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After run through playoffs, Wranglers call season a success
Stephen R. Sylvanie / Special to the Las Vegas Sun
The Las Vegas Wranglers file off the ice for the final time of the 2008-09 season after being swept by the Alaska Aces in the National Conference finals at the Orleans Arena on May 14. The Wranglers open the 2009-10 season on Friday night against Utah with only three players returning from last year’s squad.
Friday, May 15, 2009 | 11 p.m.
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Expanded hockey coverage
As the Alaska Aces triumphantly claimed the Bruce Taylor Trophy at the Orleans Arena Thursday night, the Las Vegas Wranglers silently cleaned out their lockers and shaved their playoff beards.
The magic that had lifted a 34-31-8 Wranglers squad to the National Conference finals with two Game 7 triumphs was nowhere to be found. In 60 minutes, the Wranglers' season folded against the smoking Aces, 5-1.
But while the sting of suffering a four-game sweep at the hands of an arch-rival such as Alaska will certainly linger throughout the off season, it is hard not to view this season through rosy lenses.
"To assess the season, it's a success," said Las Vegas coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan. "To have 76 points, win our division and play 18 playoff games is what some people would consider a success. Although for this organization our sights are always set higher. For this team and maybe the job I did, yeah it is a success. Is the bar higher for us? Yeah, it is. So in that regard it's a success."
Unlike Gulutzan's last three teams, which all gained more than 105 points in the regular season, this year's squad barely cracked the 70-point mark in a truly roller coaster season.
As the Wranglers struggled to break the .500 mark, the team went through some of the highest peaks and lowest valleys. From Jan. 25 to Feb. 11 the Wranglers won 10 of 11 games, including eight in a row.
Yet a 10-game losing streak promptly followed that effort, spanning from Feb. 14 to March 1.
At one point more than a dozen Wranglers received call-ups to the American Hockey League. But at the same time, injuries left the Wranglers' bench more barren than Death Valley for some games.
The Wranglers used seven goalies and 47 different skaters this season.
"This has been a really grinding season," Gulutzan said. "… A lot of transaction moves, never a day where I wasn't thinking about making the playoffs or what the roster was going to be. So it was a lot of work to get us to this point. It's not frustrating, but certainly the most challenging season I've had here."
That challenge ultimately paid off, though, as the Wranglers advanced to the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.
Despite finishing fifth in the National Conference, Las Vegas pulled out Game 7s against Stockton and Bakersfield to advance to the conference finals.
"It's always disappointing to get swept to end a season, but I really enjoyed my time here and I'm glad I got an opportunity to play for such a great franchise," said rookie forward Scott McCulloch, who joined the team on March 21 and racked up 19 points in 26 games.
McCulloch might be one of just six or seven players returning next year, as the identity of the team will change drastically.
Tyler Mosienko and Dan Spang will most likely head to the AHL. Veterans like Shawn Limpright. Chris Ferraro and Peter Ferraro might decide to hang up the skates.
No matter what names are on the roster, the Wranglers will still have the same goal –- win a Kelly Cup.
"As far as the people outside, they might look at this season as a success, but this group in here, we knew from the beginning that we had a good team," said Chris Neiszner, who played in a team-high 88 games this season. "Put everything together and we knew we could roll. I don't think we are satisfied with just getting here, because we think we could have had a better result in this round. So I don't think anyone is satisfied."
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Win, loose or draw these guys toughed out a tough season. With all the call ups (congrats to all of them) to the injures and recoveries made (congrats to all of them as well), I give a high five, major kudos and all the accolades that can be given them. Okay, they didn't make to the Kelly Cup, we all we wished and hoped they would have, but I as a Wranglers fan and season ticket holder from the very beginning will be back in my seat next season to see the Las Vegas Wranglers take on any and all comers.
I agree with coach over all this season was a success and very much look forward to next season.
High five and kudos to you too Steve, maybe next season you will see Sulivan Arena.
Your first sentence is not correct, Steve. Everyone knows it's bad luck to touch the penultimate trophy before the playoffs are over. I was a TV watcher so I didn't see everything but it looked to me like the Aces skated off- leaving the Taylor trophy sitting on a table at center ice. Soon enough the Aces will hopefully triumphantly hoist the ultimate trophy- the Kelly Cup.
Scratch, I hope South Carolina gives the Aces a long run for the Kelly Cup.
And what's wrong with that first sentence? It says "..claimed the Bruce Taylor Trophy..." Doesn't say they touched it.
You're right LPN4LIFE. It doesn't say they actually touched it. I read too much into that sentence I guess. It would have been better to say the Aces triumphantly claimed the National Conference title because my impression from the video was that they pretty much ignored the Taylor Trophy itself. But in any event, you are indeed correct and I stand corrected.
I've listened to South Carolina over the internet on a regular basis since March- they're on a role. I predict SC over Alaska in six - only because South Carolina has had a harder road to get there - Florida and Cincinnati. Not to take anything away from Alaska win over Victoria (the second best team in the conference in my opinion), but its just a hunch. What's interesting about this match up is that these teams met in the preseason, so there is some familiarity there. I'm still stunned they upset Florida.
Florida upset......that was also a shocker for me!! I used to be a Everblades season ticket holder and it seemed they always had the right stuff!!! This was a great season for the Wranglers....with all the call ups and injuries, they seemed to have a different team every night they played!!!
thanks guys for doing all you did this season!!!
My guess at who might be coming back - Neizner, Miller, McCulloch, St Croix, and Madill. I would like to see DeVergullio and Robinson resign.
In case you all want to re-read a copied version of this story with a little of Ron Kantowski's column from May 14 mixed in...check out the RJ's print edition today (May 19).
Vagman, I think you could pan out to be mostly correct. If Miller returns, I have to imagine he will be called up to the AHL numerous times next season, though. Transactions should heat up around the league in a few weeks.
2:44 a.m.????
I keep interesting hours vagman, what can I say?
Would love to see McCulloch back as well as Neizner (capitan?), Madill, Fisher, Owens and Lawerence. DeVergullio or Ricci would be great additions. Ricci who signed with South Carolina after he was let go from the Wranglers his ametur(spelling?) try out. It truely will be interesting to see who will return and who will be new....especially goalie wise.
Lets get a little muscle in there....Spencer....
I don't see Spencer or Makway coming back. Watt belongs to Calgary so that is a possibility. I also think Lawrence should be included as a possible returnee.
Makway and Spencer seem to be single dimensional skaters that didn't add much to your team. However, they did do a good job of whipping the crowd into a frenzy everywhere they went. Doing that on the road is sort of like shooting yourself in the foot. Energizing the opposing fans and team is never a good thing.
South Carolina at Alaska tonight. Should see some hard played hockey between two very good teams. And you know who I'm pulling for!