Photo by John Bosworth

In the team’s second midnight game of the season, the Las Vegas Wranglers won 4-3 over the Utah Grizzlies tonight, taking two games of the three-game series.

Las Vegas took a 1-0 lead three minutes into the late-night contest on a goal from left wing Adam Miller. Wranglers defenseman Barry Goers tallied a goal ten minutes later, and left wing Josh Lunden made it a 3-0 game for Las Vegas almost six minutes into the second period. For Utah’s first goal of the night, left wing C.J. Severyn got a shot in four minutes later to make it a 3-1 game. The Wranglers were quick to respond, though, with a goal from Channing Boe ending the period 4-1 in favor of Las Vegas.

Midway through the third period, Grizzlies center Justin Dowling scored the lone power play goal of the night to make it 4-2. Just 1:54 minutes later, Dowling notched another goal to cut the Wranglers’ lead to one. Las Vegas held on for the remaining seven minutes in regulation and secured the 4-3 win, giving the team an overall 5-3-0-2 midnight game record and a 1-1-0-0 record when specifically playing the Grizzlies at midnight.

The Wranglers start nine games on the road next week, playing five teams in three states before returning home on Sunday, March 18 to face the Bakersfield Condors. March 18 also marks the return of St. Baldricks Night, where Wranglers players will shave their heads on the ice after the game to raise money and awareness for childhood cancers. To donate to your favorite player, please visit the team page here. Tonight’s full box score can be found here.

Photo by John Bosworth

The Las Vegas Wranglers took game two from the Utah Grizzlies tonight, beating them 2-1 and splitting the three-game series.

Wranglers left wing Josh Lunden put the team on the board less than two minutes into the game. At just 1:49, he netted a power play goal for a 1-0 lead. Las Vegas outshot Utah 11-6 through the first period, and midway through the second, Lunden tallied his second power play goal of the game for a 2-0 Wranglers advantage.

Wranglers goaltender Mitch O’Keefe was perfect through almost 57 minutes of play until Grizzlies left wing Kory Falite ended the possible shutout. With 3:09 left in regulation, Falite recorded his fifth goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game. The Grizzlies took a 12-4 shot lead in the third but were unable to capitalize, handing Las Vegas the game two win in the three-game series. Lunden, O’Keefe and Wranglers left wing Adam Miller, with two assists, each received a Three Star honor.

The Wranglers and Grizzlies finish the three-game series tomorrow night during the Wranglers Midnight Circus. The puck drops at 11:59 p.m. for the second time this season, and fans will find contortionists, magicians, stilt walkers and more inside Orleans Arena. Tonight’s full box score can be found here.

Campbell, 25, has tallied 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) in 45 games with the Wranglers this season, ranking him 15th in the ECHL among rookies. A native of Navan, Ontario, Campbell spent four years (2007-11) at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, collecting 39 goals and 46 assists in 126 games before getting called up to the AHL’s Houston Aeros for six games. The 6’2’’, 210-pound forward previously appeared in one game for the AHL’s Rochester Americans in December as well.

Former Wranglers right wing Matt Watkins has also been called up from the AHL’s Portland Pirates to the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. Watkins played in 14 games for Las Vegas in the 2009-10 season, recording 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) and 12 penalty minutes before going up to the AHL. This season, the 5’10’’, 190-pound forward has 27 points (9 goals, 18 assists) in 47 games for the Pirates.

The Wranglers continue their three-game series against the Utah Grizzlies tonight at 7:05 p.m. The first 2,000 fans will receive a free team trading card set, and tomorrow marks the debut of the Wranglers Midnight Circus, with stilt walkers, magicians, contortionists and more at 11:59 p.m.

Photo by Stephen Sylvanie

The Las Vegas Wranglers fell 4-3 to the Utah Grizzlies tonight in the first of a three-game home series.

It only took two and a half minutes for Grizzlies forward Paul McIlveen to get the first goal of the night on the board. Utah briefly held the 1-0 lead until Wranglers left wing Josh Lunden tied it up three minutes later. Las Vegas took a 2-1 lead six minutes into the second on a goal from defenseman Barry Goers, and center Geoff Paukovich put the team up 3-1 with less than seven minutes left in the period. Grizzlies center Mitch Wahl tallied a goal in the last 78 seconds of the period to make it a 3-2 game.

