Wranglers bound for overhaul

Coming alive in Las Vegas on Friday morning, Adam Miller's head was pounding from a hellacious hockey hangover.

"It hurts right now. Waking up this morning, I was thinking we could be getting ready for the game instead of having the day off," said Miller, the Wranglers' career scoring leader. "I've been thinking about it all day. I wish we were playing tonight."

Had Las Vegas extended the Kelly Cup Finals against Florida - which won the ECHL title in five games with Wednesday's 3-2 overtime victory - it would have hosted Games 6 and 7 on Friday and Saturday at Orleans Arena.

Instead, the Wranglers' close-knit collection of Western Conference champions said their goodbyes at the arena Friday after meeting with coach/general manager Ryan Mougenel.

"I can't tell you how many (players) came in my office and said these were the best guys they've ever been around," Mougenel said. "They had so much fun."

Many of the team's top players aren't expected to return. Miller has signed with a team in Croatia, and forward Ash Goldie and several others also are expected to play overseas next season.

"I really wanted to win with these guys," Miller said. "I wish this team well. It was a great run."

Defenseman Barry Goers has signed with Lake Erie of the American Hockey League, and goalie Joe Fallon and forwards Josh Lunden, Pete MacArthur and Eric Lampe also are expected to land in the AHL.

Players expected to return include defenseman Channing Boe and forwards Sean Wiles and Chris Francis.

Mougenel also hopes to bring back goalie Mitch O'Keefe and defenseman and team captain Mike Madill - as well as himself. The third-year coach isn't under contract for next season.

"I would love to be back," he said.

Las Vegas went 42-22-8 (92 points) during the regular season - placing second in the Pacific Division and third in the West - before rolling through the first three rounds of the playoffs with an 11-2 record to reach the league finals for the second time.

"We had it in us the whole time," Mougenel said. "We just played playoff hockey, where you win with your third line and your grit and guys playing hard defensively."

Despite missing five key players who were in the AHL, the Wranglers swept Utah 3-0 in the West quarterfinals.

A fully loaded Las Vegas team then dismissed Idaho in five games in the semifinals before eliminating defending ECHL champion Alaska in five games in the conference finals - winning the final three at Anchorage.

The Wranglers edged Florida 2-1 in Game 1 of the Finals and led 2-0 after the first period of Game 2 before allowing seven straight goals in a 7-2 loss. The Everblades then won three straight at home, two in overtime, to claim their first ECHL title.

"The series was closer than it appeared. Those two games in overtime could've went either way," Lampe said. "Their goalie (John Muse) played phenomenal. We just couldn't get the puck by him."

Lampe, who tied for the league lead in playoff points with 21 (seven goals, 14 assists), missed Game 5 with an upper-body injury after a hard hit by Florida defenseman Ryan Donald in Game 4.

Miller, second in the ECHL in regular-season scoring with 84 points (32-52), also was banged up against Florida after suffering a dislocated left pinky in Game 5 against Alaska and a swollen ankle from blocking a shot in Game 1 of the Finals.

"I couldn't play to my full potential, but that's how the playoffs are if you go far," Miller said. "A lot of guys were playing with different stuff. Everyone was doing their part. That's why we went so far."

Competing as an independent for the first time, Las Vegas led the league in call-ups among ECHL-contracted players, with 11 promoted to the AHL.

"We showed you don't necessarily need an NHL affiliation to be a top-level team in this league," Mougenel said. "You just need committed hockey players, and that's what we had."

The Wranglers' success was a hit at the box office, too. Average attendance rose by more than 10 percent to 4,339.

"I think it lit a fire under a lot of our fans," Mougenel said. "It got them excited about Wranglers hockey again. We needed this year."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.