Las Vegas Wranglers
Encyclopedia
The Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey
team based in Las Vegas, Nevada
. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL
. The Wranglers were founded as an expansion franchise in 2003
following the East Coast Hockey League's takeover of the West Coast Hockey League
to form the ECHL.
The Wranglers have won held many accolades over their seven year span. They have the highest winning percentage in ECHL history and hold six other ECHL records. The Wranglers have made one appearance to the Kelly Cup
Finals
and have won the Brabham Cup
once and the Pacific Division title twice. Former Wranglers who have reached the National Hockey League
include Brent Krahn
, Adam Pardy
, Dany Sabourin
, Tyson Strachan
, and Tyler Sloan
. The Wranglers play their home games on the west side of the city at the Orleans Arena
, which opened in 2003.
The Wranglers had been the ECHL affiliate of the NHL
's Calgary Flames
since the team's inaugural season in 2003 until 2009 before announcing that they were switching their affiliation to the Phoenix Coyotes
for the 2009–10 ECHL season
.
The Wranglers have garnered many accolades from the local media, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal
naming the Wranglers "Best Local Sports Team" three times (2005, 2006, 2009) and head coach Glen Gulutzan
"Best Local Coach" (2007, 2009).
With the Las Vegas Thunder
of the International Hockey League folding following the 1998-99 IHL season, the West Coast Hockey League
announced their intentions to keep ice hockey in the Las Vegas Valley when they granted expansion rights to the city in 1999, with plans for the team to start competing in the 2000-01 WCHL season. The Wranglers team name and logo were announced shortly before what was supposed to be the franchise's inaugural season in 2000, but the team had to suspend their entrance into the WCHL for three seasons due to the lack of a suitable arena for the team to play in. Deciding to not miss out on another season, the Wranglers announced in October 2002 that they planned to play at the proposed Las Vegas Events Center in downtown Las Vegas and share the arena with the Community College of Southern Nevada's men's and women's basketball teams. The Events Center was to be paid for and operated by a non-profit organization that was supported by Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman
With no progress on the proposed Events Center, the franchise announced in September 2002 that they were moving to the Orleans Arena
that was under construction at The Orleans Hotel and Casino. The Orleans Arena became the home of the Wranglers beginning with the 2003-04 WCHL season. Later in September 2002, a planned merger between the WCHL and the East Coast Hockey League was announced that would have the WCHL's six active franchises and three expansion franchises (including the Wranglers) join the ECHL for the 2003-04 season.
On May 29, 2003, in place of owner Charles Davenport, IV, actor Ricky Schroder introduced former Fresno Falcons
player/coach Glen Gulutzan
as the franchise's first head coach and general manager. Within four months, Gulutzan came to terms with Calgary Flames
general manager Darryl Sutter
to make the Wranglers the ECHL affiliate of the Flames and Lowell Lock Monsters. The first two players that Gulutzan signed were brothers and former NHLers Jason
and Mike McBain
and added veteran ECHL goaltender Marc Magliarditi
shortly thereafter. Before the Wranglers inaugural season, Gulutzan named Jason McBain the franchise's first captain. The Wranglers started off their season going 9-1-3 in their first 13 games and they didn't lose a home game in regulation until a 1–0 loss to the San Diego Gulls
on December 27, 2003, going 13-1-1 at home over the stretch. The Wranglers finished their first season with a record of 43-22-7 (93 points), second in the Western Conference's Pacific Division (15 points behind Brabham Cup winner San Diego). The Wranglers faced the Idaho Steelheads
in the best-of-five Pacific Division Semifinals and despite overtaking Idaho in the first two games, the Steelheads won the remaining three games on their way to their first Kelly Cup championship.
Entering the 2004-05 season
, Gulutzan and the Wranglers were expected to compete again for the division crown, but instead the team suffered the worst season in franchise history. Due to the 2004-05 NHL Lockout
, local media believed that the team would be stronger as many Calgary Flames players decided to play for the team's affiliate in Lowell, sending multiple top prospects and former NHLers to the team including goaltender Sébastien Centomo
. The 2004-05 Wranglers ended up being more remembered for their lack of discipline as forward Adam Huxley set a team record for penalty minutes and Centomo became better known for fighting than stopping the puck. Wranglers fans showed their disdain through chants and signs that called for the dismissal of Gulutzan as head coach. The Wranglers finished the season a disappointing 31-33-8 (70 points) and seventh place in the West Division, failing to capture a playoff spot for the only time in franchise history.
, Wranglers captain Jason McBain announced his retirement and the team's captaincy was given to his brother Mike as the Wranglers looked to shake off the disappointing performance of their sophomore season. The Wranglers started the season on a rocket pace losing only four games in the first three months of the season. This included the Wranglers besting their home mark to start a season, as they did not lose at home in regulation until January 3, 2006, 3-2 to the Reading Royals
. Before the loss to Reading, the Wranglers had gone 12-0-2 during the time. Along with the 14-game unbeaten streak at home to start the season, the Wranglers also tied the league record for most consecutive road wins with ten from November 22, 2005 to December 31, 2005. One of the most memorable moments during the 2005-06 season came during the Wranglers' 5–2 November 8 win as head coach Glen Gulutzan challenged Fresno's head coach Matt Thomas to a fight because Fresno goons Brad Both and Fraser Clair instigated fights with Wranglers rookies Tim Hambly and Lee Green with 11 seconds left in the game. Several Wranglers set team records during the 2005-06 season, including goaltender Marc Magliarditi for most games played by a goaltender (51) and most wins by a goaltender (34). Centre Matt Dzieduszycki
set the team record for most points in a season with 78 and Dan Tudin set team records for highest plus/minus with +38, shots on goal with 256 and shorthanded goals with seven.
The Wranglers ended the season with their best record at 53-13-6 (112 points), only one point behind the Alaska Aces for the West Division title and the Henry Brabham Cup. The 53 wins in 2005-06 were the most in franchise history and the 20-win turnaround led to head coach Glen Gulutzan being awarded the John Brophy Award as the league's top coach. The Wranglers would take on the Idaho Steelheads in the best-of-seven West Division semifinals. The Wranglers found themselves trailing Idaho three games to one, but pulled off what only one other team in the ECHL's history were able to do, winning the best-of-seven series after trailing 3-1. The Wranglers faced the Alaska Aces in the West Division finals, ultimately falling in six games.
Seeking to improve on a great year, the Wranglers were placed in the National Conference's Pacific Division following a league wide realignment. The Wranglers had their best chance to capture their first banner as they did not have to compete with Alaska or Idaho for the division title. The Wranglers had to begin the season without veterans goaltender Marc Magliarditi and Mike McBain but still had a good start, earning points in all of their first eight games, going 3-0-5. The Wranglers relied heavily on new goaltender Mike McKenna
and returning stars Shawn Limpright and Marco Peluso for leadership during the time in which the team lost its most veteran players. Magliarditi himself retired in the middle of the season, leaving as the franchise's career leader in minutes played (8517), games played by a goaltender (146), wins (83) and shutouts (7). Despite injuries and being left with only one player from the inaugural 2003-04 franchise, the Wranglers paced themselves to their first ever banner, winning the Pacific Division title on April 4, 2007 with a 4 – 2 victory on the road against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at Long Beach Arena . Three days later the Wranglers clinched the Brabham Cup title when they defeated the Stockton Thunder 2 – 1 on the last game of the season, just edging out heated rival, the Alaska Aces by one-point, reminiscent of the Brabham Cup race the two teams had just one year before.
The Wranglers finished the 2006-07 regular season with a 46-12-14 record (106 points) and set the league record for fewest road defeats in a single season with 5. Wranglers rookie goalie Mike McKenna would finish second in the race for the Reebok Goaltender of the Year award, finishing behind Adam Berkhoel
of the Dayton Bombers
, and set single season team records in shutouts (5) and lowest goals against average (2.21). The Wranglers also entered the Kelly Cup playoffs on a 13-game winning streak when they took on the 8th-seeded Phoenix RoadRunners
in the National Conference quarterfinals. The Wranglers swept the 'Runners in four games and take on the Idaho Steelheads in the National Conference semifinals. The Wranglers won game one of the series to extend their league record winning streak to 18 games, tying the 1991 Peoria Rivermen
of the International Hockey League for the longest winning streak in professional hockey history. The streak ended in game two and Idaho eventually took the series in six games on the way to their second Kelly Cup title in four years.
