The Wranglers

Friday, Oct. 14, 2005 | 6:53 a.m.

Less than a week into training camp and just days after coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan talked about boosting the team's bond off the ice, the Wranglers were a united squad Monday night at The Venetian.

Some members of the team have forged friendships with the "Blue Man Group," and that relationship led to invitations for all of the Wranglers to see Monday's show.

"It came at the right time," Gulutzan said. "We were going to go on a big golf outing, then the 'Blue Man' came up. The boys had a blast."

Gulutzan, 32, begins his third season in Las Vegas, and he has noticed something unique to the Wranglers. Because of the depth of entertainment options in the city, many players regularly play host to family or friends.

As a result, valuable off-ice bonding time, critical to the chemistry of any team, has been lost. A playoff team in its debut season, the Wranglers finished 31-33-8 in 2004-05.

"Maybe guys were going their separate ways a bit," said ninth-year defenseman Mike McBain. "With a young team this year, I think we definitely want to instill some camaraderie off the ice. That's already started."

Apparently, McBain was Father Goose on Monday. Wherever he went, however he turned, the rest of the Wranglers followed.

However, McBain, a 28-year-old veteran, is much more than a tour guide. This will likely be his fifth consecutive season as either a team captain or alternate captain.

He enjoys the leadership role and doesn't take it lightly.

"I don't think you can," McBain said. "As much as this game is fun, it's a serious sport. It's your livelihood. When you work hard and get a bit serious, there's definitely more time to enjoy yourself. That's our motto this year."

IN SHAPE

Fifth-year defenseman Christian Chartier, 24, will likely be another dependable Wrangler this season, and he kept in shape in the off-season by applying stucco to homes in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

Regan Darby and Rejean Stringer, teammates of Chartier's here last season, were other members of the Swift Current stucco crew.

"It was pretty hard labor," Chartier said. "You lift some heavy stuff, but its mostly walking with a wheelbarrow full of concrete. It's pretty mindless stuff, but I feel a lot stronger this year than last."

Chartier has played 259 pro games. With one more, he would qualify for veteran status. The ECHL has a four-vet limit per squad, and Gulutzan only has two.

However, once a player starts a season as a nonveteran, he carries that status all season. Gulutzan said he rested Chartier on occasion toward the end of last season, when he played in 63 games, to ensure he'd be listed as a nonvet in 2005-06.

SLAP SHOTS

* The Wranglers play preseason games against the Long Beach Ice Dogs tonight in Long Beach, Calif., and at 5:05 p.m. Sunday at the Orleans Arena.

By next week, Gulutzan must cut four players from his current roster of 24. He will be making evaluations in both games, then he'll review videotape.

"And we'll see if any of our systems are transferred from the practices to an actual game, or if guys are just going to go on their own program," Gulutzan said. "That's the biggest thing."

* Las Vegas opens its season next Friday in Florida. The Wranglers will host Utah in their home opener on Oct. 25.

Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or miech@lasvegassun.com