Amarillo, TX – The Amarillo Wranglers defeated the Colorado Grit at the Budweiser Bull Pen on Friday by the final score of 6-1. Nolan Gagnon scored twice as the Wranglers earned their 20th win of the season.
Connor McDonough got the start in goal for the Wranglers making his 30th appearance of the season. McDonough had a record of 16-6-4-2, a 2.44 GAA, a .907 save percentage, and 1 shutout on the campaign entering the game. Jack Erickson got the start between the pipes for Colorado, carrying a record of 6-12-1 on the year with a 3.74 GAA, an .876 save percentage and 1 shutout.
Wranglers defenseman Nolan Gagnon opened the scoring 9:02 into the first period for the 1-0 and his fourth goal of the season. Jack McDonald and Nick Troutwine picked up the assists on the goal. With 4:19 to go in the period, Trace Day fired a shot from the left circle past Erickson for his second goal of the season to put Amarillo up 2-0. Stepanek and DeMarco earned the assists on the goal. Just 20 seconds later, Colorado rallied back to cut into the Wranglers lead 2-1 with a goal from Duncan Shin. Nolan Shaw and Payton Miller were credited with the assists. Quickly, just 1:10 after the Shin goal, Kyle DeMarco ripped a shot from the left point past Erickson for his second goal of the season to restore the Wranglers 2 goal lead at 3-1.
In the second period, the Wranglers continued to pour it on offensively, as just 2:24 into the period Jack Ivey deflected a T.J. Richey shot for his 21st goal of the season to make it 4-1 Amarillo. Jack McDonald was credited with the secondary assist. Late in the period, Roman Zap tossed a bouncing puck towards the goal that snuck past Erickson for the score to put the Wranglers ahead 5-1 with 5:18 remaining in the second frame. Connor McNaughton and Drew Jeffers earned the assists. The Wranglers took the 5-1 lead into the second intermission leading the shot count 24-16.
The Wranglers added another goal to their total as Gagnon tallied his second goal of the night 1:58 into the third period during 4 on 4 action from McDonald and Zap to settle the score at 6-1. Connor McDonough stopped 32 of 33 shots faced in the victory as the Wranglers notched their 20th win of the season to improve to 20-10-5-2 on the campaign. Amarillo got multi-point efforts from Gagnon, Zap, and McDonald in the offensive explosion.
The Wranglers will look to continue their winning ways on Saturday during Youth Sports Night when they take on the Grit for the 5th straight game. You can get your tickets at panhandletickets.com. Watch on NATV or listen in on YouTube.