Move puts Wranglers in a good spot

Friday, Oct. 6, 2006 | 7:44 a.m.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Pacific Division

Las Vegas Wranglers

Bakersfield Condors

Fresno Falcons

Long Beach Ice Dogs

Stockton Thunder

West Division

Alaska Aces

Idaho Steelheads

Phoenix RoadRunners

Utah Grizzlies

Victoria Salmon Kings

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

North Division

Cincinnati Cyclones

Dayton Bombers

Johnstown Chiefs

Reading Royals

Toledo Storm

Trenton Titans

Wheeling Nailers

South Division

Augusta Lynx

Charlotte Checkers

Columbia Inferno

Florida Everblades

Gwinnett Gladiators

Pensacola Ice Pilots

South Carolina Stingrays

Texas Wildcatters

If you go

What: Phoenix at Las Vegas

Where: Orleans Arena

When: 7:05 p.m. Thursday

Tickets: $11.90-$35

On the Web: lasvegaswranglers.com

The biggest offseason move for the Las Vegas Wranglers came at last week's preseason meeting of the ECHL Board of Governors, who shifted the team from the West to the Pacific Division.

That means Las Vegas won't have to contend with juggernaut Alaska in its own division and will not have to deal with a potential playoff series against the Aces until at least the National Conference semifinals.

Last season, the Wranglers were 53-13-6, for 112 points. That was the third-best record in the 18 years of the ECHL. However, Alaska went 53-12-7, for 113 points.

After trailing Idaho, 3 games to 1 in the first round of the playoffs, Las Vegas executed a stirring comeback to win the final three games. Then the Aces ousted the Wranglers in six games of the second round.

"I don't think it's a huge deal," Las Vegas coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan said of the realignment. "It was basically geographical, since we're closer to the California teams than anyone else. I think that's why we moved."

When training camp starts today , Gulutzan will be more concerned with retooling a franchise that might be without as many as nine regulars - including Matt Dzieduszycki, Dan Tudin, Chris Stanley and Christian Chartier - from last season.

Las Vegas will take the spot in the Pacific that was occupied by the San Diego Gulls, a franchise that folded. The Wranglers open their season Thursday against the Phoenix RoadRunners at the Orleans Arena.

The Wranglers were 19-2-1 last season against the rest of the current Pacific lineup: Bakersfield, Fresno, Long Beach and Stockton. They went 17-1-3 against West teams Idaho, Phoenix and Victoria, but 3-4 against Alaska during the 2005-06 regular season. Alaska beat Fresno in the conference final, getting a 3-2 victory in double overtime of Game 7 in Anchorage, before defeating Gwinnett in five games for the Kelly Cup championship.

The Wranglers visit Alaska Nov. 16-19, and the Aces visit Las Vegas Feb. 13 and March 30-31.

"I don't know if they'll be a behemoth again, but they'll be good," Gulutzan said of the Aces. "They're always good. Things change year to year but with their track record, maybe it's better to be out of that division."

The track record of the Wranglers - having made the playoffs in two of their three seasons, and their stellar regular season in 2005-06 - has made them a hit with the city, as season tickets, marketing and advertising accounts have all exceeded offseason targets.

Gulutzan believes the new divisional alignment will also be a hit.

"Bakersfield, Stockton and Fresno will all be good again, so I think it's going to be better for the fans this season," he said. "I think there will be more parity, and we'll see some playoff races here."

Over in the American Conference, the Cincinnati Cyclones joined the North Division. In the South, Greenville folded, creating a spot for the debut of the Texas Wildcatters.