The Amarillo Wranglers delivered their most complete weekend of hockey this season, storming back from a five-game losing streak to earn a crucial sweep over the Shreveport Mudbugs at the Budweiser Bullpen. A tense 2–1 shootout victory on Friday set the stage, and Saturday’s 7–2 surge closed the series with authority, giving Amarillo fans plenty to cheer about as the team pushes deeper into the second half of the campaign.
The sweep boosts Amarillo to an 11–12-0-1 record and 23 points, placing them eighth in the NAHL South Division. With 36 games still ahead, the Wranglers sit only one point shy of both Corpus Christi and Oklahoma for the division’s final playoff spot, turning this upcoming stretch of home games into a pivotal opportunity.
They won’t have to wait long to build on the momentum. Amarillo hosts the Corpus Christi IceRays this weekend, with Saturday marking one of the most anticipated nights of the year: the Teddy Bear Toss. Fans will shower the ice with stuffed animals after the Wranglers’ first goal, all of which will be donated to local organizations supporting children during the holiday season. The weekend will also feature the team’s “Alternative Identity” reveal, debuting a fresh temporary brand and special uniforms that will be auctioned off after Saturday’s game.
Adding to the atmosphere, Amarillo native and Vanderbilt University music scholar Marcello Tortoreo will perform the national anthem on his saxophone. The former Amarillo youth hockey player returns to center ice, blending hometown roots with collegiate artistry.
Friday: Goaltending Duel and a Shootout Thriller
Friday’s opener had all the markings of a defensive standoff. Shreveport, entering the game with the South’s hottest November record, struck early and managed to hold Amarillo off the board through two periods. Wranglers goaltender Charles Antoine Girard settled into a groove, matching Shreveport save for save and keeping his team within reach.
Amarillo finally broke through on a third-period power play, knotting the score and shifting the tension to overtime. Five minutes of 3-on-3 produced no winner, pushing the contest into a shootout. The Wranglers needed only two rounds to seize the moment, with a slick finish from Swedish forward Alfons Gentler sealing the win and sending the crowd into a frenzy. Girard, stopping 27 of 28 shots, earned his sixth victory of the season.
Saturday: Offense Unleashed
With the losing streak behind them, the Wranglers entered Saturday’s rematch energized and confident. Ty Izadi opened the scoring early, and although Shreveport responded just before the first intermission, the Wranglers took over from there. A shorthanded strike from Carter Williams reignited the bench, and soon after, Mason Lupo expanded the lead.
The momentum surged further when defenseman Ethan Ogle hammered in his first NAHL goal from the blue line, giving Amarillo firm control heading into the third. Shreveport rallied briefly, but Amarillo answered with three more tallies from Caden Hegarty, Daniel Rassega, and Gentler, pushing the game out of reach and completing a dominant 7–2 victory.
Girard once again provided stability in the crease, securing his seventh win as Amarillo improved to 4–0 this season against Shreveport.
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