Rough and tumble

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003 | 9:52 a.m.

If you're going to lose a hockey game, it's best to do it in overtime. At least you get points.

So, as the Las Vegas Wranglers' home magic finally ran out, the ECHL's newest, and up to Tuesday, hottest team, walked away with a point in the western division standings. The Wranglers fell to 6-1-2 on the season.

Florida Everblades forward Reggie Berg knocked in an unassisted goal 1:44 into overtime to edge the Wranglers, 5-4, in a penalty-addled game in front of an announced crowd of 3,171 at the Orleans Arena.

Referee Max Middendorf called 26 penalties in the game, mostly for roughing in a match that was filled with scrums from beginning to end. The only goals in the game not scored during a power play were Berg's game-winner, and Jason McBain's game-tying goal with nine seconds remaining. That goal was scored with the Wranglers keeping an empty net.

"Max usually lets a lot go," said Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan afterwards. "Tonight, he kept it tight."

The fighting aspect of the game is one that hasn't been ignored, on or off the ice. Many Wranglers billboards reference fighting, and a couple of the Wranglers know that if their teammates need them to fight, they'll be ready.

"It's not an easy role," said Wranglers defenseman Jonathan Shockey. "The mindset you have as an enforcer, is not to go look for fights, but to make sure your teammates are taken care of, to have their back."

Las Vegas' de facto enforcer this year is winger Chris Wheaton, a quiet and pleasant guy off the ice. And, as he tells it, he's quiet and pleasant on the ice, too -- as long as his teammates are treated well.

"Part of the role is to protect young guys," Wheaton said. "Some of the smaller guys need to have someone on the bench to protect them, it makes them play better, and it makes you look good."

But Wheaton won't protect his teammates by "talking trash" on the ice, something that many other hockey "tough guys" say is very important in protection.

"A lot of guys do" trash talk, he said. "I won't unless I'm really mad ... I lead by example. It's not my style, and it doesn't intimidate me."

Shockey, on the other hand, thinks the more he can get into his opponents' "kitchen," the better for his team.

"I can definitely get in players' heads," Shockey said. "There's a psychological aspect in every sport. There are guys that are mentally stronger than others. There's lots of things you can throw at somebody."

But the ECHL is a young man's league, and there are a lot of hockey players out there looking to make a name for themselves. They're not going to get that done by calling another skater a hoser.

"In this league, there are guys who are trying to establish that reputation," Gulutzan said.

For Wheaton, the role of enforcer wasn't something he went looking for.

"It kinda happened on its own," Wheaton said. "It started in the junior ranks, and kind of developed."

He said that his first professional team lacked toughness, so he assumed the role with them. It's also where he learned the significance being the enforcer can have on the flow of a game.

"Sometimes a big hit or a fight will change momentum," Wheaton said. "You might go out and challenge, or lay out a big hit. Hopefully you'll come out on top."

NOTES: Las Vegas center Greg Day's three assists outweighed the goal by Florida's Keith Anderson, so Day now leads the ECHL in points with 17, followed by Anderson at 16. ... The Wranglers play host to the Alaska Aces tonight. Alaska's Mike Scott has three game-winning goals this season, tied for best in the ECHL.