by Ian Tasso
The first half of the season is in the books, and it’s time we take a breather and reflect on how the boys have been doing so far this season.
At 25-13-4, the Wranglers are leading the Pacific division by eight points, and are closing in on the Western conference, currently lead by the Alaska Aces. As a team, it’s becoming more and more apparent that Las Vegas is among the ECHL elite. But how about individually?
Halfway through 2011-12 campaign, here’s how the team award races are shaping up…
Team MVP
Joe Fallon – What more can you say about the guy? Fallon currently leads the ECHL in games played, wins, saves, shots faced, and has been worked harder than a rented mule. Every time Coach Mougenel calls on him, he answers. And this season, his phone has been ringing off the hook. How has he responded? Only with a league 7th best GAA. No big deal.
Simply put, Fallon’s the backbone of this team, a squad that despite its recent outpouring of goals, still prides itself on defense. D-man Jeff May put it perfectly – when they get in trouble in their own zone (which isn’t often), they have immense confidence in Fallon’s ability to bail them out. He’s been the ultimate safety net this year. To be blunt, you couldn’t have asked for a better first half from a guy who’s been essentially triple-shifted in net due to injuries.
Eric Lampe – Surprise, surprise. The only thing less shocking than seeing Lampe’s name on this list is seeing him score. Lucky number seven’s amazing offensive season chugs on as he finishes the first half leading the ECHL in goals (30), and continues to show his ability to put the puck in the net anytime, any way, and literally from anywhere.
There’s really no denying what Lampe means to this Wranglers team. For the past few years, this has been a team that was revered for its immense defensive skill. Now, not only are they still very detailed defensively, they’re also feared offensively – and a lot of that is due to what Lampe brings to the table: speed, hands, and a near perfect scoring touch.
Mike Madill – The Captain. The heart and soul of this team. Be careful not to blink your eye during an opposing rush, or you might miss Diller laying out to take a puck off the chest, or lowering the shoulder to staple someone to the boards.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player block more shots than Madill does. The level of commitment he has to this team is really something. But what I love most about number nine’s play is his selective physicality – and his hands. He polices the Wranglers defensive zone almost to a tick, and is never afraid to lay the lumber down when he has to. Every time someone in another colored uniform steps out of line, Madill’s the first one to send them flying into the boards. Combine that with what he’s able to do with his gloves to keep the puck in the offensive zone (especially on the power play) and you have one of the most complete defensemen in the ECHL.
Josh Lunden – He may not finish atop the ECHL in goals, assist or points this year, but a lot of that is due to him missing the first two months of the Wranglers’ season.
The British Columbia native hit the ice running once he came back though, racking up 13 points in his first 14 games, and the Wranglers haven’t looked back since. Lunden’s first game this year was Nov. 25 against Stockton. Since that day, Las Vegas is a sparkling 17-5-2.
Lundy’s a tremendous puck mover, has an engine that never stops and a knack for finding the open guy. He’s tough on and off the puck, great using the stick and even better using his head. As The Great One once said, “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”
Lunden’s one of those players. He’s got a sky-high hockey IQ and has a very bright future in hockey. Hopefully the Wranglers can squeeze a playoff run out of him before that future takes off.
Offensive MVP
Peter MacArthur – Meet the guy that should be on the top of Lampe’s Christmas list for the next eight years. Sure, Eric leads the league in goals by a wide margin, but MacArthur has every bit to do with it as number seven does.
Since the beginning of the season, MacArthur has been one of the most dynamic players on this team. He was the team leader in assists before he got called up to the AHL briefly back in November, and might have the best ice vision in the entire ECHL.
What most impresses me, though, is his toughness. Sure, everyone gets dinged up during a hockey season; it’s nearly impossible not to. But MacArthur’s level of play hasn’t wavered one bit despite playing through a handful of injuries that would keep me out of the broadcast booth for weeks. It’s tough to find a guy with his kind of skill and hands, woven in with straight up brick-hard toughness.
Adam Miller – Boy, can this guy fly. Between him and Eric Lampe, the Wranglers might be able to enter themselves into the Olympic Speed Skating event and medal, even if someone like me is manning the final leg.
But what I love most about Miller goes beyond just his burning speed and soft hands. It’s his determination. The guy is flat out clutch, whether he’s piping in an overtime winner and saluting the crowd, or throwing the team on his back when they’re down 6-0, potting two and bringing them back into the game.
There’s something to be said about a guy like Adam. While most players shy away when the spotlight burns too bright, Miller seems to revel in it. And with the playoffs around the corner, number 81’s the kind of player the city of Las Vegas is going to love having on their team – if they don’t already.
Eric Lampe – It’s really impressive watching Eric work. Sure, he scores a lot (like, a real lot) but over the past few months, he’s taken big strides towards becoming a more well rounded player right before our eyes as he continues to sharpen up on his passing and creativity/play in the defensive zone.
But when it’s all said and done, it really comes down to his speed and agility, something that you can’t coach. You either have it or you don’t – and Eric’s got it. His kind of skating is invaluable to an offense, and really softens up opposing defenses – opening up huge chunks of ice for his line mates to work. It’s gotten to the point where there have been numerous goals scored this season thanks to Lampe’s skill – without him even touching the puck.
