LAS VEGAS WRANGLERS

SEASON NUMBER 5

This East Coast Hockey League team opens their fifth campaign Sunday October 20 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

I am expecting the same great entertainment as the last four years where I have seen nearly every game. This is sport. This is hockey. This is fun. This is first class entertainment.

On my personal crusade of not supporting any sport where the players have been on strike, I am left with boxing, indoor soccer and minor league hockey and I am truly happy about that status. The entertainment here is not minor league. The games start on time in a perfect fan friendly arena with a season that runs thru part of April, the team averaged over 5000 fans a game last year and provides special ticket programs for all. None of these players have ever been on strike and there is constant movement of personnel in and out and up and down from the higher class American Hockey league. For any local team, familiarity is terrific but these guys are constantly under pressure to produce and move up as would any minor leaguer.

There is some nice fun between period entertainment to include all too brief interviews with the players. These interviews are on the order of those of Nascar drivers where something informative and entertaining is discussed. As a really professional interviewer myself I find these most enlightening and I think they keep the fans in the stands for a couple extra minutes before going out to buy beer. No yahs and yaknows like those of the goofball college athletes, think before you talk and they do! The Wrangers game production team has my personal input on turning down (or off) the mostly awful down time audio. I am going say a prayer before each game, probably unanswered like all my other prayers.

This hockey organization and its young coach make this team a success for me, no screwing around just hard work, no goon fighters and a game plan to play team ball. It shows ! As a former professional official myself a really appreciate what a great job the referees and linemen do in keeping the peace and running the game, there are fans who watch the officials and I am one of them.

This is first class entertainment for everybody not just the sports fan and if it changes you will hear from me and they will hear from me.

On past seasons A+ 99 DROP THE PUCK

Look for season long updates on this site.