CAVENDISH FARMS REPORT - 15.12.22

Next Man Up.
That's the mantra.
The Wranglers recently had their six game win-streak snapped following a loss to the Manitoba Moose Tuesday night. Still, Calgary has been stampeding up the standings lately, with a 12-3 record in their last 15 games.
The inevitable ebbs and flows of the AHL made its impact felt this past week. There have been some significant changes to the Wranglers roster which, as a result, presented tangible opportunities for different players to step up and play bigger roles with the team.

When two-thirds of their top line got the call up to the Flames last week, the Wranglers were forced to make roster changes on the fly. They promptly recalled Rory Kerins and Ilya Nikolaev from Rapid City (ECHL) and also received added experience with the addition of Kevin Rooney, who had appeared in 17-games with the big club this season.

ON THE MOVE:

In case you missed it … Matthew Phillips and Radim Zohorna were recalled to the Flames last week.
Zohorna made his Flames debut against the Blue Jackets on Dec.9, and Phillips entered into action against the Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada on Dec. 10.
Phillips was leading the AHL in scoring at the time and since his recall the Wranglers' have needed other players to step up. Dustin Wolf has been relied upon heavily recently, surpassing the millennium mark for minutes played this season (1,048) and yet he still continues to provide consistent, steady goaltending for Calgary.
Walker Duehr has been a force of late down the middle, with points in six of seven games, scoring five goals and eight points in the span. With the rotations in the roster lately, the 25-year-old explains it's just about staying ready for the next opportunity.
"That's the American League, guys are going up, guys are going down," said Duehr. "It's just a 'next-man-up' mentality. Guys getting more opportunities. So it's just being ready and prepared to take those steps and fill those roles."
Rooney has provided stability and leadership since joining the Wranglers after clearing waivers over the weekend. He added an assist in his first game against the San Diego Gulls, and has been a positive presence in practice, imparting his knowledge and experience with his younger teammates.
Kerins added an assist in his first game back, and now has two points (1g, 1a) in five games with the Wranglers.

RECENT RESULTS:

• Dec.13, 2022 vs Manitoba Moose L, 4-1
• Dec. 9, 2022 vs San Diego Gulls: W, 3-0
• Dec.4, 2022 vs San Diego Gulls: W, 6-0

GILBERT'S GOAL:

Dennis Gilbert is looking confident since returning from his seven-game stint with the Flames, in which he registered an assist and three fighting majors.
His focus right now: to take what he learned from his time in the NHL and apply it with the Wranglers.
Gilbert adds an element of grit and toughness to the lineup, but the veteran blueliner explained there's more to his game than just dropping the gloves.
"I think there's obviously still a place for that in the game but I think part of the success I've had is about doing more than just that," said Gilbert. "I thought I've played well, moving the puck and being good defensively and playing with physicality."
He hammered home his first goal of the season against the Gulls on Dec.11.

SPECIAL TEAMS, INDEED:

The Wranglers special teams have been a big contributor to their success this season, with both the powerplay and penalty-kill being among the best in the league.
Calgary's powerplay is tops in the Western Conference, running at 27.4%, with the most PP goals scored in the AHL at 32. The Wranglers have also scored three short-handed goals this season, while limiting opponents to the fourth-lowest PP goals-against.
The Wranglers penalty-kill productivity begins between the pipes, where Dustin Wolf (13-3-0) has been steady and consistent in net all season long. He's leading the league in wins (13) and shutouts (3), while backup netminder Oscar Dansk has wins in back-to-back starts.

The PK is currently ranked fourth in the AHL operating at 85.4%

ONE TIMERS:

QUOTEABLE:

Cole Schwindt with a simple assessment following Tuesday's setback:
"As a team we can all be better. There's no quit in that locker room."
Emilio Petersen on adjusting to the recent changes in the lineup:
"Things change, obviously, but then you need guys to step up. I think we've had guys that have been contributing every other night, so it's good to have that depth in the lineup and guys are doing a good job."