More changes for the Wranglers

LAS VEGAS – In another smattering of good news mixed with bad news for the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL, a star defenseman from last season has decided to end his professional hockey career. However, another player from last season has decided to make Las Vegas his hockey home for at least one more campaign and a long-time ECHL standout has decided to make Las Vegas his home.
As was announced earlier this off-season, last seasons star Wranglers defenseman, Kevin Schaeffer, has decided to retire from professional hockey. A very successful career saw him begin at Boston University and then travel through the ECHL with Reading and Charlotte and the AHL with Providence, Lake Erie and Hartford before eventually landing in Las Vegas. Schaeffer played in 67 games in his solo season for the Wranglers, scoring three goals and 17 points while only serving 24 penalty minutes.
In good news for Wranglers fans, another star defenseman from last year, Jamie Fritsch announced that he has re-signed with Las Vegas for next season. Fritsch, an outstanding product of University of New Hampshire and a veteran of one NHL game with the Philadelphia Flyers, returns to the Wranglers after a previous season that saw him share his time between Vegas and Houston of the AHL. Fritsch’s signing adds to the ever growing list of players signed by the team for next season and is the only returning player from 2010-11 so far to return to the club.

In more good news for Wrangler fans, is the signing of center Judd Blackwater, a perennial ECHL favorite with Fresno, Stockton and Alaska before his move to Vegas. Blackwater, who started his pro career in the AJHL and WHL, spent last season with Allen of the CHL, netting his team 49 points in as many contests with only 38 penalty minutes. Blackwater adds to an ever growing list of new additions to the Wranglers roster, showing that the team is trying to restructure the squad after the disappointment of the last seasons late season collapse.
While Fritsch and other former Wranglers finding continued success in the difficult world of professional hockey, some former Wranglers have decided to hang up their skates. Some of the former Wranglers players that have not suited up in at least the previous season include, Morten Ask, Jeff Attard, Ryan Bonni, Sebastian Centomo, Jason Dest, Ryan Donally, Glenn Fisher, Mike Hamilton, Jason Jozsa, Brandon Kaleniecki, Daniel Manzato, Bruce Mulherin, Marco Peluso, Sean Owens, Chris St Croix, Rejean Stringer and Chris Wheaton among others.
Also included in this list are the Ferraro brothers, Peter and Chris. The Ferraro brothers, both long time veterans of the NHL, AHL and Team USA, have spent their post-Nevada career running a training center for youth hockey players in their native Long Island, NY.
Despite these fine players deciding to pursue other interests, some former Wranglers players that are not only still lacing up the skates every season but have graduated to the highest level of hockey. Former Wranglers who have found playing time recently in the NHL are Deryck Engelland (Pittsburgh), Adam Pardy (Dallas), Tyler Sloan (Nashville), Tyson Strachan (St Louis) and Tyler Sloan (Washington).
With all of this movement and the fact that training camps all around the world are getting ready to start, it should call for a very interesting next few months before the start of the regular season. The first North American league to start play is the WHL, with the ECHL, AHL and NHL all following suit very soon after.
Contact Joel.Hoopaugh@prohockeynews.com