Defensive MVP
Jamie Fritsch – What a defensive talent this guy is. There’s a reason he’s already got NHL experience under his belt.
Fritschy isn’t the kind of guy you’re going to see on the highlight reel blowing someone up at center ice or crushing their head into the boards to the tune of thunderous cheers. Instead, he’s the kind of player that you’re going to see on the ice when Las Vegas is in a tie game with time running down. Or clinging to a one goal lead with seconds left on the clock. Why? Because he’s a master at his trade.
Fritsch is so smart and so skilled in his own end that the position almost looks effortless to him at times. And what might be lost among all his flick-of-the-wrist poke checks and hip swipes into the boards is the fact that he’s a tremendous skater – a big reason for his success in the defensive zone. Sometimes he turns his shoulder, makes a few cuts, and you think you’re watching a top-line center out there. His positioning in his own zone is unrivaled, and he’s really making a case for defender of the year in the ECHL.
Barry Goers – You gotta love the way number six plays the game. He’s a lunchbox guy – a player who shows up, puts in twice as much work as he’s expected to, and flat-out gets the job done. That’s the kind of player that, being born and raised on the East Coast, you grow up to respect. Most of the country – especially nowadays – is taught by ESPN to love the highlight reel guys – the top-10 spinorama top-shelfers, the lowered shoulder center ice explosions – when in reality it’s guys like Goers that make teams tick.
He may only be 5’9”, but the guy plays like he’s 6’4”. He’s not afraid to throw his weight around when the team needs him to, and I can’t count on one hand how many times his physicality has jolted the Wranglers to game-winning three or four goal flurries.
His efforts may not show up in the box score often, but they don’t have to. That’s not what a lunchbox guy is after. But it’s about time we pay the unsung Wranglers hero his dues.
Channing Boe – He’s a big, tough kid who’s more than making his mark in his first season with Las Vegas. The Minnesota native will be remembered for a lot once this season’s in the books (including pummeling a few guys in the head), but mostly for his +11 rating this season – second on the team for defensemen behind only Madill. All in all, he’s been one of the Wranglers’ most reliable guys in front of the crease. Not too shabby for a rookie.
Bottom line is, he’s the kind of guy – along with Michael Busto, Geoff Paukovich and Adam Huxley – that makes Las Vegas such an uncomfortable team to skate against. Boe and Busto have been huge presences behind the blue line for Las Vegas, while Hux and Pauko have been absolute forces all over the ice.
As Coach Mougenel said when Hux was brought in, “Teams no longer take liberties against us.” And if Channing Boe keeps up his level of play, that won’t change for some time.
Who to Watch in the Second Half
This is a tough one. Las Vegas is blessed with so much talent, and a whole lot of it that’s finally healing up. Guys like Geoff Paukovich and Josh Lunden missed a lot of time early on, but are going to be lightning rods for the Wranglers moving forward. And don’t forget Ash Goldie and Thomas Kiariakou, a pair of players who, when healthy, will add tremendous depth to an already top-notch team – especially Goldie, who has the skills and hockey IQ to take over a game at any given time.
In the end though, it was a toss up between Jeff May and Scott Campbell. Both are sensational players that the city of Las Vegas should be proud to have on their team. But unfortunately, both have been pretty dinged up all season. Just recently, May returned to the ice to the tune of two goals and an assist in a 5-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles. Oh, hey Jeff. Welcome back to the lineup. No big deal. Not to mention he added two more goals in the following game, including the winner with 61 seconds left on the clock.
Meanwhile, Coach Mougenel will be the first to tell you a guy like Scott Campbell doesn’t come around very often. He’s one of the few players in this league that’s just as happy flipping a puck into the net as he is racing back behind the blue line to take a disk off the leg and spring someone else on a breakaway. He may be one of the best two-way players in the ECHL today, and once he finally heals up, it won’t take very long for the rest of this league –and others – to notice.
Here are a few other guys to keep an eye on the rest of 2012:
Robbie Smith – Guy is just a menace both offensively and defensively. His motor never stops. Ever. You start to wonder if he just goes home and runs laps around his kitchen for 12 hours before he heads back to the rink the next day for the morning skate. He’s one of those players you just know is going to start stringing together some games where he’s the difference maker in the box score. His kind of play is infectious.
Chris Francis – A quiet guy, but a very skilled one, too. He’s being used more and more on the power play, and for good reason. He’s got a great set of hands, he’s a fantastic two-way talent and is a guy Mougenel loves to use when the game’s tight. Trust is a tough thing to earn from your coach – especially from a coach who’s as passionate about winning as Mouger is – and Franny has done exactly that.
Michael Busto – I absolutely love watching this guy work – especially in the offensive zone, where he’s gotten more and more comfortable as the season’s gone on. Earlier in the year, Busty made his home behind the blue-line, and is the kind of player that’s uncomfortable to push the puck against because of his sheer size. But as the year’s gone on, he’s started pinching across center ice with conviction – something that’s tough to coach into a physical D-man. He has a purpose with every puck he sends into the offensive zone now, and it just seems like something’s clicked offensively for number 20 – especially creativity-wise. That’s great news for Las Vegas – and bad news for everyone else.
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