By: Annie Nadin – 03.01.25.

The Wranglers fell short against the Abbotsford Canucks in a 8-4 defeat at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday night.

Parker Bell, Rory Kerins, and Dryden Hunt scored for Calgary.

Bell got the Wranglers on the board, redirecting a shot from Yan Kuznetsov to equalize after Cole McWard had opened the scoring for the Canucks.

However, goals from Akito Hirose and Aatu Raty gave Abbotsford a 3-1 lead by the end of the first period.

Kerins continued his strong season, notching his 24th goal of the campaign in the second period, cutting the Canucks’ lead to 3-2. He connected on a perfect pass from Hunter Brzustewicz in the slot.

Chase Wouters extended Abbotsford’s lead with a goal before Sammy Blais made it 5-2. Wouters’ second of the night pushed the Canucks further ahead at 6-2.

In the third, Kerins came through again, firing a backhander into the net after a setup from Jeremie Poirier to make it 6-3.

Hunt, making his return to the lineup, then added a goal to pull the Wranglers within two.

But Danila Klimovich’s two goals, including an empty-netter, sealed the win for the Canucks.

With this split in the double-header, the Wranglers remain tied for first place in the Pacific Division with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, both at 66 points.