Photo by Jerry Gallegos

The Las Vegas Wranglers fell 7-2 tonight to the Florida Everblades, splitting the first two games of the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals 1-1 at the Orleans Arena.

Wranglers center Chris Francis tallied the first goal of the night midway through the first period, and another goal from center Judd Blackwater five minutes later gave Las Vegas a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period. On a quick power play 2:22 into the second, Everblades left wing Mathieu Roy put Florida on the board with his fifth postseason goal, and 12 minutes later, the game was knotted 2-2 on a goal from Everblades forward Justin Shugg. Florida took their first lead of the series minutes later on a second power play goal from left wing Matt Marquardt, and the Everblades ended the second up 3-2.

Four more Everblades tacked on goals through the third period, giving Florida the 7-2 win. The best-of-seven series for the Kelly Cup is now tied 1-1, and the two teams will continue the series in Florida starting with Game 3 on Friday, May 18. After Games 4 and 5 on the road, the Wranglers will return to Las Vegas for Games 6 and 7, if necessary, on May 25 and 26. Tonight’s full box score can be found here.

Wranglers left wing Robbie Smith lays Everblades center Trevor Bruess out in Las Vegas’ 2-1 victory – photo by John Bosworth

Opening the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals on home ice tonight, the Las Vegas Wranglers won 2-1 over the Florida Everblades in front of 5,729 fans. The Wranglers now lead the best-of-seven series 1-0.

Wranglers goaltender Joe Fallon and Everblades goaltender John Muse held the game scoreless through the first 13 minutes of the game until Wranglers left wing Pete MacArthur scored the first goal. The Wranglers maintained that 1-0 lead midway into the second, and after surviving a double-minor penalty kill against Florida, Wranglers center Eric Lampe added a power play goal to give Las Vegas a 2-0 advantage at the end of the second.

Fallon’s second shutout of the playoffs loomed throughout the third period when, with exactly two minutes left in regulation, Everblades defenseman Mike Ratchuk tallied a goal to make it a 2-1 game. Florida was unable to score a game-tying goal, and the Wranglers took Game 1 with the 2-1 lead. Fallon, Lampe and MacArthur all received Three Star honors.

After the Clark County Commission declares tomorrow, May 15, “Las Vegas Wranglers Day,” the two teams will meet again for Game 2 at 7:05 p.m. The Wranglers then hit the road to Florida for Games 3,4 and 5 of the series. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 will take place at Orleans Arena on May 25 and 26. Tonight’s full box score can be found here.

Photo by Greg McFalls

The Clark County Commission will formally declare Tuesday, May 15, as “Las Vegas Wranglers Day” in honor of the team’s Kelly Cup Finals playoff run and work in the local community.

The team will receive the proclamation on the Tuesday morning of Game 2 against the Florida Everblades in the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals. The two teams will open the best-of-seven series Monday, May 14, at 7:05 p.m.

“It’s a humbling honor for any entity like ours to be embraced by its community,” said Wranglers President Billy Johnson. “It’s our pleasure to add to the cultural fabric of Clark County, and to be here for the locals to enjoy hockey season after hockey season.”

In addition to naming Tuesday as “Wranglers Day,” the Clark County Commission will recognize the team’s efforts with ongoing community service projects. This season alone, the Wranglers have given almost $400,000 in charitable contributions to local organizations including St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Goodwill of Southern Nevada and the Public Education Foundation. The Wranglers also support youth hockey development in Las Vegas through the Junior Wranglers.

Playoff tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the Wranglers front office at (702) 471-PUCK.

Photo by David Cleveland

After a 4-1 series sweep of the Kalamazoo Wings, the Florida Everblades became the Eastern Conference champions and advanced to the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals, where they will face the Las Vegas Wranglers for the Patrick J. Kelly Cup. The ECHL announced the complete home and away schedule for the two teams tonight.

The best-of-seven series will begin on Monday, May 14, in Las Vegas and is as follows:

Game 1 – Monday, May 14 at 7:05 p.m.  – Orleans Arena
Game 2 – Tuesday, May 15 at 7:05 p.m.  – Orleans Arena
Game 3 – Friday, May 18 at 4:30 p.m. – Germain Arena in Estero, Fla.
Game 4 – Tuesday, May 22 at 4:30 p.m. – Germain Arena
Game 5 – Wednesday, May 23 at 4:30 p.m. (if necessary) – Germain Arena
Game 6 – Friday, May 25 at 7:05 p.m.(if necessary) – Orleans Arena
Game 7 – Saturday, May 26 at 7:05 p.m. (if necessary) – Orleans Arena

In the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals, the third-seeded Wranglers will have home-ice advantage over the Everblades by being a higher seed. In the 2011-12 regular season, the Everblades finished with a 39-26-2-5 record to enter the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed. The Wranglers’ regular-season record was 42-22-1-7.

Both teams are looking for their first Kelly Cup title. The Wranglers last went to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2008, falling in six games to the Cincinnati Cyclones, while the Everblades took the trip in both 2004 and 2005.

