of practice before traveling to the NAHL’s 21st Annual Showcase.
Known as the Greatest Show on Ice, the Super Rink in Blaine Minn., will play host to all of the NAHL teams along with well over 300 college scouts in attendance.
Amarillo’s home opener that was initially scheduled for October 11th has been moved to October 25th against the Colorado Grit as a result of some fantastic upgrades that are being made to the Amarillo Civic Center. As part of the $2 million upgrade initiative a new and improved ice plant will be installed along with new boards. This is a huge win for ice sports in our community.
Local Hockey Players Update
History was made Friday night at the Ector County Colosseum in Odessa as Amarillo native Austin Richards made his North American Hockey League debut.
Never before in league history has a player from Amarillo played in the NAHL.
Richards got his start playing for the Amarillo Youth Hockey League, then moving on to the AAA level for the Car Shield hockey organization. Approximately 10 years ago, Richard attained national attention when he scored a magnificent goal at the Amarillo Civic Center, making ESPN’s top 10 Plays.
Amarillo hockey players are starting to make their presence known in junior league hockey. Cutter Daniel was invited to the Wrangler camp and gained a geat camp experience before moving back to his North American Hockey League 3 team.
The NAHL3 is a tier 3 junior hockey league that feeds the NAHL. Amarillo is represented well in the N3 with a plethora of players – Ayden Boyd, Hudson Fisher and Cutter Daniel. Gunnar Vick has moved on to AAA hockey in the Northeast as well.
With the advent of the Amarillo Ice Ranch, a world-class skating facility located here, those numbers are sure to grow.
Editor’s Note
Please listen for Tommy Tee‘s weekly recap of the Amarillo Wranglers hockey on the “Drive at Five” with Lance Lahnert every Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. exclusively on 102.9 FM the Panhandle Sports Star.