Endurance, combined with physicality and multiplied by the speed of the game, makes it one of the more difficult sports to participate in at a high level. And for the Las Vegas Wranglers, it doesn’t get any easier when you’re without five players – especially when those five might be the best in the entire league.

It’s the nature of the beast here in the ECHL – the cream always floats to the top, and for us, the top means the AHL. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, the snake has bitten rather hard this past week, removing five of the ECHL’s most talented skaters from the Wrangler organization; the first three of which, all happen to be on Las Vegas’ top scoring line.

Forward Eric Lampe and his league leading 34 goals are currently nestled comfortably in Hamilton, where he’s already scored once in his first two games for the Bulldogs. Team assists leader Peter MacArthur is also off to a great start up in Lake Erie, where through four games, he already has two points (one goal, one assist). As for the third member of the Wranglers’ top line? That would be Judd Blackwater, who has been in Abbotsford since December – and while Judder has struggled at times (-12 rating through 16 games), the fact that he remains with the Heat just goes to show you his 38 points through 31 games with Las Vegas have earned him some time to work through this slump, no matter how long that takes.

But the list doesn’t stop there. The Wranglers are also currently without top defensemen Jamie Fritsch, who is in the middle of his second stint in the AHL, this time with the Houston Aeros. Factor in forward Scott Campbell, who is also making his second appearance in the AHL (one shot through one game), and you’ve got five Las Vegas skaters missing from this lineup. Five very, very talented skaters, who are no longer with the team.

Again, it’s sort of the nature of the beast in this league. No excuses about it. Another beast Mougenel and the Wranglers have to deal with, though, is the fact that now they’ve got to roll five less skaters onto the ice every night; meaning instead of the typical 16-17 they dress in black and white every game, they’ve only got 14.

Gulp.

What does that mean? Well, shorter shifts, more ice time, less breathers and plenty of tired legs.

Much, much more tired legs.

Just take a look at Wednesday night’s game in Utah – their first game without the trio of Lampe, Fritsch and MacArthur. Las Vegas jumped out to a 1-0 lead, and was in the midst of a hard fought 1-1 score. But Utah took advantage of Las Vegas’ thin bench, and roped off two unanswered goals in the final frame, going on to win 3-1.

So if they had tired legs on Wednesday night, what did they have this weekend? In the midst of a “three games in three days” home stand capped off by a midnight puck drop?

If your answer was “tired legs,” you’d be half correct. If you’re answer was “no legs,” you’d be more in the ballpark.

But if you also included in your answer, “Well, they still scraped out two wins in those three games,” you’d be right on the money.

See, that’s the thing about this squad. A lot of words get thrown around the room when you talk about sports teams: Grit. Guts. Heart. Mental strength. But all four of those have never applied more than to this team right now.

There’s something to be said about a squad that loses five supremely talented skaters – including their entire top line, the league leading scorer, team assists leader, and top defender – and keeps on winning.

The evidence is there – this team is gassed. Or at least, they were this past weekend. Consider this: Las Vegas used their talent – they’ve still got plenty left on this roster – to jump out to three huge leads this weekend: 3-1 on Friday, 2-0 on Saturday, and 4-1 on Sunday.

Unfortunately, because of that thin bench and lack of skaters, the Wranglers let Utah roar back in the third period each and every game. In fact, it got so bad Friday night, the Grizzlies were able to net three unanswered goals, including the game-winner with just over a minute left. 4-3 final, Grizzlies win.

On Saturday night, it was déjà-vu all over again as Utah turned a 2-0 paper bag loss into a 2-1 last second thriller; forcing Mitch O’Keefe to put on a break-dancing clinic in the crease, kicking a few last second shots out of the net to preserve a 2-1 win.

Sunday night? More of the same. Up 4-1 with the game seemingly in hand, the third period reared its ugly head once again and Utah potted a pair of goals to bring the game to 4-3 with seven minutes left. The Grizzlies threw the kitchen sink and then some at Joe Fallon and the Las Vegas defense in the final minutes, but the boys held tough, and preserved a nail-biter of a victory.