As the Wranglers were set to begin their fifth season in the ECHL many changes had come around the team. After coming out of nowhere to fill in for Wranglers legend Marc Magliarditi, Mike McKenna left Las Vegas, signing with the Portland Pirates
of the AHL and Mike McBain was not expected to play much of the season before he retired. In turn, Gulutzan signed rookie goaltenders Daniel Manzato and Kevin LaLande, as well as signing twins and former NHLers Chris
and Peter Ferraro
. Two games into the season, Mike McBain announced his retirement and Peter Ferraro was named as his replacement as captain. Despite having two untested goaltenders and a team that didn't have a single original Wrangler, the team shot out of a cannon during the early part of the season, going 15-2-0 after two months into the season. By mid-season, the Wranglers were comfortably settled into first place in the Pacific Division and coach Gulutzan was named head coach of the National Conference All-Stars for the third straight year, tying the league record for most appearances at the ECHL All-Star Game by a coach. The Wranglers clinched their second straight Pacific Division crown and National Conference regular season championship on March 26, 2008 with a 3 – 2 overtime victory on the road against the Utah Grizzlies. The win also made the Wranglers the first team in ECHL history to have three consecutive seasons with at least 100 points.
The Wranglers would finish the season 46-13-12 (106 points) good enough for first place in the Pacific Division and the number one overall seed in the National Conference playoffs. Right Winger Peter Ferraro would set the team's single season goal mark with 36. The Wranglers would take on the Stockton Thunder
in the National Conference quarterfinals in a series that was tighter than expected. Stockton had played the entire season with most of their players being called up to the Springfield Falcons
of the AHL or were reassigned by Stockton's parent club, the Edmonton Oilers
and barely limped into the final playoff spot in the National Conference. At the beginning of the series most of the players that had been called up by Springfield or Edmonton were returned to the team with high level experience and pushed the Wranglers to the edge, but Las Vegas was able to recover and take the series in six games. The Wranglers next opponent would be their heated rival, the Alaska Aces in the National Conference semifinals. The Wranglers set the tone for the series, throttling Alaska 8 – 0 in game one of the series. Alaska was unable to recover and the Wranglers would take the series in five games. With only four wins away from the Kelly Cup finals, Las Vegas took on the cinderella
6th-seed Utah Grizzlies. Utah proved tough for Las Vegas, taking the Wranglers to overtime in games two and three, before falling to the Wranglers in a four-game sweep as Las Vegas won its first Bruce Taylor Trophy as the National Conference playoff champions. The Wranglers would meet 2007-08 Brabham Cup champion Cincinnati Cyclones
in the Kelly Cup finals. The two teams proved formidable opponents as the split the first four games, before Cincinnati stole momentum defeating the Wranglers in Las Vegas in Game 5 and ultimately taking the Kelly Cup in six games.
Following their successful 2007-08 campaign, the Wranglers were forced to rebuild again as the team was only able to resign nine players from the previous team. At the beginning of the season, former Wranglers captain and defenceman Mike McBain was named as the team's assistant coach, filling in for former assistant Brent Bilodeau
who left the team after three seasons to become head coach of the Wichita Thunder
of the Central Hockey League
. The 2008-09 team was crippled by injuries and inexperienced players. Despite this and the sudden folding of division rival Fresno
, the Wranglers were able to produce a competitive team that finished 34-31-8 (76 points; .521 win %) and mere percentage points behind division champion, Ontario
. The Wranglers reached a new level of intensity in their rivalry with the Alaska Aces during the second period of their game on March 25, 2009 in Las Vegas. Alaska's Matt Stefanishion
collided with Las Vegas' Chris Ferraro, breaking Ferraro's leg and effectively ending his season and possibly his career. Ferraro's twin brother, Peter became enraged and started a brawl that would involve nine players. During the melee, Peter Ferraro received a game misconduct penalty for spearing, as did Las Vegas' Tim Spencer for kicking which he did not do. In the aftermath, the Aces were given a five minute 5-on-3 power play
in which they scored three times before the teams were at even strength. A few days after the game, the ECHL suspended Peter Ferraro for the rest of the regular season and the entirety of the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs
for his actions during the game which included the spearing incident and was released by the team a week later. Wranglers career scoring leader, Shawn Limpright, was named the captain for the rest of the season.
The Wranglers would enter the playoffs at the 2nd seed in the Pacific Division and take on the 3rd seed Bakersfield Condors
in the best-of-seven Pacific Division semifinals. The Wranglers and Condors would trade blows in the first four games, before Bakersfield took a 3 games to 2 lead heading back for games 6 and 7 in Las Vegas. The Wranglers would outscore Bakersfield 8–2 in the last two games to take the series in seven games. The Wranglers would head to the Pacific Division finals to face the division's 4th-seed Stockton Thunder
, who were coached by Gulutzan's rival Matt Thomas to an upset of division champion Ontario. As with the previous series with Bakersfield, the first four games were split by the two teams and Las Vegas took a 3 to 2 games lead heading back to Las Vegas. Stockton extended the series to a seventh game by defeating the Wranglers 3 – 1, but the Wranglers finished off the Thunder in game 7, 5 –1. For the second straight year the Wranglers had reached the National Conference finals, but this time they were to take on the National Conference regular season champion Alaska Aces. Exhausted and injured from two straight seven game series, the Wranglers were unable to retain the Bruce Taylor Trophy, being swept by Alaska in four games.
of the AHL. For the first time in seven years, Wranglers owner Charles Davenport was forced to look for a head coach, but stated that Gulutzan's move to the AHL was "long overdue." Gulutzan had been offered assistant coaching jobs in the AHL for the past few years, but the offer to coach Texas was his first head coaching offer in the AHL. Gulutzan said he would make some recommendations to help Davenport’s search. On June 25, 2009, former Stockton Thunder assistant coach, Ryan Mougenel
was named the second head coach in franchise history.
On July 15, 2009 the Wranglers announced that they had hired former NHL All-Star Keith Primeau
to take over as the team's director of player development as well as being a special assistant to the General Manager. Primeau, who played in fifteen NHL seasons, runs the Durham Hockey Institute in Toronto with Wranglers head coach and general manager Ryan Mougenel and Keith's brother Wayne
and the trio are also the owners of the Whitby Fury of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The 2009–10 season was a roller coaster for the Wranglers. Many veteran players left the team as co-owners Charles Davenport and Jonathan Fleisig cut payrolls in order to save during the recession. Mougenel in turn went with a very youthful team, most of which had little to no professional experience, due to the low budget he was given. The team operated with the league's lowest payroll during the 2009-10 season, spending $10,300 per week compared to the ECHL's weekly salary cap of $11,800
Near the end of 2009, Davenport sold his ownership rights to Fleisig, who assumed full ownership of the team. The team became more consistent following the All-Star break
, going 28-18-7 after starting the season 6-12-1 and moving from last place in the National Conference, to finish in 2nd place in the Pacific Division. Las Vegas would fall to the Utah Grizzlies
in the National Conference Quarterfinals
in five games, after taking a 2 games to 1 lead, failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs since their inaugural season.
In mid-April 2010, Felisig reached an agreement with an unidentified buyer who plans to keep the team in Las Vegas. ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna confirmed that the team would return for an eighth season in Las Vegas, but couldn't comment further until the transfer of ownership was completed. Mougenel stated that the new owners were "great people" and that "they're real committed to the team." Team president Billy Johnson stated that the team was hoping to make a formal announcement of the transfer by the end of April or the first week of May 2010.
In mid-June 2010, the ECHL Board of Governors gave unanimous approval for the transfer of ownership from Fleisig to Wranglers Hockey LLC led by Gary Jacobs, a real estate developer from San Diego who is also managing owner of the Lake Elsinore Storm
minor league baseball team.
Mougenel announced in late September 2011 that the Wranglers would play as an independent team (i.e., unaffiliated with any NHL/AHL teams) for the 2011–12 ECHL season.
hat night and even a give away of orange vests that said "Don't Shoot...I'm Human!" during a game on March 17, 2006, a joke on the Dick Cheney hunting incident
. Their 2011/12 home opener is currently scheduled to have a promotion for "Rapture Day", as this game coincides with the Rapture prediction of Oakland radio host Harold Camping
.
The Wranglers previous home jersey, which was used from 2003–07, was white with a previously unreleased Wranglers logo on the chest and is trimmed with black and red on the sleeves and waist.
As of the second half of the 2009-2010 season, The Las Vegas Wranglers have again started wearing the Red Alternate and Black Alternate Jerseys at home.