Grizzlies forward John Armstrong tied the game up 3-3 midway through the third on the first power play goal of the night. With four and a half minutes left in regulation, Wahl netted his second goal of the night to win the game 4-3 for Utah, giving the Grizzlies the first game in the series.

The same two teams face off Saturday and Sunday night at Orleans Arena. The first 2,000 fans at tomorrow’s game will receive a free team trading card set, and Sunday’s game marks the debut of the Wranglers Midnight Circus with stilt walkers, magicians, contortionists and more at 11:59 p.m. Tonight’s full box score can be found here.

Photo by Lesley Brown

The Wranglers Midnight Circus makes its debut on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 11:59 p.m. as the Las Vegas Wranglers take on the Utah Grizzlies in their second midnight game of the season. Sponsored by LiveWire Energy Chews, the entertainment will take place both on and off the ice as a wide range of circus acts appear throughout the night.

The Wranglers Midnight Circus will feature aerialist Erica Vanlee and contortionist Stephanie Castellone performing on and above the ice during game intermissions. The Comedy Stylings of Bob and Ray will showcase a variety of acts involving audience participation, and fans will find magicians, stilt walkers and Maria The SnakeBabe on the concourse.

The Wranglers have hosted a midnight game for the past eight seasons to cater to the unique 24-hour audience of Las Vegas. The team added a second midnight game to the schedule this season for the first time in club history. With Monday, Feb. 20, being Presidents’ Day, fans can experience a mix of magic and mayhem without the obligations of work or school the next morning.

Lampe (left) and Fritsch. Photos by Greg McFalls.

The Las Vegas Wranglers announced today that center Eric Lampe and defenseman Jamie Fritsch have both been called up to the American Hockey League. Lampe has been loaned to the Hamilton Bulldogs, and Fritsch is headed to the Houston Aeros.

Lampe, 25, leads the ECHL in goals (34), points (60) and game-winning goals (7). The 5’11, 170-pound center has played in 46 games for Las Vegas this season, and was named the ECHL’s Player of the Month for October 2011. A native of Madison, Wis., Lampe was previously called up to the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters, where he appeared in three games and registered one assist.

Fritsch, 26, has collected eight points (1 goal, 7 assists) and 58 penalty minutes in 38 games for the Wranglers this season. The 6’2’’, 195-pound blueliner played in one game for the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers earlier this season, and spent 13 games with the Aeros in 2010-11. While at the University of New Hampshire in 2008-09, Fritsch also appeared in a game for the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers.

The Wranglers take on the Utah Grizzlies in a three-game home series starting Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:05 p.m. The first 2,000 fans at Saturday’s game will receive free team trading card sets, and Sunday marks the debut of the Wranglers Midnight Circus at 11:59 p.m.

Photo by John Bosworth

In the first of a four-game series against the Utah Grizzlies, the Las Vegas Wranglers fell 3-1 tonight on the road.

Wranglers center Scott Campbell put the team on the board for a 1-0 lead almost eight minutes into the first. On a power play six minutes later, though, Grizzlies forward Paul McIlveen scored to end the period with a 1-1 tie. Both Wranglers goaltender Mitch O’Keefe and Grizzlies goaltender Andrew Engelage held the game scoreless through the second period, with Utah outshooting Las Vegas 13 to 11.

Utah took their first, and final, lead of the night midway through the third on a second power play goal from McIlveen. With 15 penalties issued in the last 20 minutes of play, special teams were hard at work for both the Wranglers and Grizzlies, but an empty net goal from Grizzlies left wing Jeff LoVecchio in the last 13 seconds secured the 3-1 win for Utah.

The same two teams will battle three more times this weekend at Orleans Arena starting on Friday, Feb. 17. The first 2,000 fans at Saturday’s game will receive free team trading card sets, and Sunday marks the debut of the Wranglers Midnight Circus at 11:59 p.m. Tonight’s full box score can be found here.

