LAS VEGAS, N.V. – In a very exciting time for the Las Vegas Wranglers, there have been a rash of new signings. Among these are a fan-favorite from last season and a longtime ECHL Western Conference star. Also another player has decided to try Las Vegas for his first professional season.
In a recently announced move that delighted many home fans, last seasons outstanding defenseman, fan-favorite and overall great guy, Barry Goers has decided to re-sign with Las Vegas for the upcoming season. Goers, a defenseman who started his hockey career at University Mass-Lowell, first joined the Wranglers at the end of the 2009-10 season. Lacing up for eleven games and earning six points with zero penalty minutes, Goers was a defensive standout the entire season and a prime example of a community player off the ice.
During last season, Goers suited up for a team high 64 games while contributing 27 points and 44 penalty minutes. Goers was selected to play at the 2010-11 ECHL All-Star game in Bakersfield, California becoming the only non-Bakersfield player to suit up for the Condors in the game.
In other signing news, center Ash Goldie, brother of Wes from the Alaska Aces, returns to the North American game after spending last season in 2. Bundesliga with the Ravensburg Tower Stars (Germany). Goldie, started his hockey career as a standout with Michigan State University before moving to the professional game and the ECHL. Playing two seasons in Long Beach, Goldie then moved to Victoria for the 2007-08 campaign before heading overseas, first to Herlev in Denmark, then Langenthal in Switzerland before Ravensburg last season.
While not being a player who spends too much time in the box, Goldie has always been an offensive powerhouse, having scored more points per season than games played in every professional campaign except for his inaugural season in Long Beach.
A good move for the Wranglers is the signing of first year professional Luka Vidmar. Vidmar, a defenseman hailing from Ljubljana, Slovenia, is one of the few non-North American born players to ever play for the Wranglers. Vidmar started his North American hockey career in the USHL, playing two seasons for the Chicago Steel before moving to four seasons with the University of Alaska- Anchorage. With UA-A, Vidmar suited up for 114 games, earning 33 points and 137 penalty minutes.
Also, forward Ryan Weston, a Wrangler during the 2009-10 season, returns to the club following a successful season in the AHL. Weston, playing for Boston University before spending most of his pro career in the AHL with Albany and San Antonio, returns to the Wranglers after a very successful season with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. During his time as a Wrangler during the 2009-10 season, Weston played 26 games, earning 17 points and 46 penalty minutes. Weston split his time during that campaign between Las Vegas and San Antonio.
Another fantastic signing by the Wranglers is the addition of defenseman Shawn Fensel, a talented player in an ever-growing list of rookies to sign with the club for next season. Fensel played his collegiate career at St. Lawrence University, sharing ice time with Wrangler star Mike Madill. Fensel then moved to the professional ranks, joining the 1000-Islands Privateers and the Missouri Mavericks of the Federal Hockey League for the 2010-11 season, playing a combined 61 games while earning 45 points and eight penalty minutes.
Las Vegas, native, Centennial High School graduate and former Wrangler defenseman Eddie DelGrosso, is currently awaiting news about his place for next season after going on free agency under both HIFK Helsinki and HPK Hameenlinna of the SM-Liga. DelGrosso, who also owns a sandwich shop here in town, played for both Finnish league teams last season, spending eight games in the league, while earning one point and four penalty minutes. After his Suomi time, DelGrosso then joined the Wranglers mid-season for 29 games, earning eleven points and fourteen penalty minutes. DelGrosso, along with Adam Naglich, Chris Francis and Jason Zucker is only the fourth native of Las Vegas to play professional hockey.
Zucker, who spent last season with University of Denver, is currently on the US National Team junior squad and was selected by the Minnesota Wild in last years NHL draft and is widely expected to become the first Silver State native to play in the NHL.
As the “silly-season” for the hockey world and the ECHL starts to wind down and the clubs start looking to the imminent start of the season, more and more clubs around the world are starting to finalize their rosters and really decide who is going to be the best to take them to their individual cups next June.
Jeff Hazelwood, a former Wrangler who saw 53 games with the club during the 2009-10 season has signed with the Arizona Sundogs of the CHL. Hazelwood netted twenty points and eighteen penalty minutes in his time as a Wrangler. Since leaving the Wranglers for the 2010-11 season, Hazelwood has spent time with Texas and Laredo, respectively, in the CHL before this most recent move to Arizona of the same league.
Marcus Watson, a two game veteran of the Wranglers from last season, recently decided to return to college. Watson, playing in the QMJHL, WHL and BCHL before his short stint as a Wrangler, starts his collegiate career at Nipissing University in Ontario when that team starts its upcoming campaign soon.
In more overseas transactions news for former Wranglers, 2008-09 Wrangler center, Justin Taylor, has signed a tryout contract with Olimpija Ljubljana of the Erste Bank Liga. Taylor, who spent last season with the Ontario and Idaho of the ECHL, joins former Wrangler Brad Cole and Jean-Phillipe Lamoureaux, a former Grizzly and Ace.
In my last article for this site, in the paragraph regarding all of the former ECHL talent that has joined Medvescak Zagreb of the Erste Bank Liga, a players name was inadvertently left out of the article. The former Bakersfield Condor and Las Vegas, Nevada native that joined his former coach, Marty Raymond in Medvescak is right wing Adam Naglich.
Contact the writer at Joel.Hoopaugh@prohockeynews.com
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