Playoff tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the Wranglers front office at (702) 471-PUCK. Fans can lock in their seats by purchasing playoff strip tickets starting at $18 per game, and tickets for kids ages 12 and under are just $8.

Inside, you could hear shouting, cussing, disappointment and frustration ringing in every word, every breath.

The Las Vegas Wranglers had just lost the opening game of the Western Conference Finals on home ice, to their most bitter of rivals – the reigning Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces. And what’s more, with the impending four straight games in Anchorage awaiting them, the Wranglers were in a bit of a tough spot.

It was clear at that moment what needed to happen – something had to change, and quick.

Inside that locker room, behind those closed doors, a conscious decision was made from skater 1-18, top to bottom – the guys who were dressing, and the guys who weren’t.

The decision was this – the way the Wranglers played in Game 1 was unacceptable. It was unacceptable, and wouldn’t be allowed any longer.

If the Wranglers wanted to bring a Kelly Cup back to the city of Las Vegas, it wouldn’t be tolerated.

And with that, each Las Vegas Wrangler headed home with one thought in their mind – bring it tomorrow, like it’s your last game.

And that’s exactly what they did.

In Game 2, in front of thousands of their loudest fans, the boys in black and white followed their head coach – their general – onto the ice, pushing not one but two pucks past Alaska Aces goaltender Gerald Coleman in the first five minutes of the game.

The Wranglers would add another before the first intermission, taking a 3-0 lead into the dressing room after the opening 20 minutes – the same dressing room they sat in just one night before, contemplating their Game 1 effort.

This was a different effort, and that 3-0 lead was one this Wrangler team wouldn’t look back from, going on to win Game 2 by that same score.

With the win, the Wranglers had tied the Western Conference Finals at one game apiece. But more importantly, a statement had been made. The way the Wranglers played for those 60 minutes would forever change the tide of the Western Conference Finals.

The war was far from over, however, as with the series knotted at one, the Western Conference Finals had been whittled down to a best of five series – a race to three wins with the winner moving on to the Kelly Cup Finals.

But because of the 2-4-1 series format, the next four games would be played up in Anchorage, on the Aces’ Olympic-sized ice – the ECHL’s version of the Death Star – a place Alaska had only lost five times all season.

What happened next was something that will live on in Wranglers folklore for years, as the team of boys from the desert – a place where ice hockey had long been an afterthought before their arrival – went up to the land of the ice and snow, and took three straight from the Aces in their own building.

It was the first time since 2007 a team had lost three straight games at home in the ECHL playoffs. It was also the second time this postseason the Wranglers had beaten an adversary three times in a row.

In any sport – at any level – it’s difficult to beat a good team three straight times, but the reigning Kelly Cup Champs? In their own building? It’s quite an amazing feat.

I remember even when I was younger, playing in little league baseball in our regional finals, we started the series on the road up in New Hampshire, and were dismantled both times. But at home, trailing the series 2-0, we rattled off three straight wins to hoist the trophy.

Something about playing at home – in front of your own fans – just lifts you to that next level and makes you feel unbeatable.

But that’s exactly what this Wrangler team did. They beat the unbeatable, on their own home ice, inside a building that had seen 29 wins this year compared to just five regulation losses.

They’re a team loaded with NHL-level talent, including their goaltender Gerald Coleman and forward Brian Swanson, who have a combined 72 games of National Hockey League experience under their belt. Let’s not forget Wes Goldie, either, the ECHL’s all-time scoring leader and former league MVP.

The Alaska Aces – a team that just last season, seemed miles ahead of their competition, sweeping both their first and second round of their Kelly Cup run, losing just once all postseason long.

But this year, in 2012, they had been bested.

Scratch that – they had been vaulted – pummeled into the ground, four games to one, losing the last three on their own home ice, by a group of guys from the desert.

A group of boys from Las Vegas. Our group of boys. Our town – our team.

The old saying goes, “To be the best, you have to beat the best.” In just five games of hockey, the Wranglers did exactly that – dethroned the ECHL’s reigning champions, leaving their castle in ruins, their crown bloodied and destroyed.

For their efforts, they are rewarded with the ultimate prize – the chance to compete for the ECHL’s highest honors – the Kelly Cup.

But they’re not done yet. Perhaps their greatest challenge awaits.

After Game 5, that locker room door was closed tight once again. But the mood inside was different – far more upbeat than it was four games ago. Cheers and smiles filled the room as pictures of the Bruce Taylor Trophy were being snapped, number-one fingers pointing to the sky.

For now, they enjoy the small victory, but they know a bigger stage awaits. The real challenge is ahead of them, the chance to deliver something to the city of Las Vegas that it has never seen before.

Vince Lombardi, the most highly decorated of winners – the man after whom the NFL Super Bowl trophy was named – once said the following:

“I firmly believe that a man’s finest hour – his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.”

For 72 regular season games and 13 postseason battles, the Las Vegas Wranglers have worked their hearts out in a good cause.

