The disciplined and community-oriented culture of the Wranglers continues to grow and change with the force of the continued popularity of hockey in the Texas Panhandle. The blue-collar work ethic and community involvement will only be enhanced as they move forward into the 2024-2025 season.
Like the West Texas wind, the Amarillo Wranglers will blast into the Blazer Ice Centre to start their season off with the Oklahoma Warriors on Sept. 13. W
With an arduous 10 game road schedule to begin the season, this will be an immediate test of the abilities and direction of this team.
This cumbersome schedule also includes participation in the 21st annual NAHL Showcase tournament in Blaine, Minn. With the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the NAHL, interest will be high as over 300 college scouts will be in attendance.
The Super Rink in Blaine, Minn., will be hotter than Texas asphalt as all 35 NAHL teams will play three regular season games at the Showcase.
Historically known as the “Greatest Show on Ice,” this year’s tournament should be an immediate measuring stick for all participating.
What will the Wranglers look like?
A strong core of returners will stampede the ice this season with quantifiable determination and direction.
The tradition of strong European and Canadian imports will continue for the Wranglers and will be on full display throughout this season.
August camp has had its disproportionate share of intrigue and competition. All skaters know that every shift is an audition, and every drill is dissected by the new coaching staff.
The enhanced attitude of blue-collar hockey, physicality, and community awareness is driven into these world-class student athletes like a West Texas oil drill boring into the Earth.
Thus far throughout camp, the front liners are big, fast, agile, mobile, and hostile. The defensive core will continue the tradition of strong defensive/offensive play and also be a key scoring element as the season progresses.
With five goalies in camp, Amarillo has positioned itself with thick, tall, and flexible candidates between the pipes. Player accountability and team goals have been clearly defined by the coaching staff and will be reflected on the ice.
The Harnett era begins
New head coach Taylor Harnett brings a fresh yet traditional coaching philosophy to the Wranglers.
The Edmonton, Alberta native brings over three decades of coaching experience in hockey to the Amarillo-area. His hard-nosed approach and attention to physicality will mesh well with the Amarillo Wranglers Hockey rabid fan base.
Before joining the Wranglers, Harnett served as the head coach and general manager of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), in 2021-22 and was nominated for MJHL Coach of the Year.
“At the heart of Wranglers culture are unbending principals and athletes centered development and giving back to our youth and community at large,” Wranglers president of operations and general manager Harry Mahood said. ” To bring these ideas to life, it requires a head coach to have a proven track record in junior hockey and community development. Coach Harnett checks all the boxes.”
Harnett has assembled a strong assistant coaching staff with a wealth of experience.
Brandon Richardson, a focused and likable native of San Clemente, Calif., has played in the NAHL as well as the United States Hockey League and knows the rigorous schedule and lifestyle of junior league hockey.
Richardson also played professional hockey in Southern California and has over 10 years of coaching experience.
Connor White, from Queensbury, N.Y., as a youngster played hockey before transitioning into coaching.
White coached at the high school level and became a video coach at the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder. White coached at the collegiate level as an assistant for Morrisville State College, as well as assistant coaching experience in the NAHL and the NAHL3.
Incidentally, the last time a NAHL hockey team from Amarillo had two assistant coaches, they won the NAHL Robertson Cup championship. Those two assistant coaches have moved on to illustrious careers in hockey. Those coaches were a younger Mahood along with a former Amarillo Bulls head coach Rocky Russo, now head coach in the USHL for the Lincoln Stars.
The schedule
The South Division has historically been known as the most physical division in all of the NAHL and has produced the last two Robertson Cup champions.
The beginning of the season is loaded with away games as a result of the construction and upgrades being executed by the city of Amarillo at the Budweiser Bullpen.
The Wranglers home opener isn’t until Oct. 11, against the much improved second year Colorado Grit.
Amarillo will also play host to a special Tuesday night New Year’s Eve game against the Odessa Jackalopes.
The highly anticipated home game against heated rivals and current NAHL champion Lone Star Brahmas will not occur until Dec. 27.
Editor’s Note
Please listen for Tommy Tee‘s weekly recap of the Amarillo Wranglers hockey on the “Drive at Five” with Lance Lahnert at 5 p.m. every Thursday afternoon exclusively on 102.9 FM the Panhandle Sports Star.