By: Annie Nadin
The Wranglers will face the Laval Rocket for the first time in franchise history as the Canadiens AHL affiliate comes to town for a two-game set at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The series opens with a matinee on Jan. 24 at 12 p.m., followed by a Jan. 26 matchup at 7 p.m.
About the Game
Don’t miss Festival de Calgary, as the Wranglers host Laval in a celebration of hockey and culture. Enjoy French Canadian treats like maple taffy, stunning ice sculptures, and a matchup featuring the next generation of Flames and Canadiens talent.
The Matchup
Calgary enters the weekend looking to snap a six-game losing streak.
The Wranglers picked up a point in their most recent outing on Jan. 18, falling 1-0 in overtime to the Bakersfield Condors.
Calgary now sits eighth in the Pacific Division with 40 points (15-15-8-2).
Rookie Zayne Parekh remains with the Wranglers after making his debut on Jan. 18 and is expected to play in Saturday’s matinee.
Parekh joined the team on a conditioning loan from the Calgary Flames following his stint at the World Juniors.
Following practice on Jan. 23, Parekh shared his focus heading into the matchup.
“Play with the puck a little quicker, make quicker decisions, and just get skating,” he said. “I felt like I wasn’t skating enough last game. Be a little bit cleaner with the puck and I feel like I’ll be fine.”
“I’m feeling good,” he added. “It’s nice to get a couple practices under my belt, so I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow.”
“Pretty excited to see him and play against him”.
Zayne Parekh is expected to play this weekend with the Wranglers against Laval. pic.twitter.com/sj0cSMKjHI
— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) January 23, 2026
The Other Side
Laval arrives in Calgary sitting atop the North Division with 50 points and a 23-13-2-2 record.
Despite their position in the standings, the Rocket are also looking to regain momentum, having dropped four of their last five games.
Most recently, Laval split a two-game series against the Abbotsford Canucks, earning a 4-3 win on Jan. 20 before falling 2-1 in overtime on Jan. 21.
One of the weekend’s most intriguing storylines features Owen Beck, who will face former Saginaw Spirit teammate Zayne Parekh.
The pair were part of Saginaw’s 2024 Memorial Cup championship team.
“It’ll be really cool,” Parekh smiled. “I saw him in Montreal a couple weeks ago, so catching up with him … I didn’t know if he’d be back playing in this game or not, but I’m pretty excited to see him and play against him.”
Another Rocket player to watch is David Reinbacher, the fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The Austrian defenceman has recorded 13 points (3G, 11A) in 32 games this season.
Reinbacher posted an assist in the victory against Abbotsford.
Don’t Miss The Action