In December 2010 the team wore a Christmas themed Santa Jersey which was featured as the number 22 worst jersey in an article in the Vancouver Sun. The team also had Rod Blagojevich Night where the Wranglers wore a striped prison themed jersey with their opponents the Bakersfield Condors, wearing an orange jumpsuit and referees wearing a blue police guard uniform.
and making appearances with players at local elementary schools. The Duke has attended three ECHL All-Star Games as the league's favorite mascot.
s and three Kelly Cup Finals appearances. The Alaska Aces rivalry began during the 2005–06 season in which the Wranglers fell one point behind the Aces for the West Division and Brabham Cup titles. The Aces would also eliminate the Wranglers in six games in the 2006 West Division Finals on way to their first Kelly Cup
. The Wranglers would return the favor in 2008 National Conference Semifinals by defeating the Aces in five games on way to their appearance in the Kelly Cup Finals. The Aces and Wranglers met for the third time in the playoffs in the 2009 National Conference Finals, with the Aces sweeping the Wranglers in four games.
The Aces-Wranglers rivalry has quickly become one of the biggest for both teams and for the league itself. Three games are usually played in four days (usually Wednesday, Friday and Saturday), allowing for many Aces fans to come to Las Vegas for a hockey weekend. The rivalry has known to become quite violent as the case of a game in March 2009. During the second period of Aces-Wranglers game on March 25, 2009 in Las Vegas, when Alaska's Matt Stefanishion
collided with Las Vegas' Chris Ferraro
, breaking Ferraro's leg and effectively ending his season and possibly his career. Ferraro's twin brother, Peter
became enraged and started a brawl that would involve nine players. During the melee, Peter Ferraro received a game misconduct penalty for spearing, as did Las Vegas' Tim Spencer for kicking. In the aftermath, the Aces were given a five minute 5-on-3 power play in which they scored three times before the teams were at even strength. A few days after the game, the ECHL suspended Peter Ferraro for the rest of the regular season and the entirety of the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs for his actions during the game which included the spearing incident
The Aces-Wranglers rivalry ignited further, early in the 2009-10 campaign. During a three game series in the second week of the season, Alaska and Las Vegas totaled 93 penalties for 296 penalty minutes, including seven game misconducts. In the final game of the series, an Alaska player plowed through Wranglers goaltender Michael Ouzas on three separate occasions, sparking a multiple skirmishes after each incident.
, Idaho Steelheads
, Ontario Reign
, Stockton Thunder
and Utah Grizzlies
. The longest of the rivalries is with the Utah Grizzlies, which started between the Las Vegas Thunder
and the Utah Grizzlies
in the International Hockey League and came to its highest point during 1996 IHL Western Conference Finals.
The Wranglers and the Steelheads have had a constant rivalry that has centered around the playoffs. The Wranglers have met the Steelheads in all three of their playoff appearances. The rivalries with the Condors started off very softly during the Wranglers inaugural season but has become more heated since the Wranglers move into the Pacific Division during the 2006–07 season.
With the Texas Wildcatters
relocating to Ontario, CA
, the Wranglers saw themselves with their newest rival in the form of the Ontario Reign. The Reign, are affiliated with the Los Angeles Kings
who have a heavy fan base in the Las Vegas metropolitan area
as Las Vegas is a part of the Los Angeles sports market. In 2009, Ontario became the first team other than the Wranglers to win the Pacific Division title since Las Vegas returned to the division in 2006.
, Long Beach Ice Dogs, Phoenix RoadRunners
, San Diego Gulls and Toledo Storm
. The rivalry with Long Beach, Phoenix and San Diego came from the time that the teams were members of the IHL and made numerous playoff appearances against each other, while the rivalry with Toledo was based upon the large population of Las Vegas residents from Toledo, OH
(the Walleye and Wranglers are in opposite conferences, and are not scheduled to play each other) and the rivalry with Fresno came from the two team's normal positioning near the top of the division standings.
, Stand Up
, Ready Steady Go
, ...To Be Loved
, Crash
. When the team makes the playoffs, the song that was used in the regular season is usually changed. Songs that have represented the playoffs have included: The Hand That Feeds
and Lights and Sounds
. During the regular season the Wranglers used Ain't Nothing Wrong With That
by Robert Randolph and the Family Band and The Pretender by the Foo Fighters
as their theme song. For the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Wranglers used Give It All
by Rise Against
. Currently the Wranglers are using Hell Yeah
by Rev Theory
as their theme song.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Overtime/shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Records as of end of the 2010-11 ECHL season.
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; * = current Wranglers player
(2003–04), Chris Ferraro
(2007–09), Peter Ferraro
(2007–09), Adam Pardy
(2005–06), Dany Sabourin
(2003–04), Tyler Sloan
(2005–06) and Billy Tibbetts
(2004–05). Former Wranglers that would finish their careers with the Wranglers include Marc "Mags" Magliarditi
(2003–07), Jason McBain
(2003–05) and Mike McBain
(2003–08).
ECHL regular season champion
Bruce Taylor Trophy
National Conference playoff champion
Pacific Division titles
John Brophy Award
ECHL Coach of the year
All-ECHL Second Team
Excellence in Media Relations
Ticket Department of the Year
Ticket Executive of the Year
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Las Vegas, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
. The Wranglers were founded as an expansion franchise in 2003
2003-04 ECHL season
The 2003-04 ECHL season was the 16th season of the ECHL. This season brought a major change in the ECHL as the ECHL Board of Governors approved membership applications from the Anchorage Aces, the Bakersfield Condors, the Fresno Falcons, the Idaho Steelheads, the Las Vegas Wranglers, the Long...
following the East Coast Hockey League's takeover of the West Coast Hockey League
West Coast Hockey League
The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington...
to form the ECHL.
The Wranglers have won held many accolades over their seven year span. They have the highest winning percentage in ECHL history and hold six other ECHL records. The Wranglers have made one appearance to the Kelly Cup
Kelly Cup
The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning...
Finals
2007-08 ECHL season
The 2007–08 ECHL season was the 20th season of the ECHL.Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006–07 season, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Toledo Storm...
and have won the Brabham Cup
Brabham Cup
The Henry Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually by the ECHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season...
once and the Pacific Division title twice. Former Wranglers who have reached the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
include Brent Krahn
Brent Krahn
Brent Krahn is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted ninth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and is currently a member of the Dallas Stars organization of the NHL....
, Adam Pardy
Adam Pardy
Adam Pardy is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League . He was a sixth round selection of the Calgary Flames, 173rd overall, at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and played nearly 150 games in Calgary before joining the Stars as a free agent in 2011...
, Dany Sabourin
Dany Sabourin
Daniel Sabourin is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently under contract for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
, Tyson Strachan
Tyson Strachan
Tyson Strachan is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Florida Panthers. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth round, 137th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...
, and Tyler Sloan
Tyler Sloan
Tyler Sloan is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman in the Nashville Predators organization in the National Hockey League...
. The Wranglers play their home games on the west side of the city at the Orleans Arena
Orleans Arena
The Orleans Arena is a 9,500 seat multi-purpose arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is home to the Las Vegas Wranglers ice hockey team, Las Vegas Sin lingerie football team and was the home of the Las Vegas Gladiators arena football team in 2007, and is also an occasional home for the UNLV Rebels...
, which opened in 2003.
The Wranglers had been the ECHL affiliate of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
since the team's inaugural season in 2003 until 2009 before announcing that they were switching their affiliation to the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
for the 2009–10 ECHL season
2009–10 ECHL season
The 2009–10 ECHL season was the 22nd season of the ECHL. It ran from October, 2009 until April, 2010, followed by the Kelly Cup playoffs which lasted until May 21, 2010 as the Cincinnati Cyclones won their second Kelly Cup championship in three years by defeating the Idaho Steelheads in five games...
.
The Wranglers have garnered many accolades from the local media, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Las Vegas Review-Journal is published in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is the largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada, and one of two daily newspapers in Las Vegas . It is the flagship publication of Stephens Media LLC...
naming the Wranglers "Best Local Sports Team" three times (2005, 2006, 2009) and head coach Glen Gulutzan
Glen Gulutzan
Glen Gulutzan is the head coach of the NHL Dallas Stars.- Playing career :Gulutzan played junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League from 1986–92. After not playing competitive hockey for four seasons, Gulutzan signed with the...
"Best Local Coach" (2007, 2009).
