The Wranglers have hit a rough patch currently riding a nine-game losing skid just two games shy of a franchise record. Amarillo is currently 13-21-1-3 (30 points) and have dropped into last place of the North American League South Division.
Amarillo is back on the road to continue a series with El Paso this time at the El Paso Colosseum this weekend.
Friday’s game
It was Pucks and Paws night at the Budweiser Bullpen and the Amarillo Civic Center was filled with pets and a little bit of yellow snow on the ice. The first period saw two teams fighting to end winless streaks as penalties were almost nonexistent.
Amarillo out-shot the Rhinos 13-6, however even the beautiful pets in the stands could not help either team put the biscuit in the basket in the first period. Andrew Della Donna, the charismatic forward for the Rhinos scored immediately in the second period to give the Rhinos a 1-0 lead.
The Rhinos scored two more unanswered goals in the second period to wrap this game up. Neither team scored in the third period thus ending the Rhinos six-game winless streak.
Saturday’s game
Under the watchful eye of healthcare workers at the Budweiser Bullpen this Saturday night and in celebration of Heroes and HealthKare, the Amarillo Wranglers stormed the ice looking to end their eight-game winless streak.
At the 8:11 mark of the first period, Rhinos Rasmus Nousiainen rifled one past Amarillo goalie Charles-Antoine Girard, giving the Rhinos the early 1-0 lead. They held this lead into the first intermission. In the second period, the Rhinos scored two unanswered goals and took a 3-0 lead into the second intermission.
The Rhinos scored quickly in the third period, giving them a 4-0 lead at the 3:59 mark of the third period. With a barn full of healthcare workers on the verge of rendering aid to the disappointed Wrangler fans, recently acquired winger Nolan Mix scored his very first NAHL goal, cutting the Rhinos lead to 4-1.
At the 16:05 mark of the third period, the Rhinos were called for tripping and 12 seconds later the Rhinos were called for tripping again. These penalties gave the Wranglers a five on three opportunity when head coach Corey Wogtech decided to pull Amarillo’s goalie, giving the Wranglers a 6 to 3 player advantage.
Sensing a comeback opportunity, Amarillo defenseman Will Wellborn started a rush and lasered a pass to line mate-defenseman Salvatore Cerrato, who in turn dropped the puck to newly acquired forward Jake Boulanger, who found the back of the net, cutting the lead in half 4-2 but that’s as close as Amarillo could make the rally.
College Commits
The Amarillo Wranglers were proud to announce that defenseman Ashton Breyer has committed to play hockey for Skidmore College.
Skidmore is a prestigious academic college in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
This “Hidden Ivy” as it’s called is considered one of the best colleges in this country. Breyer is the epitome of a student athlete with not only a high hockey IQ but a high student IQ.
Breyer is from a small town in northern Minnesota and came to Amarillo to chase his dream of playing hockey at the next level.
“Being a good student and a teammate is very important to me,” Breyer said. “The people of Amarillo have been so kind, and this was an important part of my journey.”
Breyer was contacted by Skidmore College as a result of a very successful NAHL showcase held at the beginning of the season at the super rink in Blaine, Minn.
This tournament, where all NAHL teams meet to play three regular season games, is called the “Greatest Show on Ice” and for good reason. I’m sure Ashton Breyer would agree. We are Press Pass Sports congratulate Ashton and wish him luck on the next phase of his hockey journey.
Editor’s Note
Please listen for a special edition of 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.
