Wranglers set to participate in Light the Night Walk

By Steve Silver

Monday, Sept. 14, 2009 | 5:30 p.m.

Although training camp will be in full swing, the Las Vegas Wranglers are taking a break from hockey to walk for charity at the Las Vegas Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 10th annual Light the Night Walk at the Kellogg Zaher Park.

The Wranglers organization is participating in the event to honor former head athletic trainer Christopher Testino, who died in June after battling Leukemia for two years at the age of 32. Testino worked for the Wranglers during the 2006-07 season.

"This is a personal thing for the Wranglers family," said head coach and general manager Ryan Mougenel. "This is something that can affect everyone in every walk of life. We want to pay tribute to Chris and others currently going through the same battle."

The Wranglers have started an online donation page for their Light the Night team in hopes of raising $3,000. Anyone wishing to donate can do so online at the Wranglers page or by calling the team's front office at 702-471-7825.

In addition to the Wranglers' staff, Mougenel said every player in training camp will also participate in the charity walk.

"Community service and giving back is a huge part of the program that I want my players to be a part of," Mougenel said. "This is my home now and this will be our players' homes. We want to embrace the community. It’s a major part of minor pro hockey and it will be a major part of this team."

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