Return of ice hockey to the desert
Las Vegas Thunder
The Las Vegas Thunder were an independent professional ice hockey team competing in the International Hockey League. The team's home rink was at the Thomas & Mack Center. They began play in the 1993–1994 season, folding on April 18, 1999...
of the International Hockey League folding following the 1998-99 IHL season, the West Coast Hockey League
West Coast Hockey League
The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington...
announced their intentions to keep ice hockey in the Las Vegas Valley when they granted expansion rights to the city in 1999, with plans for the team to start competing in the 2000-01 WCHL season. The Wranglers team name and logo were announced shortly before what was supposed to be the franchise's inaugural season in 2000, but the team had to suspend their entrance into the WCHL for three seasons due to the lack of a suitable arena for the team to play in. Deciding to not miss out on another season, the Wranglers announced in October 2002 that they planned to play at the proposed Las Vegas Events Center in downtown Las Vegas and share the arena with the Community College of Southern Nevada's men's and women's basketball teams. The Events Center was to be paid for and operated by a non-profit organization that was supported by Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman
Oscar Goodman
Oscar Baylin Goodman is an American lawyer and politician. He was the mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1999 to 2011. Mayor Goodman is an Independent and a former member of the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
With no progress on the proposed Events Center, the franchise announced in September 2002 that they were moving to the Orleans Arena
Orleans Arena
The Orleans Arena is a 9,500 seat multi-purpose arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is home to the Las Vegas Wranglers ice hockey team, Las Vegas Sin lingerie football team and was the home of the Las Vegas Gladiators arena football team in 2007, and is also an occasional home for the UNLV Rebels...
that was under construction at The Orleans Hotel and Casino. The Orleans Arena became the home of the Wranglers beginning with the 2003-04 WCHL season. Later in September 2002, a planned merger between the WCHL and the East Coast Hockey League was announced that would have the WCHL's six active franchises and three expansion franchises (including the Wranglers) join the ECHL for the 2003-04 season.
Early years
Fresno Falcons
The Fresno Falcons are a defunct minor league hockey team. They were once members of the ECHL . They were located in Fresno, California.-Early history:...
player/coach Glen Gulutzan
Glen Gulutzan
Glen Gulutzan is the head coach of the NHL Dallas Stars.- Playing career :Gulutzan played junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League from 1986–92. After not playing competitive hockey for four seasons, Gulutzan signed with the...
as the franchise's first head coach and general manager. Within four months, Gulutzan came to terms with Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
general manager Darryl Sutter
Darryl Sutter
Darryl John Sutter is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward and coach, and former general manager of the Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League...
to make the Wranglers the ECHL affiliate of the Flames and Lowell Lock Monsters. The first two players that Gulutzan signed were brothers and former NHLers Jason
Jason McBain
Jason D. McBain is a former ice hockey defenceman. He was born in Ilion, New York and raised in Kimberley, British Columbia....
and Mike McBain
Mike McBain
Michael McBain is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 64 games in the National Hockey League, with the Tampa Bay Lightning....
and added veteran ECHL goaltender Marc Magliarditi
Marc Magliarditi
Marc "Mags" Magliarditi is a retired American ice hockey goaltender who most recently played for the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. After playing for Western Michigan University of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association for one year, he was drafted in the sixth round, 146th overall, by the...
shortly thereafter. Before the Wranglers inaugural season, Gulutzan named Jason McBain the franchise's first captain. The Wranglers started off their season going 9-1-3 in their first 13 games and they didn't lose a home game in regulation until a 1–0 loss to the San Diego Gulls
San Diego Gulls (1995-2006)
The third San Diego Gulls team was founded in 1995 immediately upon departure of the IHL team. The new Gulls were a part of the West Coast Hockey League. The Gulls played at the San Diego Sports Arena, formerly known as the "iPayOne Center."-History:...
on December 27, 2003, going 13-1-1 at home over the stretch. The Wranglers finished their first season with a record of 43-22-7 (93 points), second in the Western Conference's Pacific Division (15 points behind Brabham Cup winner San Diego). The Wranglers faced the Idaho Steelheads
Idaho Steelheads
The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003....
in the best-of-five Pacific Division Semifinals and despite overtaking Idaho in the first two games, the Steelheads won the remaining three games on their way to their first Kelly Cup championship.
Entering the 2004-05 season
2004-05 ECHL season
The 2004-05 ECHL season was the 17th season of the ECHL. This season marked uncharted territory for the ECHL as they established their first Canadian franchise, the Victoria Salmon Kings....
, Gulutzan and the Wranglers were expected to compete again for the division crown, but instead the team suffered the worst season in franchise history. Due to the 2004-05 NHL Lockout
2004-05 NHL lockout
The 2004–05 NHL lockout was a lockout that resulted in the cancellation of what would have been the 88th season of play of the National Hockey League . It was the first time the Stanley Cup was not awarded since 1919, and the first time a major professional sports league in North America canceled a...
, local media believed that the team would be stronger as many Calgary Flames players decided to play for the team's affiliate in Lowell, sending multiple top prospects and former NHLers to the team including goaltender Sébastien Centomo
Sebastien Centomo
Sébastien Centomo is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League. He played one game in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2001–02 season.-Regular season:-Playoffs:-External links:...
. The 2004-05 Wranglers ended up being more remembered for their lack of discipline as forward Adam Huxley set a team record for penalty minutes and Centomo became better known for fighting than stopping the puck. Wranglers fans showed their disdain through chants and signs that called for the dismissal of Gulutzan as head coach. The Wranglers finished the season a disappointing 31-33-8 (70 points) and seventh place in the West Division, failing to capture a playoff spot for the only time in franchise history.
Rise to prominence
Before the 2005-06 season2005-06 ECHL season
The 2005–06 ECHL season is the 18th season of the East Coast Hockey League, ECHL, a professional ice-hockey league based in the United States. The season ran from late October, 2005 to early June, 2006...
, Wranglers captain Jason McBain announced his retirement and the team's captaincy was given to his brother Mike as the Wranglers looked to shake off the disappointing performance of their sophomore season. The Wranglers started the season on a rocket pace losing only four games in the first three months of the season. This included the Wranglers besting their home mark to start a season, as they did not lose at home in regulation until January 3, 2006, 3-2 to the Reading Royals
Reading Royals
The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Sovereign Center located in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania...
. Before the loss to Reading, the Wranglers had gone 12-0-2 during the time. Along with the 14-game unbeaten streak at home to start the season, the Wranglers also tied the league record for most consecutive road wins with ten from November 22, 2005 to December 31, 2005. One of the most memorable moments during the 2005-06 season came during the Wranglers' 5–2 November 8 win as head coach Glen Gulutzan challenged Fresno's head coach Matt Thomas to a fight because Fresno goons Brad Both and Fraser Clair instigated fights with Wranglers rookies Tim Hambly and Lee Green with 11 seconds left in the game. Several Wranglers set team records during the 2005-06 season, including goaltender Marc Magliarditi for most games played by a goaltender (51) and most wins by a goaltender (34). Centre Matt Dzieduszycki
Matt Dzieduszycki
Matt Dzieduszycki is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.-Playing career:...
set the team record for most points in a season with 78 and Dan Tudin set team records for highest plus/minus with +38, shots on goal with 256 and shorthanded goals with seven.
The Wranglers ended the season with their best record at 53-13-6 (112 points), only one point behind the Alaska Aces for the West Division title and the Henry Brabham Cup. The 53 wins in 2005-06 were the most in franchise history and the 20-win turnaround led to head coach Glen Gulutzan being awarded the John Brophy Award as the league's top coach. The Wranglers would take on the Idaho Steelheads in the best-of-seven West Division semifinals. The Wranglers found themselves trailing Idaho three games to one, but pulled off what only one other team in the ECHL's history were able to do, winning the best-of-seven series after trailing 3-1. The Wranglers faced the Alaska Aces in the West Division finals, ultimately falling in six games.
Seeking to improve on a great year, the Wranglers were placed in the National Conference's Pacific Division following a league wide realignment. The Wranglers had their best chance to capture their first banner as they did not have to compete with Alaska or Idaho for the division title. The Wranglers had to begin the season without veterans goaltender Marc Magliarditi and Mike McBain but still had a good start, earning points in all of their first eight games, going 3-0-5. The Wranglers relied heavily on new goaltender Mike McKenna
Mike McKenna (ice hockey)
Mike McKenna is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently a member of the NHL's Ottawa Senators organization. McKenna previously played for the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning and their minor league affiliates.-Playing career:McKenna played his college hockey...
and returning stars Shawn Limpright and Marco Peluso for leadership during the time in which the team lost its most veteran players. Magliarditi himself retired in the middle of the season, leaving as the franchise's career leader in minutes played (8517), games played by a goaltender (146), wins (83) and shutouts (7). Despite injuries and being left with only one player from the inaugural 2003-04 franchise, the Wranglers paced themselves to their first ever banner, winning the Pacific Division title on April 4, 2007 with a 4 – 2 victory on the road against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at Long Beach Arena . Three days later the Wranglers clinched the Brabham Cup title when they defeated the Stockton Thunder 2 – 1 on the last game of the season, just edging out heated rival, the Alaska Aces by one-point, reminiscent of the Brabham Cup race the two teams had just one year before.
