Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EMERGENCY FILL-IN: Coach laces skates, aids Wranglers' win

Assistant Frederick, 35, helps Las Vegas streak to 4-1 victory

By TODD DEWEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Adam Huxley, foreground, of the Wranglers takes a spill on a second-period hit by Dale Purinton (28) of the Victoria Salmon Kings on Monday at the Orleans Arena. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

Volunteer assistant coach Joe Frederick was pressed into action Monday night for the Wranglers, who were missing five starters for their game against Victoria.

The Wranglers might want to keep the 35-year-old Frederick in the lineup after he helped break open a 4-1 victory over the Salmon Kings in front of an announced crowd of 5,920 at the Orleans Arena.

It was the Wranglers' first win in regulation since Jan. 8 and second straight victory to start a seven-game homestand after a 1-5 road trip.

The loss extended Victoria's ECHL-record winless streak to 18 games (0-16-2) as the last-place team fell to 7-29-5.

Las Vegas, 20-19-4 overall and 11-9-1 at home, took control by scoring twice in a little more than a minute late in the second period.

Clinging to a 2-1 lead with 1:45 left in the period, Frederick took a pass from Dustin Johner at the point, wound up and fired a slap shot that Chris Stanley deflected in mid-air for a power-play goal.

Frederick, a 12-year veteran who was the team's full-time assistant coach last year, works full-time as a valet at The Orleans. He volunteered to play Monday afternoon after learning the Wranglers would be without Jason and Mike McBain, Jeff Attard, Dana Lattery and Marc Magliarditi, who were all out sick.

Frederick, who signed a one-day contract, hadn't skated in close to a month, but it didn't show.

"It's in my blood," he said. "I loved it, coming back and getting a chance to play again. I know all the guys and it's nice to be in the locker room again and compete.

"I'm not even close to game shape, but I'll help out any way I can."

Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan, who won a championship as a player in Fresno with Frederick, said his younger players can learn from him.

"Freddy can still play. He's a smart player and he makes the game easier on himself," he said. "He doesn't have his skating legs, but he makes simple plays."

Frederick discounted any notion of playing a larger role with the team.

"I don't know if I could handle it. It's tough on my body," he said. "But I love it every time I get the chance."

Darren Lynch scored twice for the Wranglers. After scoring midway in the first period, he made it 4-1 with 32 seconds left in the second on a nice cross-ice feed from Shawn Limpright, whose three assists gave him six in his past six games. Lynch had two goals in his previous 10 games.

Christian Chartier scored for the Wranglers midway in the second when he backhanded in a rebound of a Limpright shot on a 5-on-3 advantage.

Las Vegas goalie Sebastien Centomo stopped 36 of 37 shots to improve to 12-8-2.

"It was the first game we've won in awhile where we've had some breathing room," Gulutzan said.