Unfortunately, the homestand didn’t start how Amarillo would have liked falling in two of the three games to the Grit.
The Wranglers lost the home opener in a 4-3 shootout and Friday and then suffered a 9-3 defeat Saturday evening. However, Amarillo was able to salvage the series by avoiding the sweep with a 4-3 victory to close out the weekend Sunday afternoon.
Amarillo currently is 8-4-0-2 overall, sitting in third place in the South Division of the North American Hockey League with 18 points. The Wranglers trail division leaders Corpus Christi and Lone Star by three points for the top spot.
Amarillo continues its homestand taking Shreveport Mudbugs at 7 p.m., on Friday and Saturday.
Upgrades
The Amarillo Civic Center’s Budweiser Bullpen has been recently upgraded as part of a City of Amarillo enhancement initiative.
As a result of this initiative, fans will be treated to a more robust hockey experience. The City of Amarillo installed NHL-grade glass and boards that encompass the ice circumference as well as an enhanced and upgraded pre-existing ice plant.
Other upgrades include updated benches, penalty box and scoring facility at rink level. Gone are the metal planks that were behind both goals, replaced by smooth and gripful concrete.
These improvements enhance the hockey experience for both fans and players. Amarillo is home to a growing and bountiful hockey audience as well as meaningful and thriving youth/adult hockey programs.
Friday’s game
The Amarillo Wranglers stampeded into the new and improved Budweiser Bullpen fresh off their amazing comeback victory over the Shreveport Mudbugs at George’s Pond at Hersh Coliseum last weekend.
Likewise, the Grit rode into Amarillo with a similar victory against the South Division leaders the Corpus Christi IceRays. Last season Amarillo dominated the Colorado Grit in their expansion season going 10-2. Heading into Friday night’s affair, Amarillo continued that domination thus far this season with a 1-0 record against the Grit.
From the moment the puck dropped, the energy in the Budweiser Bullpen was electric. Amarillo scored first when Allen, Texas native Grayson Gerhard collected a little traffic debris in front of the net, giving Amarillo an early lead.
Amarillo held that lead into the first intermission. In the second period and in the powerplay, Grit forward William Johnson scored from the top of the circle, tied the score 1-1.
This game remained tied going into the final intermission. Amarillo took a brief lead in the third period when Andrew Morton took a blast pass from linemate Will Welborn as Amarillo took a 2-1 lead.
Within one minute, the Grit came back when Landon West scored his first of two goals for the evening, tying this nail-biter yet again at 2-2. At the 17:74, Will Wellborn was at it again and worked one past Grit goalie, giving the Wranglers the lead 3-2.
Shortly thereafter, Grit forward Landon West scored his second goal of the night, finding the back of the net that took this game into overtime at 3-3.
With both teams resiliency on full display, there was no scoring during the five-minute overtime period. Colorado’s Chris Graves slid one past Amarillo goalie Charlie Zolin to end this incredible hockey game.
Zolin took the loss falling to 6-2 on the year.
Saturday’s game
In front of a large and excited audience, Amarillo scored first when defenseman Emils Skeltins scored his second goal of the season.
This bullet gave the Wranglers an early 1-0 lead. Corson McGuire took a beautiful cross net pass from linemate Greyson Gerhard, giving Amarillo the 2-0 lead.
The Colorado Grit started their second period scoring bonanza with four unanswered goals. Momentum was definitely in the Grit’s holsters as the penalties were plenty and the damage was done. Amarillo took one on the chin, losing 9 to 3.
Sunday’s game
Sunday afternoon saw the Amarillo Wranglers circling the wagons as to stop the onslaught of the Colorado Grit.
The Grit scored first at the 7:37 mark of the first period. Colorado held that lead going into the first intermission. The NAHL South Division Star of the Week for the Amarillo Wranglers Grayson Gerhard was able to tie this game up 1-1. Gerhard is on a five-game scoring streak with a plus 5 rating for the weekend.
The Grit answered midway through the second period taking a 2-1 lead going into the final intermission. Resiliency was in play for the Wranglers as defenseman Emils Skeltins scored his second goal of the weekend and his third of the season, making the score 2-2. Colorado answered and took a brief lead when Jorge Poirier found the back of the net, giving the Grit the 3-2 lead.
Just four seconds later, Amarillo forward Corson Maguire scored his team leading sixth goal of the season, taking this game into overtime 3-3. The Amarillo Wranglers made quick work of the Colorado Grit when defenseman Salvatore Cerrato scored at the 2:04 mark of the three-on-three overtime period. Cerrato is tied with Maguire with two game-winning goals thus far this season.
Amarillo goalie William Lubimov was masterful between the pipes, saving 31-of-34 shots, earning his second victory of the season.
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.