The Wranglers finished the 2006-07 regular season with a 46-12-14 record (106 points) and set the league record for fewest road defeats in a single season with 5. Wranglers rookie goalie Mike McKenna would finish second in the race for the Reebok Goaltender of the Year award, finishing behind Adam Berkhoel
Adam Berkhoel
Adam Berkhoel is a retired ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted 240th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.-Playing career:...
of the Dayton Bombers
Dayton Bombers
The Dayton Bombers were an ECHL ice hockey team located in Dayton, Ohio. The team most recently was in the North Division of the ECHL's American Conference....
, and set single season team records in shutouts (5) and lowest goals against average (2.21). The Wranglers also entered the Kelly Cup playoffs on a 13-game winning streak when they took on the 8th-seeded Phoenix RoadRunners
Phoenix RoadRunners
The Phoenix RoadRunners were a minor league ice hockey team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They played in the ECHL, beginning in the 2005–2006 season and ceasing operations at the end of the 2008-2009 season...
in the National Conference quarterfinals. The Wranglers swept the 'Runners in four games and take on the Idaho Steelheads in the National Conference semifinals. The Wranglers won game one of the series to extend their league record winning streak to 18 games, tying the 1991 Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen (IHL)
The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena....
of the International Hockey League for the longest winning streak in professional hockey history. The streak ended in game two and Idaho eventually took the series in six games on the way to their second Kelly Cup title in four years.
5 years in Las Vegas, the Kelly Cup Finals and after
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
of the AHL and Mike McBain was not expected to play much of the season before he retired. In turn, Gulutzan signed rookie goaltenders Daniel Manzato and Kevin LaLande, as well as signing twins and former NHLers Chris
Chris Ferraro
Chris Ferraro is an American retired ice hockey player who formerly played in the National Hockey League. Along with his twin brother, Peter, became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team: the New York Rangers in the 1995–96 season.-Playing career:Chris Ferraro was the...
and Peter Ferraro
Peter Ferraro
Peter Joseph Ferraro is a former NHL hockey player who, along with his twin brother Chris became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team, in the 1995–1996 NHL hockey season...
. Two games into the season, Mike McBain announced his retirement and Peter Ferraro was named as his replacement as captain. Despite having two untested goaltenders and a team that didn't have a single original Wrangler, the team shot out of a cannon during the early part of the season, going 15-2-0 after two months into the season. By mid-season, the Wranglers were comfortably settled into first place in the Pacific Division and coach Gulutzan was named head coach of the National Conference All-Stars for the third straight year, tying the league record for most appearances at the ECHL All-Star Game by a coach. The Wranglers clinched their second straight Pacific Division crown and National Conference regular season championship on March 26, 2008 with a 3 – 2 overtime victory on the road against the Utah Grizzlies. The win also made the Wranglers the first team in ECHL history to have three consecutive seasons with at least 100 points.
The Wranglers would finish the season 46-13-12 (106 points) good enough for first place in the Pacific Division and the number one overall seed in the National Conference playoffs. Right Winger Peter Ferraro would set the team's single season goal mark with 36. The Wranglers would take on the Stockton Thunder
Stockton Thunder
The Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans...
in the National Conference quarterfinals in a series that was tighter than expected. Stockton had played the entire season with most of their players being called up to the Springfield Falcons
Springfield Falcons
The Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the...
of the AHL or were reassigned by Stockton's parent club, the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
and barely limped into the final playoff spot in the National Conference. At the beginning of the series most of the players that had been called up by Springfield or Edmonton were returned to the team with high level experience and pushed the Wranglers to the edge, but Las Vegas was able to recover and take the series in six games. The Wranglers next opponent would be their heated rival, the Alaska Aces in the National Conference semifinals. The Wranglers set the tone for the series, throttling Alaska 8 – 0 in game one of the series. Alaska was unable to recover and the Wranglers would take the series in five games. With only four wins away from the Kelly Cup finals, Las Vegas took on the cinderella
Cinderella (sports)
In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
6th-seed Utah Grizzlies. Utah proved tough for Las Vegas, taking the Wranglers to overtime in games two and three, before falling to the Wranglers in a four-game sweep as Las Vegas won its first Bruce Taylor Trophy as the National Conference playoff champions. The Wranglers would meet 2007-08 Brabham Cup champion Cincinnati Cyclones
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
in the Kelly Cup finals. The two teams proved formidable opponents as the split the first four games, before Cincinnati stole momentum defeating the Wranglers in Las Vegas in Game 5 and ultimately taking the Kelly Cup in six games.
Brent Bilodeau
Brent Bilodeau is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenseman. He was drafted in the first round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens while a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League....
who left the team after three seasons to become head coach of the Wichita Thunder
Wichita Thunder
The Wichita Thunder are a minor league hockey team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team plays in the Central Hockey League. From 1992 until January 2010 the Thunder played in the Britt Brown Arena located in the northern Wichita suburb of Park City...
of the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
. The 2008-09 team was crippled by injuries and inexperienced players. Despite this and the sudden folding of division rival Fresno
Fresno Falcons
The Fresno Falcons are a defunct minor league hockey team. They were once members of the ECHL . They were located in Fresno, California.-Early history:...
, the Wranglers were able to produce a competitive team that finished 34-31-8 (76 points; .521 win %) and mere percentage points behind division champion, Ontario
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:...
. The Wranglers reached a new level of intensity in their rivalry with the Alaska Aces during the second period of their game on March 25, 2009 in Las Vegas. Alaska's Matt Stefanishion
Matt Stefanishion
Matt Stefanishion is a Canadian professional ice hockey right wing. He was not selected in the NHL Entry Draft; however, he was signed to a two-year contract by the Washington Capitals on April 1, 2006....
collided with Las Vegas' Chris Ferraro, breaking Ferraro's leg and effectively ending his season and possibly his career. Ferraro's twin brother, Peter became enraged and started a brawl that would involve nine players. During the melee, Peter Ferraro received a game misconduct penalty for spearing, as did Las Vegas' Tim Spencer for kicking which he did not do. In the aftermath, the Aces were given a five minute 5-on-3 power play
Power play (sport)
"Power play" is a sporting term used in various games.*In ice hockey, a team is said to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice...
in which they scored three times before the teams were at even strength. A few days after the game, the ECHL suspended Peter Ferraro for the rest of the regular season and the entirety of the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs
2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs
The 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs of the ECHL began on April 9, 2009. The 16 teams that qualified, eight from each conference, will play a best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions will play a best-of-7 series for the Kelly Cup.Three league records...
for his actions during the game which included the spearing incident and was released by the team a week later. Wranglers career scoring leader, Shawn Limpright, was named the captain for the rest of the season.
The Wranglers would enter the playoffs at the 2nd seed in the Pacific Division and take on the 3rd seed Bakersfield Condors
Bakersfield Condors
The Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League...
in the best-of-seven Pacific Division semifinals. The Wranglers and Condors would trade blows in the first four games, before Bakersfield took a 3 games to 2 lead heading back for games 6 and 7 in Las Vegas. The Wranglers would outscore Bakersfield 8–2 in the last two games to take the series in seven games. The Wranglers would head to the Pacific Division finals to face the division's 4th-seed Stockton Thunder
Stockton Thunder
The Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans...
, who were coached by Gulutzan's rival Matt Thomas to an upset of division champion Ontario. As with the previous series with Bakersfield, the first four games were split by the two teams and Las Vegas took a 3 to 2 games lead heading back to Las Vegas. Stockton extended the series to a seventh game by defeating the Wranglers 3 – 1, but the Wranglers finished off the Thunder in game 7, 5 –1. For the second straight year the Wranglers had reached the National Conference finals, but this time they were to take on the National Conference regular season champion Alaska Aces. Exhausted and injured from two straight seven game series, the Wranglers were unable to retain the Bruce Taylor Trophy, being swept by Alaska in four games.
Gulutzan leaves, Mougenel enters
Following an unlikely return to the National Conference finals, the first head coach and general manager of the Las Vegas Wranglers, Glen Gulutzan, left the team to become the head coach of the expansion Texas StarsTexas Stars
The Texas Stars are an American Hockey League team. They play in Cedar Park, Texas, near Austin.The team is the top affiliate of the NHL Dallas Stars. In April 2008, the Iowa Stars announced that they would no longer affiliate with the Dallas Stars, and changed the team's name to Chops for the...
of the AHL. For the first time in seven years, Wranglers owner Charles Davenport was forced to look for a head coach, but stated that Gulutzan's move to the AHL was "long overdue." Gulutzan had been offered assistant coaching jobs in the AHL for the past few years, but the offer to coach Texas was his first head coaching offer in the AHL. Gulutzan said he would make some recommendations to help Davenport’s search. On June 25, 2009, former Stockton Thunder assistant coach, Ryan Mougenel
Ryan Mougenel
Ryan Mougenel is a former professional ice hockey right winger. Currently, he is the head coach and general manager of the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL...
was named the second head coach in franchise history.
