HOCKEY:

Rampage assign center to Wranglers

Published Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 | 11:29 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 | 5:03 p.m.

Bernhardt

More on the Wranglers

The San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League assigned center Justin Bernhardt to the Las Vegas Wranglers Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Yorkton, Saskatchewan, native will fill the void at center left by Chris Neiszner's call-up to Austin.

In six seasons in the Western Hockey League, Bernhardt accumulated 242 points in 307 games with Regina, Kelowna and Prince Albert. Last season Bernhardt scored a team high 35 goals with 57 assists for the Prince Albert Raiders.

Berhardt has appeared in three games with the Rampage this season, picking up five penalty minutes and zero points.

Bernhardt will join the Wranglers for the three-game home stand against the Alaska Aces this weekend, which starts at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.

Gassed: An apparent acid spill near the loading dock of the Orleans Arena Wednesday morning filled the area with toxic fumes that forced the Wranglers to cancel practice this morning. Wranglers staffers were also prevented from entering their offices. The team hopes to return to the ice later in the day.

Rotating roster: The ECHL suspended Alaska forwards Chris Morehouse and Lance Galbraith for actions against Victoria on Monday. Morehouse will miss Thursday's game while Galbraith will miss the the entire series with the Wranglers this weekend.

The Aces also activated forwarded Brett Hemingway off the injured reserve Wednesday, while placing defenseman B.J. Crum on the three-day IR.

Also on Wednesday, the Wranglers activated forward Jeff Hazelwood off the IR and placed forward Greg Collins on the seven-day IR.

Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or steve.silver@lasvegassun.com.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By Section_213_L

10/21/09 at 4:28 p.m.

Suggest removal

Sure to disappoint the Wranglers fans I know, but no Lance Galbraith for the Aces this weekend as the league suspended him three games for fighting Chad Painchaud after the 2nd period had ended. Victoria has a skilled team but didn't take kindly to being swept and that frustration showed by game three on Monday night. Should still be a fun series this weekend between two of the best teams in the league and Stefanishion will still be there so all's not lost (BTW, Matt had three senseless roughing penalties Monday night so he's in midseason form)! Good player just not very disciplined at all.

Good luck, enjoy the games and Go Aces...
By winthorpe

10/21/09 at 6:54 p.m.

Suggest removal

Lance being Lance. Wish you were here 213 so we could enjoy some brews. I think Peluso will be the guy to watch from the physical standpoint. The players that had bad blood with Stefanishion are not here anymore. A real test for the Wranglers facing most of the team that knocked them out last year and coming in 3-0. As always, it will be intense and fun and hopefully at least two more crowds over 6,000 on Friday and Saturday. That's pushing it for a Thursday. Heck they should sell out just to see Steve doing the intermission interviews!!!
By scratch

10/22/09 at 12:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

I wonder if the rivalry and hard feelings transcends the players on the ice, winthorpe? Could it also include the mascot?? Could The Duke be the instigator of a line brawl this season? Seriously, I'm not a big fan of Neanderthal hockey and that may be what Brent Thompson and the Alaska Aces bring to National Conference venues this season. I may get flamed for saying so but how fortunate for you and equally for us that Justin Johnson broke his hand hammering on a Kalamazoo player in the preseason. I don't want the Aces of October to descend to the level of the Wranglers of last March. My issues aside, this could shape up to be a great series and the continuation of a seat-filling rivalry. GO ACES!!
By winthorpe

10/22/09 at 8:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

I think the rivalry has always been there. Even before The Duke popcorn incident, I remember Peter Metcalf spitting into a hat that a fan threw that landed on their bench after a Wrangler hat trick. Also, starting with last season, The Duke is a new person inside the costume and nothing like the previous Duke - who was much more entertaining in my opinion.

That said, let the games begin.
By LPN4LIFE

10/22/09 at 8:47 a.m.

Suggest removal

Agreed, Winthorpe. This rivalry has been going from the getgo, the inseption of the Wranglers.
My understanding the Duke incident was "provoked", but I wasn't there that game heard it from a few who were. I have seen though before and after that incident that Duke did that to Wranglers fans as well, thus playing no favorites.
No love lost that Galbraith won't be playing this series. Though Stefanishion will no doubt pick up the slack.
With only 3 guys for the Wranglers coming back this years and the rest are a new squad...it should prove to be a very good series and no doubt the rivarly will continue and be in full swing.

All I can more is DROP THE PUCK!!!!!

GO WRANGLERS!!!!!!