Wranglers trying to drum up interest for 2003

Victoria Sun

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 | 10:04 a.m.

Victoria Sun

Even though the Las Vegas Thunder folded in 1999, its booster club stuck together.

The group routinely took bus trips to Southern California and other areas to attend NHL and West Coast Hockey League games.

"A hockey fan is a special breed," said Corinne Claypool, one of the founders of the club. "If you're a fan, you want to see all the games. You love it."

That's what the operators of San Diego-based Chandar Sports are banking on.

Chandar Sports owns the Las Vegas Wranglers hockey franchise, scheduled to begin play in the West Coast Hockey League in 2003.

In an attempt to drum up fan support, the Wranglers held the first of two informal town hall meetings Wednesday night at the Las Vegas Ice Garden.

About 60 fans showed up to listen to Chandar Sports president John Tull and other invited speakers talk up the Wranglers.

Fans were given informational packets about the WCHL and the opportunity to purchase season tickets.

"It's just the beginning of our plans to start building relationships and earning the respect of the fans one by one by one," Tull said. "We have had a great response so far. We've signed up 40 people with deposits for tickets before tonight. Our long-term goals are to have this team stick around forever in a new downtown arena in Las Vegas.

"We anticipate having kids in this community grow up with this team, their hometown hockey heroes. If you live here you can all rally around your hometown Las Vegas Wranglers hockey team. We want to embed ourselves in the community."

Chandar Sports also owns the WCHL's Fresno Falcons, a team that had a 63 percent increase in attendance last season from the previous one.

For those not familiar with the WCHL, Tull pointed out that 86 of the 168 WCHL players from last season have played in the IHL, AHL or NHL.

The eight-team league was started in 1995 with the Wranglers being the latest entry.

"We missed having hockey here," local hockey fan Steve Perusse said. "We're very excited about the Wranglers. We were not very happy when the Thunder left."

Perusse attended the gathering with his 15-year-old son, Chad.

Although Chad doesn't play hockey, he said he is looking forward to having a team in Las Vegas again.

"We tried baseball, but it got too hot and the games weren't exciting," Chad Perusse said. "We tried basketball and had Bandits season tickets, but they're gone. Hockey is the best to watch. It's the most fun."

The public is also invited to attend next Wednesday's 7 p.m. meeting at the Ice Gardens.