On July 15, 2009 the Wranglers announced that they had hired former NHL All-Star Keith Primeau
Keith Primeau
Keith Primeau is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers...
to take over as the team's director of player development as well as being a special assistant to the General Manager. Primeau, who played in fifteen NHL seasons, runs the Durham Hockey Institute in Toronto with Wranglers head coach and general manager Ryan Mougenel and Keith's brother Wayne
Wayne Primeau
Wayne Michael Primeau is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently a free agent. He is the younger brother of Keith Primeau...
and the trio are also the owners of the Whitby Fury of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The 2009–10 season was a roller coaster for the Wranglers. Many veteran players left the team as co-owners Charles Davenport and Jonathan Fleisig cut payrolls in order to save during the recession. Mougenel in turn went with a very youthful team, most of which had little to no professional experience, due to the low budget he was given. The team operated with the league's lowest payroll during the 2009-10 season, spending $10,300 per week compared to the ECHL's weekly salary cap of $11,800
Near the end of 2009, Davenport sold his ownership rights to Fleisig, who assumed full ownership of the team. The team became more consistent following the All-Star break
2010 ECHL All-Star Game
The 2010 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Reebok was the held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, United States, home of the Ontario Reign. The game will be held between two teams, each representing a conference of the ECHL.The game was part of a two day event of activities...
, going 28-18-7 after starting the season 6-12-1 and moving from last place in the National Conference, to finish in 2nd place in the Pacific Division. Las Vegas would fall to the Utah Grizzlies
Utah Grizzlies
The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
in the National Conference Quarterfinals
2010 Kelly Cup playoffs
The 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs of the ECHL began April 5, 2010. 15 teams qualified, eight from the American Conference and seven from the National Conference. In the American conference, the winners of each of the three divisions plus the five teams with the highest point totals from the teams...
in five games, after taking a 2 games to 1 lead, failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs since their inaugural season.
In mid-April 2010, Felisig reached an agreement with an unidentified buyer who plans to keep the team in Las Vegas. ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna confirmed that the team would return for an eighth season in Las Vegas, but couldn't comment further until the transfer of ownership was completed. Mougenel stated that the new owners were "great people" and that "they're real committed to the team." Team president Billy Johnson stated that the team was hoping to make a formal announcement of the transfer by the end of April or the first week of May 2010.
In mid-June 2010, the ECHL Board of Governors gave unanimous approval for the transfer of ownership from Fleisig to Wranglers Hockey LLC led by Gary Jacobs, a real estate developer from San Diego who is also managing owner of the Lake Elsinore Storm
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
minor league baseball team.
Mougenel announced in late September 2011 that the Wranglers would play as an independent team (i.e., unaffiliated with any NHL/AHL teams) for the 2011–12 ECHL season.
Notable promotions
The Wranglers are the only team to hold a game that is played at midnight. The annual "Midnight Holiday Roundup" (the 'Holiday' part is so-called because it is held every December) was created so that Las Vegans who work during the usual game times (e.g. employees of the gaming industry), could watch a game. Other Wranglers promotions have included the traditional mulletMullet (haircut)
The mullet is a hairstyle that is short at the front and sides, and long in the back. . The mullet began to appear in popular media in the 1960s and 1970s but did not become generally well-known until the early 1980s...
hat night and even a give away of orange vests that said "Don't Shoot...I'm Human!" during a game on March 17, 2006, a joke on the Dick Cheney hunting incident
Dick Cheney hunting incident
The Dick Cheney hunting incident occurred on February 11, 2006, when then U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney shot Harry Whittington, a 78-year-old Texas attorney, while participating in a quail hunt on a ranch in Kenedy County, Texas...
. Their 2011/12 home opener is currently scheduled to have a promotion for "Rapture Day", as this game coincides with the Rapture prediction of Oakland radio host Harold Camping
Harold Camping
Harold Egbert Camping is an American Christian radio broadcaster. He served as president of Family Radio, a California-based radio station group that broadcasts to more than 150 markets in the United States, since 1958. In 2011 he retired from active broadcasting following a stroke, but still...
.
Logo
The Wranglers logo features a cowboy riding a bull and holding a hockey stick with Las Vegas Wranglers script below the bull. The cowboy and bull are both black and white and are outlined in silver. The script consists of "Las Vegas" in silver cursive, while "Wranglers" is in white with silver accents. Prior to the WCHL-ECHL merger, the Wranglers logo was an outline of a cowboy's face streaking to the left with a black cowboy hat and red and yellow outlines. A script underneath the logo featured "Las Vegas" in black above "Wranglers" in yellow with a red outline.Jerseys
The Wranglers current colors are black, red, white and silver and can be seen on both the home and road jerseys, which were adopted prior to the 2007-08 season. The black and white jerseys feature a crest with a poker chip logo on the front. The outer circle of the crest reads “Las Vegas Wranglers”, while the middle of the crest leaves room for the player’s individual jersey number and the sleeves sport the poker chip hockey puck logo. The team has two alternate jerseys which have been used since the team's inaugural season in 2003. The red alternate jersey, which had been the team's road jersey from 2003–07, has black shoulders and three black stripes, one across each arm and one across the waist and a crest on the front of the jersey that includes "Las Vegas" in white cursive over a poker chip/hockey puck logo. The second alternate is black with red shoulders and five red stripes, one across each elbow, one across each arm and one across the waist. The jersey also features red die along the bottom of the jersey and between the red stripes on each arm. The jersey's crest includes script that says "VEGAS" with each letter in an individual circle in front of a red hockey stick with the poker chip/hockey puck logo on the blade of the stick.The Wranglers previous home jersey, which was used from 2003–07, was white with a previously unreleased Wranglers logo on the chest and is trimmed with black and red on the sleeves and waist.
As of the second half of the 2009-2010 season, The Las Vegas Wranglers have again started wearing the Red Alternate and Black Alternate Jerseys at home.
In December 2010 the team wore a Christmas themed Santa Jersey which was featured as the number 22 worst jersey in an article in the Vancouver Sun. The team also had Rod Blagojevich Night where the Wranglers wore a striped prison themed jersey with their opponents the Bakersfield Condors, wearing an orange jumpsuit and referees wearing a blue police guard uniform.
Mascot
The Wranglers' current mascot is "The Duke", a 7 in 3 in (2.21 m) green bull that was based on the Philly Phanatic and has been the team's mascot since its inaugural season in 2003. The Duke keeps the crowd excited, signs autographs, participates in entertainment during intermissions and player introductions at the beginning of the game. The Duke is also a regular at other events around the city including races at the Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
and making appearances with players at local elementary schools. The Duke has attended three ECHL All-Star Games as the league's favorite mascot.
Alaska Aces
Possibly the Wranglers' strongest rivalry is with the Alaska Aces. The Aces and Wranglers are the two winningest franchises in ECHL history and the two have combined for six division titles, two Brabham CupBrabham Cup
The Henry Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually by the ECHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season...
s and three Kelly Cup Finals appearances. The Alaska Aces rivalry began during the 2005–06 season in which the Wranglers fell one point behind the Aces for the West Division and Brabham Cup titles. The Aces would also eliminate the Wranglers in six games in the 2006 West Division Finals on way to their first Kelly Cup
Kelly Cup
The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning...
. The Wranglers would return the favor in 2008 National Conference Semifinals by defeating the Aces in five games on way to their appearance in the Kelly Cup Finals. The Aces and Wranglers met for the third time in the playoffs in the 2009 National Conference Finals, with the Aces sweeping the Wranglers in four games.
The Aces-Wranglers rivalry has quickly become one of the biggest for both teams and for the league itself. Three games are usually played in four days (usually Wednesday, Friday and Saturday), allowing for many Aces fans to come to Las Vegas for a hockey weekend. The rivalry has known to become quite violent as the case of a game in March 2009. During the second period of Aces-Wranglers game on March 25, 2009 in Las Vegas, when Alaska's Matt Stefanishion
Matt Stefanishion
Matt Stefanishion is a Canadian professional ice hockey right wing. He was not selected in the NHL Entry Draft; however, he was signed to a two-year contract by the Washington Capitals on April 1, 2006....
collided with Las Vegas' Chris Ferraro
Chris Ferraro
Chris Ferraro is an American retired ice hockey player who formerly played in the National Hockey League. Along with his twin brother, Peter, became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team: the New York Rangers in the 1995–96 season.-Playing career:Chris Ferraro was the...