Now if you ask Ryan Mougenel, I’m sure he’d be the first to tell you he’d rather not jump out to three goal leads every night, and then close his eyes and cross his fingers as the opposing team pours out buckets of pucks on the ice and rifles them at the net as time expires.

But, I’m sure he’d also be the first to tell you, a win’s a win. And with five of his top skaters in the ECHL, thanks to the host of other talents on this team, the Wranglers just keep on chugging.

Sure, they once had a 10+ point lead in the Pacific Division. And yes, Ontario is now just two points back with four games in hand.

So what. These guys don’t care.

They’re just going to keep putting their heads down, and grinding out tough wins. Long gone are the days where they win 7-2, as Lampe and MacArthur connect on highlight-reel goals to pour free taco coupons down from the ceiling. Instead, it’s a different game of hockey; a tougher game of hockey. A game of hockey that the sport was built upon.

Just ask Robbie Smith, who threw three of the coldest knocks to the head you’ll ever see in the first of three fights in Sunday’s midnight game. Or Jeff May, who gave Grizzly forward Kory Falite a mouth full of shoulder in a hit that you’ll see replayed a hundred times before the season is over.

It means more work for Mitch O’Keefe, and even more for Joe Fallon, who grabbed his league leading 27^th win last night. It also means more of an offensive load for Josh Lunden, Adam Miller and Sean Wiles, who had a hand in six of Las Vegas’ nine goals this weekend.

But the boys are just fine with that.

Picture this: Defensemen Barry Goers, Channing Boe and Michael Busto combined for four goals this weekend. Three defenders, three games, four goals.

A bit weird? Get used to it, Wrangler nation. It’s step up time – and each guy, one through 14, has their laces tied tight.

No question they’d welcome Lampe, Mac, Soupy, Jamie and the rest back with open arms, but that’s not how the game works. You can’t keep thinking, hoping and wishing guys get dropped back down to the ECHL. You’ve got to keep the eyes wide, the head down and work your way to the finish line.

I have no doubt Mougenel, Madill, Barry and the boys will steer us through the thick. This team’s got no quit in them. None. And I don’t see that changing any time soon. If this weekend’s three games were any indication of what’s to come, it’s going to be a damn fun ride. So buckle your seatbelts, Wrangler fans – it’s about to get interesting.

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 top team in the West. No Eric Lampe. 25-1.

Those were the facts.

The Western Conference’s top dog was in town two weeks ago, and with their leading goal scorer fastened tightly to the bench for the night, Las Vegas trudged into the locker room trailing Alaska 1-0 after the first period – a situation in which the Aces were 25-1 this season.

25-1.

Think about that. 26 times Alaska has taken a lead into the first intermission. And only once – one single, measly, accidental time – had they been upended in the latter periods. As a team, they had effectively cut a 60-minute hockey game into thirds – something most hockey teams only dream of.

It’s why baseball teams spend copious amounts of money on their bullpen, and why closers – a guy who’s sole responsibility it is to pitch one inning every three days – are household names. It’s to trim the game down. Cut a nine-inning game down to eight, seven innings if possible. Six, if you’re lucky and extremely talented.

Or three, if you’re the Alaska Aces.

One third – that’s the game plan for Alaska. Jump on top early, and then slam the jail doors down. Win the first 20 minutes – the first third of the game – and then the rest is history. Simple to understand, impossibly difficult to implement for everyone except for the Aces, that is – a team that’s as systematically sound as any you’ll ever see.

They won’t blow you away with offensive prowess. They won’t blow you up into the boards with physical defense. But they have a script written that they follow to the letter. A script that would make Steven Spielberg’s finest work look like a finger painting, and all it does is win, win and win some more. A system of gold. A system that won the Kelly Cup last season. And a system that right now has them atop the Western Conference once again.

