Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

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Ice Ice Billy

Midnight game in Las Vegas turned silence into noise

Wranglers

Stephen Sylvanie/Special to the Sun

Wranglers players Mick Lawrence and Chris Neiszner celebrate behind Idaho goaltender Richard Bachman after Lawrence scored a first period goal during the 2009 midnight hockey game at the Orleans Arena.

I did not know that the Bakersfield Condors had just lost to the Las Vegas Wranglers 3-2 in overtime at 2:28 a.m. early Tuesday morning, December 23, 2003.

Had I known, I would not have found myself frantically searching for an escape route through the visiting locker room doorway, the girth of which was filled by skate-stomping, angry and exhausted Bakersfield players seeking someone to blame for their sudden death loss.

Bakersfield players entered and I was quickly identified as the guy that caused the inaugural Wranglers Midnight Game and I, it seemed, was responsible for Bakersfield’s loss - at least if that is how one was to interpret the creative salutations hurled in my direction while I looked for a gap between hockey sticks and door jambs.

I’d kindly ask that you leave my mother out of this, thank you very little.

Buy in for something new is always a challenge, particularly in a sport like hockey. It’s a great sport deeply rooted in tradition and routine. As with most anything, contrary views simmer in lidded pots where ointment flies multiply.

It’s quiet, Jim. A little too quite.

In general, people wrap themselves in the safety of routine. Most like their cheese right where it was left. But in promoting a worthwhile yet polarizing product in a loud market like Las Vegas one has to challenge people to find their cheese elsewhere in order to invite the uninvited. And sometimes the cheese has to be changed from cheddar to Gouda.

In life, business or in the sometimes absurd world entertainment promotions there is seldom growth in playing it safe. Most like things safe. And so as silence greeted ideas like the 2003 Midnight Game, one should never forget that silence can split one’s ears.

Even in dissent silence is safe.

Amid silence that shouts it takes a bit of a sales job, a whole lot of conviction and just one or two encouraging words. Then Las Vegas Wranglers owner Charles Davenport - just as current owner Gary Jacobs has done - immediately and enthusiastically embraced the idea. The ECHL embraced it as well. Many fans did. A few fans and a few Wranglers staffers did not. And on the coaching and players side, well, crickets. Loud ones.

Uh oh.

The event has grown to be a part of Las Vegas’ local culture. It’s a game that invites shift workers, allows parents to let their kids break bedtimes and allows this town’s impressive mass of talented entertainers to perform in their shows and then let someone entertain them after their own venues have emptied and they have returned to street clothes.

2010’s Midnight Game was last season’s best ticket gate, and ranked as the season’s second highest attended Wranglers game. But more to its aim the game has grown to be what it should be. The atmosphere is electric and eclectic. It is fun, unpredictable and there is nothing like it in the world of professional sports.

And it’s uniquely local Las Vegas.

Phew.

And so as Tuesday, Dec. 27 clicks into Wednesday, Dec. 28 the puck will drop on the 9th Midnight Game at the Orleans Arena against the Stockton Thunder, who through quirky scheduling have already been introduced by an insulting, foul-mouthed bunny this year before the December 6 Over-18 Game.

Like in 2003, in appreciation for visitor’s forced tolerance of Las Vegas’ tinkering with hockey’s routine, the Wranglers front office will be buying the Stockton Thunder dinner.

But this time, I’m not going to be the guy putting the post-game appreciation team meal in the visiting locker room.

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