The Wranglers partnered with Cell Phones for Soldiers last season when defenseman Barry Goers personally asked the team to get involved. Goers’ brother is a Navy electrician who has served one tour overseas and is currently stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which spurred Goers to start collecting donated cell phones in his senior year at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell. In 2010-11, over 600 phones were collected at Wranglers games.

This season, Cricket Wireless has placed donation boxes in each of its 65 locations around the Las Vegas valley where people can drop off cell phones no more than five years old without any accessories. The donations will be accepted through the end of March, and for donating, people will receive a free Wranglers ticket voucher for a future game in the 2011-12 regular season.

“Cell Phones for Soldiers was such a great success last year, and I wanted to make sure we continue the support for our troops,” said Goers. “I started supporting this program years ago in honor of my brother for his service, and all of those who serve, and I’m excited to see how strong the Las Vegas community comes out to support the Cell Phones for Soldiers program this year.”

To find a Cricket Wireless location to drop off donations, please visit www.mycricket.com.

MacArthur (left) and Goers

The Las Vegas Wranglers announced three roster moves today before taking on the Utah Grizzlies tonight. Left wing Pete MacArthur has been called up to the American Hockey League’s Lake Erie Monsters and defenseman Barry Goers has returned from a call-up to the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

MacArthur, 26, is the third leading scorer for Las Vegas this season, tallying 47 points (16 goals, 31 assists) in 38 games. He also holds the season high with most assists in a game, notching four in a game against the Colorado Eagles on Oct. 28. The move to Lake Erie is the second call-up this season for the 5’10’’, 180-pound left wing, who also appeared in one game for the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen in December.

Wranglers defenseman Barry Goers returned to the team yesterday after appearing in two games for Bridgeport. Over the weekend, Goers registered a +3 rating and helped the Sound Tigers win both of their games. His return to Las Vegas puts the 5’9’’, 175-pound blueliner on the ice against the Utah Grizzlies tonight.

The Wranglers take on the Utah Grizzlies on the road tonight before returning home on Friday, Feb. 17, to take on the same team in a three-game home series. The first 2,000 fans at Saturday’s game will receive free team trading card sets, and Sunday marks the debut of the Wranglers Midnight Circus at 11:59 p.m.

Photo by Jerry Gallegos

Battling back from a 2-0 deficit, the Las Vegas Wranglers overcame the Ontario Reign 4-3 this afternoon on a hat trick from left wing Josh Lunden.

Las Vegas went down 2-0 in the first on two power play goals from Ontario at 7:25 and 18:07, both scored by Reign left wing Kevin Estrada. Just 23 seconds after Estrada’s second goal, Wranglers left wing Josh Lunden notched the first goal for Las Vegas, ending the period with a 2-1 deficit. At the end of 20 minutes, there had been a combined seven power play attempts between both teams.

Returning to the ice eager to score, Lunden secured his second goal of the game in the first 39 seconds of the second period to tie the game up 2-2. The Wranglers outshot the Reign 13-3, and with 20 seconds left in the period, Wranglers forward Adam Huxley picked up his sixth goal of the season to give Las Vegas their first lead of the afternoon. The team held the 3-2 advantage until eight minutes into the third when Reign forward Kyle Kraemer netted the third Ontario power play goal of the game to make it 3-3.

For the remaining 12 minutes in regulation, both Reign goaltender Jean-Francois Berube and Wranglers goaltender Joe Fallon held the game scoreless, and Las Vegas was forced into overtime for the second night in a row. A shootout seemed certain after the Wranglers were unable to score on a 4-3 man advantage, but with 78 seconds left on the clock, Lunden tallied his third goal of the night for the 4-3 win and his first hat trick of the season.

The Wranglers hit the road for an away game against the Utah Grizzlies on Wednesday, Feb. 15, which was previously scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The team returns home for a three-game series against the same team on Friday, Feb. 17. The first 2,000 fans at Saturday’s game will receive a free Wranglers trading card set, and the Wranglers Midnight Circus debuts Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. Tonight’s full box score can be found here.