2024-25 Opening Weekend Recap & Upcoming Series Preview

by Kyle Kabacinski

As the Holiday season rolls in, the Western Professional Hockey League prepares for its weekend number two of 2024-25 exhibition play. Following a weekend series postponement, the California Grizzlies and Las Vegas Wranglers prepare to meet again for the second time of the year. The Grizzlies, who commanded authority and dominance in the first meeting, won both games by scores of 10-2 and 11-4 leaving the Wranglers hungry and ready to level up their record from 0-2 to 2-2 while Grizzlies look to double their winning streak from 2-0 to 4-0.

In match-ups decorated by highlight reel goals and tough physical play, the Grizzlies were lead by Player Coach Tyler Maxwell as well as captains Sean Reynolds on the front lines and Tyler Sybil on the defensive end. The trio scored a combined 10 goals and 14 assists collectively over the weekend, leading the Grizzlies to an opening series sweep. The Wranglers, who fell short of anticipated expectations, saw scoring come from Eamon, Anderson, Short and Zarzycki in their opening weekend losses.

It was a spirited battle starting out with the Grizzlies and Wranglers playing a very tight game. With a high-energy intensity coming out the gate, passion and emotions ran high as both teams came out with a bang of physical on-ice play complete with hard hits and a couple of fist de cuffs to round off the weekend's excitement. But it was not until until the 2nd periods in both games, did the Grizzlies begin to put distance between themselves and the Wranglers by running away with the scoring, thus putting the games out of reach for the Wranglers.

Players to watch this weekend include Tyler Maxwell, who previously played in the ECHL and Sean Reynolds, who previously played in the FPHL, from Grizzlies and active-duty marine/former college player, Jake Zarzycki of the Las Vegas Wranglers.

With the second meeting for the Grizzlies and Wranglers slated for the first weekend of December, the Wranglers look to take back the reigns on their win-loss record as they prepare for round 2 of battle out on the ice with the Grizzlies. Game times are set at 7:30pm in Orange County at Ice Realm, the California Grizzlies' official game and practice facility for the 2024-25 season, and all fans in attendance are encouraged to participate in the California Grizzlies 1st Annual Toy Drive by bringing donations of toys and gifts that will be distributed to local families throughout the California Grizzlies' homeward community.  

The quest for the Western Professional Hockey League's Pacific Cup continues next weekend and fans can purchase tickets by going to https://www.californiagrizzlieshockey.com/tickets