So when the Wranglers made their way into the dressing room trailing 1-0 after the first period of Saturday night’s game, things didn’t exactly look bright and shiny. In fact, they looked “1 in 26” bleak.

As the two teams skated out of the locker rooms, Alaska’s system was fully fired up; a first goal lead in tact, the opponent on the ropes, and win number 26 hanging in the balance.

Then, a funny thing happened at Orleans Arena.

Adam Miller and the Wranglers decided that wasn’t okay with them – they decided they weren’t about to become victim #26 – and they threw a wrench into Alaska’s golden Willy-Wonka system of tubes and pulleys…and winning.

Four goals and 40 minutes of hockey later, Las Vegas had jumped up to a 4-2 lead with only seconds remaining on the clock. As those seconds ticked away and the Wranglers faithful stood to their feet, it was apparent to all 7,227 at the Orleans Arena – something special was happening here in Las Vegas.

Just being around the team, you can tell it – you can feel it. After this past weekend’s series of events, can’t you see it?

Something’s going on here with this group of guys. Sure, they want each other to do well, but more importantly, they want the team to do well. All before one – the way it should be. And it all starts at the top, with the coach.

Though he’s not on the ice, Ryan Mougenel deserves as much credit as anyone for this team’s success. It’s more than just Xs and Os on the white board. This guy breathes passion for this Wranglers team. He eats, sleeps, and lives it. And because of that, the team does, too.

Consider this past weekend’s series against Bakersfield. After suffering a heartbreaking shootout loss to the worst team in the Pacific Division, which was preceded by an obnoxious two-hour ice delay – the Wranglers had suffered their third straight defeat, one that ended after the clock struck midnight. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, their next game was in 12 hours, in another state, against the hottest team in the ECHL.

That’s right – waiting for the Wranglers in Las Vegas for a Sunday afternoon matinee was an Ontario Reign squad that had won eight of their last nine games, and stood only a short five points behind the Wranglers in the Pacific. Perfect. Definitely one of those games you don’t mind heading into with only four hours of rest under your belt.

The Wranglers’ response? Oh, you know, just your run of the mill “down 2-0, comeback, overtime win, on virtually no rest, against a team that had only lost once in their last nine games.”

You know – the usual. For these guys anyway…

Look – we like to make the game of hockey as simple as possible at times. Sports writers and announcers will do that every now and then (sue me). But the truth is, it’s more than just offense + defense + goaltending = winning. It’s more than just a system. It’s more than that.

It’s a team – a group of guys working towards one goal; a group of guys with one heartbeat. A group of guys playing for something more than themselves, more than each other, for an entire fan base. For an entire city.

And that’s a very tough thing to play against.

Just ask the Colorado Eagles, who were swept out of their own building a few weeks ago by Las Vegas. Or the Alaska Aces, who came to Las Vegas leading the West, only to be sent home with their tails between their legs. Or better yet, ask the Ontario Reign and the 17 other victims that have been sent home from the City of Lights as losers – compared to just the five that have found victory here at the Orleans.

The fans here in Las Vegas have known for a while now that this team is capable of something great. They know it, I know it, the team knows it – and after sending the reigning champs home squealing, the rest of the league is starting to notice it, too.

Things are a long way from being set. A long way. Don’t forget that – we know Mougenel won’t let the boys forget it.

But if this team plays to its capability – plays the way we’ve seen possible the past few months – then it might be hard to avoid the city of Las Vegas on the road to a Kelly Cup.

Wait a minute – huh? Sounds kind of strange, doesn’t it? The road to a Cup, coming through Las Vegas… the desert.

Yeah – almost as strange as the Aces losing a game when leading after the first period. Or slapping a team that had won eight of their last nine, while you’re running on nothing but Five Hour Energy and caffeine.

Who knows. Maybe Miller and the boys will throw a wrench into that one, too.

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.