GAME NIGHT NOTES – 3/7/08

Tonight the Wranglers and Condors meet for the ninth time this season and the 40th meeting overall. Las Vegas is 6-2-0 against Bakersfield this season and 29-10-1 all-time. The Wranglers are coming off a 5-1 win over Stockton Tuesday night, while the Condors were defeated 5-4 last night in Phoenix. Las Vegas is 17-4-5 at home this season and 4-2-4 in the last ten games played overall. Bakersfield is 10-18-2 on the road this year and 2-8-0 in the last ten games played.

Last Time Out
The Las Vegas Wranglers® defeated the Stockton Thunder 5-1 in front of 4,413 fans on Tuesday night at the Orleans Arena. Captain Peter Ferraro scored three goals for his first hat trick of the season. Center Tyler Mosienko set up three goals and Ryan Donally added two assist as the Wranglers finished the season series with Stockton at 7-1-1. Goalie Kevin Lalande stopped 33 of 34 Stockton shots in the victory, improving to 13-4-3. Forwards Kelly Czuy and Josh Sciba also scored in the win.

Wranglers Roundup
Right wing Peter Ferraro leads the team in scoring with 29 goals and 31 assists for 60 points in 55 games. Peter also leads the team with 193 shots on goal this season. Center Tyler Mosienko is second on the team in scoring with 53 points. Right wing Adam Cracknell is fourth in the team scoring race with 50 points. Cracknell has not scored since February 18th. Las Vegas has 13 games remaining on the season with 10 of them at home. In order for the Wranglers to become the only team in ECHL history with three straight 100-point seasons, they must earn 15 points out of a possible 26 (.577 winning percentage). After starting the season 20-2-4, Las Vegas is 17-9-7 over the last 33 games.

Roster Report – Sciba Traded to Dayton, Brudzewski Added 
The Las Vegas Wranglers announced Thursday that the team has traded forward Josh Sciba to the Dayton Bombers for future considerations. Sciba leaves the Wranglers after playing in 22 games, scoring six goals and one assist for seven points. Prior to joining the Wranglers, Sciba played in four games with Bakersfield, scoring one goal. Forward Steve Brudzewski has been added to the line-up. A Las Vegas local, Brudzewski last played professionally in 2004-05 with the Dayton Bombers. In ten games, the 27-year old posted two goals and six points. Brudzewski played four years at Bowling Green University, posting 35 goals and 61 points in 140 NCAA games.

Las Vegas will be without the services of defenseman Sean Owens and left wing Shawn Limpright. Owens (concussion) has been out since late January after a hit by Utah’s Olivier Labelle. Owens has resumed physical activity and could start skating within the next few days. Limpright is out 6-8 weeks with a lower-body injury. If all goes well, the Wranglers may get Limpright back by the second or third round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Left wing Marco Peluso is serving the second game of his two-game suspension tonight.

Defensemen Gerry Burke and Gord Baldwin remain in the AHL with Quad City. Rookie center Curtis Fraser remains with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. Defenseman Tyson Strachan remains in the American Hockey League with the Peoria Rivermen. Defenseman Jason Jozsa also remains on recall to Grand Rapids of the AHL.

St. Baldrick’s Weekend
Tonight the Wranglers will wear specialty jerseys that fans may bid on through a silent auction on the concourse. A portion of the proceeds collected from the jersey auction will be donated to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. On Saturday March 8th, after the Wranglers host the Phoenix RoadRunners at 7:05 pm. Assistant Coach Brent Bilodeau and eight Wranglers have volunteered to shave their head at McMullan’s after the game. Jason Dest, Aaron Power, Daniel Manzato, Sean Owens, Adam Cracknell, Brad Cole, Bruce Mulherin and Ryan Donally will have their heads shaved for charity. Front office employee Victor DeMarco will also shave his head. Fans and St. Baldrick’s supporters may donate money to the cause by sponsoring a Wranglers player on the internet at www.stbaldricks.org. In order to make a donation in a player’s name, fans may search under the first name by typing in “Wranglers”.

Birds From Bakersfield
The Condors have been devastated by injuries to key veterans such as team captain Sean Venedam and defenseman Scott Balan. Both are out for the remainder of the season. Venedam was the only player on the Condors roster with more points than games played. Center Tim Konsorada leads the Condors in scoring with 54 points in 58 games played. Right wing Mark Derlago is tied with Konsorada for the team lead with 28 goals in 57 games played. Forwards Andrew Ianiero and Brett Lutes are also among team leaders for points. Defenseman Kevin Truelson leads the team with a +6 rating. The All-Star ranks fourth among ECHL defenseman with 40 points. Bakersfield has added six new players within the last ten days. All-Star winger Todd Griffith was traded to South Carolina on Tuesday.

Goalies Yutaka Fukufuji and Michel Robinson split time between the pipes for Bakersfield. On the season, Fukufuji is 10-14-1 with a 3.67 goals against average and a .888 save percentage. Robinson is 6-8-3 with a 4.38 goals against average and a .876 save percentage.

Tale of the Tape...

GPG=Goals Per Game GA= Goals Against Per Game PP=Power Play PK=Penalty Kill PIM= Penalty Minutes Per Game

Next Game ...
Host Phoenix on Saturday at 7:05 pm – at Orleans Arena

The Wranglers play all 36 home games at the Orleans Arena, located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Individual game tickets are now on sale. Fans may purchase tickets on the Wranglers team website atwww.lasvegaswranglers.com.or the Orleans Arena website (www.orleansarena.com. Fans may also purchase tickets at any of the following locations in the valley: Galleria Mall, Meadows Mall, Orleans Casino showroom box office, Gold Coast Casino showroom box office and the Sun Coast Casino showroom box office. Tickets may be ordered by phone at (702) 739-3267.

Call (702) 471-PUCK (7825) for more information or visit www.lasvegaswranglers.com.