, breaking Ferraro's leg and effectively ending his season and possibly his career. Ferraro's twin brother, Peter
Peter Ferraro
Peter Joseph Ferraro is a former NHL hockey player who, along with his twin brother Chris became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team, in the 1995–1996 NHL hockey season...
became enraged and started a brawl that would involve nine players. During the melee, Peter Ferraro received a game misconduct penalty for spearing, as did Las Vegas' Tim Spencer for kicking. In the aftermath, the Aces were given a five minute 5-on-3 power play in which they scored three times before the teams were at even strength. A few days after the game, the ECHL suspended Peter Ferraro for the rest of the regular season and the entirety of the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs for his actions during the game which included the spearing incident
The Aces-Wranglers rivalry ignited further, early in the 2009-10 campaign. During a three game series in the second week of the season, Alaska and Las Vegas totaled 93 penalties for 296 penalty minutes, including seven game misconducts. In the final game of the series, an Alaska player plowed through Wranglers goaltender Michael Ouzas on three separate occasions, sparking a multiple skirmishes after each incident.
Other rivals
The Las Vegas Wranglers have many other significant rivalries which include those with the Bakersfield CondorsBakersfield Condors
The Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League...
, Idaho Steelheads
Idaho Steelheads
The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003....
, Ontario Reign
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:...
, Stockton Thunder
Stockton Thunder
The Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans...
and Utah Grizzlies
Utah Grizzlies
The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
. The longest of the rivalries is with the Utah Grizzlies, which started between the Las Vegas Thunder
Las Vegas Thunder
The Las Vegas Thunder were an independent professional ice hockey team competing in the International Hockey League. The team's home rink was at the Thomas & Mack Center. They began play in the 1993–1994 season, folding on April 18, 1999...
and the Utah Grizzlies
Utah Grizzlies (1995-2005)
This is about the defunct IHL/AHL team that folded in 2005. For the current ECHL team, see Utah Grizzlies.For information about the Minor league baseball team known as the Denver Grizzlies , see Denver Grizzlies ....
in the International Hockey League and came to its highest point during 1996 IHL Western Conference Finals.
The Wranglers and the Steelheads have had a constant rivalry that has centered around the playoffs. The Wranglers have met the Steelheads in all three of their playoff appearances. The rivalries with the Condors started off very softly during the Wranglers inaugural season but has become more heated since the Wranglers move into the Pacific Division during the 2006–07 season.
With the Texas Wildcatters
Texas Wildcatters
The Texas Wildcatters, who took their name from Texas wildcatters, were an ECHL team based in Beaumont, Texas. They played their home games at the Ford Arena. They were the affiliate of the Florida Panthers in 2004–2005. The team played in Huntington, West Virginia and were known as the Huntington...
relocating to Ontario, CA
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:...
, the Wranglers saw themselves with their newest rival in the form of the Ontario Reign. The Reign, are affiliated with the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
who have a heavy fan base in the Las Vegas metropolitan area
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
as Las Vegas is a part of the Los Angeles sports market. In 2009, Ontario became the first team other than the Wranglers to win the Pacific Division title since Las Vegas returned to the division in 2006.
Defunct rivalries
Former rivals of the Wranglers included the Fresno FalconsFresno Falcons
The Fresno Falcons are a defunct minor league hockey team. They were once members of the ECHL . They were located in Fresno, California.-Early history:...
, Long Beach Ice Dogs, Phoenix RoadRunners
Phoenix RoadRunners
The Phoenix RoadRunners were a minor league ice hockey team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They played in the ECHL, beginning in the 2005–2006 season and ceasing operations at the end of the 2008-2009 season...
, San Diego Gulls and Toledo Storm
Toledo Walleye
The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL...
. The rivalry with Long Beach, Phoenix and San Diego came from the time that the teams were members of the IHL and made numerous playoff appearances against each other, while the rivalry with Toledo was based upon the large population of Las Vegas residents from Toledo, OH
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
(the Walleye and Wranglers are in opposite conferences, and are not scheduled to play each other) and the rivalry with Fresno came from the two team's normal positioning near the top of the division standings.
Theme songs
The Wranglers have had numerous songs that represent the team during pre-game introductions. Songs that represented the regular season have included: Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)
"Never Gonna Stop " is a promotional single taken from Rob Zombie's second album The Sinister Urge. The song can also be found on Zombie's Past, Present & Future and The Best of Rob Zombie. It was nominated the Grammy for Best Metal Performance for the 2002 Grammy Awards Ceremony.The song is based...
, Stand Up
Stand Up (Trapt song)
"Stand Up" is the debut single for Trapt's second album Someone in Control. It received radio airplay on July 12, 2005, and receives regular play-time at the Air Canada Centre during the pre-game warm-up of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club....
, Ready Steady Go
Ready Steady Go (song)
"Ready Steady Go" is the twenty-third single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on February 4, 2004 it reached number 1 on the Oricon chart. The four alternate versions on the single omit each titular band member's contributions; for instance, the "Hydeless Version" features none of hyde's vocals , while...
, ...To Be Loved
...To Be Loved
"...To Be Loved" is the first single from Californian rock band Papa Roach's fifth album, The Paramour Sessions, and eighth released single in total. The song hit American radio stations on August 7, 2006...
, Crash
The Paramour Sessions
The Paramour Sessions is the fifth album by Californian rock band Papa Roach. It was released on September 12, 2006. While pre-recording, the band rented the Paramour Mansion, which the album name reflects. Two singles were released from the album, "...To Be Loved" and "Forever". The deluxe edition...
. When the team makes the playoffs, the song that was used in the regular season is usually changed. Songs that have represented the playoffs have included: The Hand That Feeds
The Hand that Feeds
"The Hand That Feeds" is a song by the American industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails, released as the lead single for the album With Teeth . It is the highest charting song by Nine Inch Nails on all charts except for U.S...
and Lights and Sounds
Lights and Sounds
Lights and Sounds is the fifth studio album by American pop punk band Yellowcard, released on January 24, 2006 in the United States through Capitol Records. Lights and Sounds is Yellowcard's first concept album, which was inspired to reflect what the band was feeling at the time of production and...
. During the regular season the Wranglers used Ain't Nothing Wrong With That
Colorblind (Robert Randolph album)
Colorblind is an album by Robert Randolph & the Family Band. It is the group's second studio album.-Track listing:# "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" - 3:30# "Deliver Me" – 4:30# "Diane" – 3:28# "Angels" – 4:02# "Jesus Is Just Alright" – 5:26...
by Robert Randolph and the Family Band and The Pretender by the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
as their theme song. For the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Wranglers used Give It All
Give It All
"Give It All" is a song by American punk rock band Rise Against, the song is released as the first single from their third album, Siren Song of the Counter Culture. It is a fast paced song with a slower, chant-along bridge, with all running at two minutes and fifty seconds...
by Rise Against
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
. Currently the Wranglers are using Hell Yeah
Hell Yeah (Rev Theory song)
"Hell Yeah" is the title of a song recorded by American hard rock band Rev Theory. It was released in March 2008 as the second sinlge from their 2008 album, Light It Up...
by Rev Theory
Rev Theory
Rev Theory is an American hard rock band formed in 2002 in North Andover, Massachusetts. The band has released three studio albums: Truth Is Currency , Light It Up , and Justice . The song "Voices" is currently being used for World Wrestling Entertainment star Randy Orton...
as their theme song.
Wranglers Super Rooter Club
Prior to the 2009-10 season, the Wranglers announced the creation of the Wranglers Super Rooter Club, the official booster club of the hockey team. The clubs mission will be akin to most minor league sports franchise booster clubs. The Wranglers Super Rooter Club will receive its own logo, web links, in-arena recognition and greater access to coaches and players.Season-by-season record
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Wranglers. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Las Vegas Wranglers seasonsNote: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Overtime/shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Records as of end of the 2010-11 ECHL season.
