The Amarillo Wranglers didn’t have the latest homestand they were looking for, falling to a very talented Lone Star Brahmas team this past weekend at the Budweiser Bullpen.
Amarillo lost Friday night’s game 5-1, followed by a 3-1 loss to the Brahmas Saturday night.
The Amarillo Wranglers currently sit in seventh place in the South Division of the North American Hockey League with a total of 19 points and a record of 9-10-0-1, one point behind the sixth place Oklahoma Warriors for a final playoff spot.
The Wranglers head back on the road on Thanksgiving morning to El Paso, to play two games against the Rhinos on Friday and Saturday at the El Paso Coliseum.
Friday’s game
Amarillo hit the ice looking to rebound from their most recent lost to divisional foes, the Odessa Jackalopes.
Lone Star started the scoring off at the 15:46 mark. Lone Star forward and St. Lawrence commit Van Martin scored his fourth goal of the season, giving Lone Star an early 1-0 lead. A few short minutes later, the Brahmas found the back of the net at the 8:25 mark of the first period, giving Lone Star a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission.
The second period saw both teams dig in their heels as defense was the name of the game. The net minders on both ends of the ice put on a fierce display of goal tending. Brahmas goalie Nicolas Rempel, standing a stout 6’4” in skates, as well as menacing Wranglers goalie Charles Antoine Girard, standing at 6’6” in skates, delighted the dog-loving crowd as they chewed up the puck like Fido‘s favorite dog biscuit. Not a single biscuit found the back of the basket in this exciting defensive period of hockey. The Brahmas held onto their 2-0 lead going into the final break.
The third period started off like a dog searching for a bone as the defensive clinic continued. With approximately three minutes left in the game, Wranglers first year head coach Micheal Hill pulled Amarillo goalie Girard in an attempt to give Amarillo an offensive boost. Unfortunately Lonestar took advantage of the empty net and scored three empty net goals. The lone bright spot for the Wranglers was when Daniel Rassega scored his eighth goal of the season thus adding to his team leading goal total.
Amarillo fell in this game, 5-1 as Charles Antoine Girard lost his fourth game of the season.
Saturday’s game
Saturday night at the Budweiser Bullpen continued the long-standing and rich tradition of Military Appreciation, as all branches of the Armed Forces were front and center.
Red, White and Blue were the colors of choice with fans and Wranglers players. The Wranglers stampeded onto the ice draped in their patriotic red, white and blue commemorative jerseys, as the military appreciation theme engulfed the Amarillo Civic Center. With a record number of military inductees for this event, the Oath of Enlistment Ceremony was an emotional and meaningful testament to the amazing celebration and importance of our military.
The pre-game ceremonies culminated with the puck drop from two time purple heart recipient Frank George White (Wranglers Head Coach Micheal Hill’s Father in-law) in an emotional and tearjerking closing to this amazing celebration. Retired Marine Sergeant First Class Frank White, during his amazing military career, received the Good Conduct Metal, National Defense Service Metal, Vietnam Service Metal, along with many more as a reflection of his honorable and dedicated service during the Vietnam War. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he continued his commitment to the United States by serving in the US Air Force.
The first period of this game was full of patriotic intensity as neither team could find the back of the net. Players took a total of 16 shots with absolutely no scoring in this penalty filled (38 minutes) first period.
The second period got underway and so did the penalties. With Lone Star on a power play, Camden Prier scored the first goal of the game at the 15:21 mark, giving Lone Star a 1-0 lead. Lone Star scored two more unanswered goals, (one on the power play). Lone Star took a 3-0 lead into the final intermission.
With penalties nipped in the bud, Amarillo made it interesting at the 8:51 mark when Wranglers captain Jacob Miller took a beautiful sniper-like pass from Tiernan O’Rourke, scoring his 5th goal of the season. Neither team scored again throughout this intense and perplexing game. Lone Star came away with a 3-1 victory.
Amarillo goalie Charles Antoine Girard took the loss, dropping his season record to 5-5.
Lone Star head coach Dan Wildfong causes controversy
Head coach and General Manger of the Lone Star Brahmas, Dan Wildfong, is no stranger to controversy.
His head coaching career with the Brahmas organization spans almost two decades. As one of the most successful coaches in the NAHL and with two Robertson Cup Championships to his credit, there is no question as to his immense success in junior league hockey.
However, on Saturday night, during a military celebration, an act of disrespect took place. Prior to the game with his complete understanding and acknowledgment, there are production standards that are required by the NAHL with information shared in a clear and concise manner to both head coaches.
For reasons only known to Wildfong, he directed his players to skate onto the ice during the ceremony that caused disruption, confusion, and a manner of disrespect to the Armed Forces in a way never displayed in our beloved Civic Center. This was in direct conflict with production protocol agreed upon prior to the celebratory event.
With the Color Guard safeguarding the flags and still at attention and with a two time Purple Heart recipient – Retired Marine Sergeant First Class Frank George White – ceremoniously dropping the puck, the Brahmas, under the direction of their head coach, skated onto the ice.
Editor’s Note
Please listen for Tommy Tee‘s weekly recap of Amarillo Wranglers hockey on the “Drive at Five” with Lance Lahnert every Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. exclusively on 710-AM KGNC.