The Wranglers were beat 5-1 on Friday followed by a doubled up score of 4-2 on Saturday night.
Amarillo is now 26-18-6-2 with a total of 60 points. They are currently in fith place in the North American League Hockey League South Division, four points in front of the Oklahoma Warriors.
At this late point in the season, the Amarillo Wranglers have positioned themselves comfortably in the playoff window with their 60 points.
The South Division qualifies six teams to participate in the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship Tournament (national championship) held in Blaine, Minn.
Coaching Change
In a surprising move with only 10 games left in the regular season, the Wranglers front office announced on March 1 they have parted ways with first-year head coach Ryan Anderson.
Amarillo Wrangler management released a statement on Anderson’s dismissal on their social media accounts. Please read the statement below.
Former head coach Harry Mahood, who is now the president of hockey operations, will take over the head coaching duties for the Wranglers at the start of the playoffs. A permanent coaching search is underway.
Friday night
Amarillo looked to stop its three-game losing streak but that didn’t happen.
The Mudbugs scored two unanswered goals in the first period, setting the tone for this disappointing evening of hockey. The only highlight of the game came at the 2:42 mark of the third period when Sebastian Mitro of the Wranglers scored his first NAHL goal.
However, the NAHL got this wrong. Nitro was not even on the ice when the score occurred. There should be a correction issued shortly. This would be the lone highlight of this disappointing game as the Amarillo Wranglers took it on the chin, 5-1.
Saturday night
Looking to turn their luck, the Wranglers struck first with a sniper-like goal as Army commit Jack Ivey scored his team-leading 27th goal of the season, giving Amarillo an early 1-0 lead in the first period.
Amarillo held the lead into the first break. Shreveport tied the game at the 7:16 mark of the second period when Logan Heroux was able to bounce the puck past Wrangler goalie Connor McDonough, to tie this game up.
At the 9:27 mark of the second period Trace Day scored his fourth goal of the year giving Amarillo a 2-1 advantage, as Amarillo was able to hold onto that lead going into the second intermission.
The third period was another story as Shreveport caught fire scoring three unanswered goals leading them to the 4-2 win and sending Amarillo to a fifth straight defeat.
Next up
The Wranglers look to end their five-game losing streak by taking the eight-hour bus ride to Greeley, Colo., to play a pair of games against the Colorado Grit this weekend.
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.