Behind their general they have marched, all season long. And behind them we’ve watched – intently, as something special happened right before our eyes.

85 games have been played. Seven more games remain.

And with four more wins, not only will the Las Vegas Wranglers celebrate exhausted on their icy field of battle –they’ll also celebrate as champions.

Highlights from the Wednesday, May 2, Game 5 against the Alaska Aces, which the Wranglers won 3-1 to win the Western Conference championship and advance to the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals!

Prizes can be picked up during the home games against either the Florida Everblades or the Kalamazoo Wings on Monday, May 14, or Tuesday, May 15. If you are unable to make either of the first two homes games in the Wranglers’ run for the 2012 Kelly Cup, please call your Wranglers representative at (702) 471-7825 to schedule a date and time to pick up your prize. Congrats, winners, and stay tuned for the next round of renewal sweepstakes!

Maverick Helicopter Trip for 2

1. Rob Harrah
2. Priscilla Baker
3. Paul Slaughter

Wranglers Gym Bag

1. Carl Geib
2. Haim Berry
3. Mattie Anderson
4. James Porter
5. John and Karen Jones

Wranglers BBQ Set

1. Mike and Marsha Paschal
2. John Kelley
3. Colby and Stacey Beck
4. Michael Vagnerini
5. Brad Wadsworth
6. Gareth Mitchell
7. Steve Garofolo
8. Michelle Maige
9. Torall Scott
10. Jennifer and Josh Corcran

Photo by John Bosworth

After eliminating the Alaska Aces from the postseason and clinching the Western Conference championship last night, the Las Vegas Wranglers announced today the four home dates for the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals. The team will play the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals, between the Florida Everblades and the Kalamazoo Wings, and the three road games will be announced once that series is complete.

The best-of-seven series begins in Las Vegas on Monday, May 14, and is as follows:

Game 1 on Monday, May 14, at 7:05 p.m. – Orleans Arena
Game 2 on Tuesday, May 15, at 7:05 p.m. – Orleans Arena
Game 3 – TBD
Game 4 – TBD
Game 5 – TBD
Game 6 on Friday, May 25, at 7:05 p.m. (if necessary) – Orleans Arena
Game 7 on Saturday, May 26, at 7:05 p.m. (if necessary) – Orleans Arena

In the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals, the third-seeded Wranglers will have home-ice advantage over either team by being a higher seed than Florida and having a better regular-season record than Kalamazoo. This will be head coach Ryan Mougenel’s first trip to the Kelly Cup Finals with the Wranglers after advancing his team to the postseason in both 2010 and 2011. The Wranglers last went to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2008, falling in six games to the Cincinnati Cyclones.

The Florida Everblades finished with the 2011-12 regular season with a 39-26-2-5 record to enter the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed. The Kalamazoo Wings, current holder of the E.A. “Bud” Gingher Memorial Trophy for winning the Eastern Conference championship last season, had a 38-26-2-6 regular season record for the third seed. The Everblades currently lead the Eastern Conference Finals series 2-1.

Playoff tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the Wranglers front office at (702) 471-PUCK (7825). Fans can purchase playoff strip tickets starting at $18 per game, or buy individual game tickets starting at $20. Tickets for kids ages 12 and under are just $8.

Photo by John Bosworth

The Las Vegas Wranglers clinched their position in the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals tonight after defeating the defending champion Alaska Aces 3-1 to take the series 4-1.

On a power play in the first five minutes of the game, Aces forward Dan Kissel tallied the first goal of the night to give Alaska a 1-0 lead. Wranglers center Eric Lampe responded on a Las Vegas power play nine minutes later, tying the game 1-1 with his sixth postseason goal. To give the team their first lead of the night, Wranglers center Judd Blackwater scored at the 18:22 mark to make it a 2-1 game in favor of Las Vegas.

Both Wranglers goaltender Joe Fallon and Aces goaltender Gerald Coleman held the second period scoreless as the Wranglers outshot the Aces 12-4. The 2-1 score held through the majority of the third until Alaska went on a fourth power play with 88 seconds left in regulation. Coleman was pulled, giving the Aces a 6-4 advantage, but Wranglers left wing Josh Lunden notched an empty net goal in the last three seconds of the game to secure the 3-1 win for the Wranglers. With that win, the Wranglers took the series 4-1 from the Aces to advance to the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals, and won the Bruce Taylor Trophy for being the Western Conference champions.

Las Vegas Wranglers last won the Taylor Trophy after defeating the Utah Grizzlies in the 2008 playoffs. The Aces won the Taylor Trophy last season. The Wranglers last went to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2008, falling in six games to the Cincinnati Cyclones.

The Wranglers will face the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals, which is between the Florida Everblades and the Kalamazoo Wings, with 2012 Kelly Cup Finals dates to be announced shortly. The Everblades currently lead their series 2-1.

Tonight’s full box score can be found here.

Highlights from Game 4 against the Alaska Aces on Tuesday night, which the Wranglers won 3-2 for a 3-1 series lead!