Hole in goal top concern

Magician Hans Klok conjured a pair of pretty women out of thin air Tuesday at the Orleans Arena, where the Wranglers unveiled their new uniforms and team logo.

Las Vegas coach Glen Gulutzan must have paid attention, because he pulled a pair of goalies out of his hockey helmet on Thursday, a day before his team's season opener.

The defending ECHL regular-season champion Wranglers, who went 46-12-14 last year, open their fifth season at 7 p.m. today at Fresno and will host Stockton in their home opener at 7:05 p.m. Sunday at the Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas lost last year's goaltending tandem of Kevin Nastiuk and Mike McKenna to the American Hockey League -- the latter leaving for the AHL late last week -- and released training camp goalies Jan Muenster and Stephan Siwiec earlier this week.

The Wranglers are expected to start former Boston University goaltender John Curry in net tonight, with former Bakersfield goalie Tim Boron the emergency backup.

Curry compiled a career mark of 59-29-15, including 13 shutouts, for the Terriers and went 17-10-8 with a 2.01 goals-against average and seven shutouts last season.

Curry, who started this year with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, flew to Las Vegas on Thursday.

Boron, who gave up two goals in about 50 minutes against the Wranglers in two preseason games, is expected either to hop on the team's luxury bus in Bakersfield, Calif., or meet the squad in Fresno.

Las Vegas expects to receive a goaltender from the Calgary Flames, its NHL affiliate, in a week or two, when the organization's rash of injuries at the position should clear up.

"Our weakness is goaltending until we get that shored up,'' said Gulutzan, who has guided Las Vegas to a 99-25-20 mark the last two seasons and a 173-80-35 record overall. ''We lack size in some areas, but we have guys who compete ... and we've certainly got some firepower.

"It's the most depth we've had up the middle in a long time."

Leading the attack for Las Vegas will be 34-year-old twin brothers Peter and Chris Ferraro. Both add NHL and AHL experience to the Wranglers.

"Expectations are a little higher for Peter and Chris, because they're guys that have done it at a higher level, so you hope they can do it here," Gulutzan said.

The twins said their personal goals are behind them and that they just want to help continue the Wranglers' winning tradition.

"They've had tremendous success, but I don't think the coaching staff will be satisfied until they hoist a (Kelly) Cup and a banner," Chris Ferraro said.

Gulutzan also expects returnees Tyler Mosienko, former ECHL All-Star Marco Peluso, Shawn Limpright and Adam Cracknell to be key contributors up front, along with fresh faces Justin Donati, Bruce Mulherin and Brandon Kaleniecki.

Limpright said winning the Kelly Cup isn't an unrealistic goal. "It's a different team, but I think we're just as good or better on paper," he said.

The defense returns Aaron Power, Jason Jozsa and former ECHL All-Star Jason Krischuk. Tyson Strachan, Jason Dest, Sean Owens and former ECHL All-Star Gerry Burke are new to this year's squad.

"For an (ECHL) hockey team, we're really deep," said Burke, who played for Toledo last season. "We have a lot of talent, and I think we'll be well-prepared and well-coached. The sky's the limit."

Jozsa said the Wranglers have more speed and scoring punch and expects to return to the playoffs for the third straight year.