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2006–07 | 72 | 46 | 12 | 14 | 106 | 231 | 187 | 1374 | 1st, Pacific | Lost in Conference Semifinals, 2-4 (Idaho Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... ) |
| 2007–08 | 72 | 47 | 13 | 12 | 106 | 244 | 179 | 1440 | 1st, Pacific | Lost in Kelly Cup Finals, 2-4 (Cincinnati Cincinnati Cyclones The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena.... ) |
| 2008–09 2008–09 ECHL season The 2008-09 ECHL season was the 21st of the ECHL. The league welcomed one new franchise, the Ontario Reign, which will relocate from Beaumont, Texas and will play at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Two teams, the Columbia Inferno and the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz, will voluntary... |
73 | 34 | 31 | 6 | 76 | 208 | 195 | 1622 | 2nd, Pacific | Lost in Conference Finals, 0-4 (Alaska) |
| 2009–10 | 72 | 34 | 30 | 8 | 76 | 234 | 257 | 1421 | 2nd, Pacific | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2-3 (Utah Utah Grizzlies The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :... ) |
| 2010–11 | 72 | 38 | 29 | 5 | 81 | 216 | 203 | 1006 | 3rd, Pacific | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2-3 (Idaho Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... ) |
Scoring leaders
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed ECHL regular season.Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; * = current Wranglers player
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | P/G |
| Tyler Mosienko Tyler Mosienko Tyler Mosienko is an Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Las Vegas Wranglers in the ECHL. He is the grandson of Hockey Hall of Famer Bill Mosienko.-External links:... |
C | 228 | 73 | 113 | 206 | .90 |
| Shawn Limpright | LW | 241 | 48 | 123 | 171 | .70 |
| Adam Miller |
C | 135 | 49 | 89 | 138 | 1.02 |
| Chris Neiszner | C | 244 | 62 | 72 | 134 | .54 |
| Dan Tudin | LW | 130 | 54 | 65 | 119 | .91 |
| Derek Edwardson | C | 122 | 43 | 70 | 113 | .92 |
| Steve Crampton | LW | 123 | 43 | 68 | 111 | .90 |
| Peter Ferraro Peter Ferraro Peter Joseph Ferraro is a former NHL hockey player who, along with his twin brother Chris became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team, in the 1995–1996 NHL hockey season... |
RW | 120 | 52 | 51 | 103 | .85 |
| Chris Ferraro Chris Ferraro Chris Ferraro is an American retired ice hockey player who formerly played in the National Hockey League. Along with his twin brother, Peter, became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team: the New York Rangers in the 1995–96 season.-Playing career:Chris Ferraro was the... |
C | 110 | 33 | 64 | 97 | .88 |
| Marco Peluso | C | 154 | 38 | 57 | 95 | .61 |
Top performances
- First team in ECHL history to have three consecutive 100-point seasons.
- Highest winning percentage (.676; 2003–08) in ECHL history
- Highest road winning percentage (.706; 2003–08) in ECHL history
- Fewest (5; 2006–07) and 3rd (7; 2007–08) fewest road losses in one season
- Tied for longest road win streak in ECHL history (10 - 22'Nov'05 - 31'Dec'05)
- Hold longest win streak in ECHL history (18 games)
- Tied with 1990–91 Peoria RivermenPeoria Rivermen (IHL)The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena....
of the IHL for longest win streak in professional hockey history (18 games). - Fewest shorthanded goals allowed, one season (2; 2007–08)
- Fewest penalty minutes in one game (0; 27'Nov'04 @ FloridaFlorida EverbladesThe Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998...
) - 2nd most road wins in one season (25; 2005–06)
- 3rd most wins in one season (53; 2005–06)
- 3rd (12; 2006–07) fewest losses in one season
- 3rd and 4th longest regular season win streaks in ECHL history
- 3rd longest unbeaten streak (20 - 03'Nov'07 - 21'Dec'07) (1)
- 4th most ties in one season (14; 2006–07)
- 5th most points in one season (112; 2005–06)
- 5th highest winning percentage for one season (.778; 2005–06)
Notable players
Many former Wranglers have either played in the National Hockey League before or after their careers as Wranglers. These include Brent KrahnBrent Krahn
Brent Krahn is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted ninth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and is currently a member of the Dallas Stars organization of the NHL....
(2003–04), Chris Ferraro
Chris Ferraro
Chris Ferraro is an American retired ice hockey player who formerly played in the National Hockey League. Along with his twin brother, Peter, became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team: the New York Rangers in the 1995–96 season.-Playing career:Chris Ferraro was the...
(2007–09), Peter Ferraro
Peter Ferraro
Peter Joseph Ferraro is a former NHL hockey player who, along with his twin brother Chris became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team, in the 1995–1996 NHL hockey season...
(2007–09), Adam Pardy
Adam Pardy
Adam Pardy is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League . He was a sixth round selection of the Calgary Flames, 173rd overall, at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and played nearly 150 games in Calgary before joining the Stars as a free agent in 2011...
(2005–06), Dany Sabourin
Dany Sabourin
Daniel Sabourin is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently under contract for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
(2003–04), Tyler Sloan
Tyler Sloan
Tyler Sloan is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman in the Nashville Predators organization in the National Hockey League...
(2005–06) and Billy Tibbetts
Billy Tibbetts
Billy Tibbetts is a professional hockey player who last played with the Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL. He is currently an unrestricted free agent.-ECHL:...
(2004–05). Former Wranglers that would finish their careers with the Wranglers include Marc "Mags" Magliarditi
Marc Magliarditi
Marc "Mags" Magliarditi is a retired American ice hockey goaltender who most recently played for the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. After playing for Western Michigan University of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association for one year, he was drafted in the sixth round, 146th overall, by the...
(2003–07), Jason McBain
Jason McBain
Jason D. McBain is a former ice hockey defenceman. He was born in Ilion, New York and raised in Kimberley, British Columbia....
(2003–05) and Mike McBain
Mike McBain
Michael McBain is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 64 games in the National Hockey League, with the Tampa Bay Lightning....
(2003–08).
Team captains
- Jason McBainJason McBainJason D. McBain is a former ice hockey defenceman. He was born in Ilion, New York and raised in Kimberley, British Columbia....
, 2003–05 - Mike McBainMike McBainMichael McBain is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 64 games in the National Hockey League, with the Tampa Bay Lightning....
, 2005–07 - Peter FerraroPeter FerraroPeter Joseph Ferraro is a former NHL hockey player who, along with his twin brother Chris became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team, in the 1995–1996 NHL hockey season...
, 2007–09 - Shawn Limpright, 2009
- Chris Neiszner, 2009–10
- Kevin SchaefferKevin SchaefferKevin Schaeffer is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Las Vegas Wranglers in the ECHL. He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 6th round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft....
, 2010–11 - Craig SwitzerCraig SwitzerCraig Switzer is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Las Vegas Wranglers in the ECHL. He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 9th round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft....
, 2010–11 - Mike Madill, 2011–12
Head coaches
- Glen GulutzanGlen GulutzanGlen Gulutzan is the head coach of the NHL Dallas Stars.- Playing career :Gulutzan played junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League from 1986–92. After not playing competitive hockey for four seasons, Gulutzan signed with the...
, 2003–09 - Ryan MougenelRyan MougenelRyan Mougenel is a former professional ice hockey right winger. Currently, he is the head coach and general manager of the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL...
, 2009–present
Awards and honors
Henry Brabham CupBrabham Cup
The Henry Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually by the ECHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season...
ECHL regular season champion
- 2006-072006-07 ECHL seasonThe 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters and the Cincinnati Cyclones The 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters (who had...
Bruce Taylor Trophy
National Conference playoff champion
- 2007-082007-08 ECHL seasonThe 2007–08 ECHL season was the 20th season of the ECHL.Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006–07 season, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Toledo Storm...
Pacific Division titles
- 2006-072006-07 ECHL seasonThe 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters and the Cincinnati Cyclones The 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters (who had...
, 2007-082007-08 ECHL seasonThe 2007–08 ECHL season was the 20th season of the ECHL.Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006–07 season, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Toledo Storm...
John Brophy Award
ECHL Coach of the year
- Glen GulutzanGlen GulutzanGlen Gulutzan is the head coach of the NHL Dallas Stars.- Playing career :Gulutzan played junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League from 1986–92. After not playing competitive hockey for four seasons, Gulutzan signed with the...
: 2005-062005-06 ECHL seasonThe 2005–06 ECHL season is the 18th season of the East Coast Hockey League, ECHL, a professional ice-hockey league based in the United States. The season ran from late October, 2005 to early June, 2006...
All-ECHL Second Team
- Adam Miller : 2009-10
Excellence in Media Relations
- Josh Fisher: 2006-072006-07 ECHL seasonThe 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters and the Cincinnati Cyclones The 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters (who had...
Ticket Department of the Year
- 2005-062005-06 ECHL seasonThe 2005–06 ECHL season is the 18th season of the East Coast Hockey League, ECHL, a professional ice-hockey league based in the United States. The season ran from late October, 2005 to early June, 2006...
Ticket Executive of the Year
- Danielle Lucero: 2005-062005-06 ECHL seasonThe 2005–06 ECHL season is the 18th season of the East Coast Hockey League, ECHL, a professional ice-hockey league based in the United States. The season ran from late October, 2005 to early June, 2006...