NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Las Vegas Shuffles The Deck With Numerous Roster Moves

October 30, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers announced today that the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League have assigned defenseman P.J. Atherton to Las Vegas. The Wranglers also announced that defenseman Brandon Straub has been reassigned to Las Vegas from the Quad City Flames of the AHL. In another transaction, the Houston Aeros have reassigned center Justin Taylor to Las Vegas. The Wranglers announced that forward Matt Beaudoin has been loaned to San Antonio (AHL) and goalie Martin Houle has been loaned to Peoria (AHL). Left wing Mick Lawrence has been placed on the 30-day injured reserve list. The Wranglers return to action this Friday to host Stockton at 7:30 PM at the Orleans Arena.

A fifth-year center, Taylor joins Las Vegas after playing in two games with the Houston Aeros of the AHL. His four previous seasons were all played at the AHL level with Omaha, Lowell and Norfolk. In an injury shortened season in 2007-08, Taylor scored three goals and totaled five points in seven games with the Norfolk Admirals. Taylor played in Omaha from 2005 to 2007, totaling 24 goals and 31 assists for 55 points in 124 games played. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound center spent his rookie season with the Lowell Lock Monsters in 2004-05. In all, Taylor has 193 games of professional experience. The Edmonton, AB native has 35 career goals and 36 assists for 71 career points.

Straub joins Las Vegas after going scoreless with six penalty minutes in three games with Quad City. Straub enters his second professional season after splitting his first season between the Johnstown Chiefs and the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters. The rugged defender played the majority of the season with the Chiefs, scoring three times and adding nine assists for 12 points in 55 regular season contests. The 25-year old finished among the team leaders with 131 penalty minutes. Straub was scoreless and posted 11 penalty minutes in nine games with Lake Erie. Prior to turning pro, Straub played three years at Colorado College and one year at the University of Findlay. The Colorado Springs, CO native played his freshman season at the University of Findlay, scoring twice and adding four assists for six points in 38 games. Straub was third on the team with 68 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder transferred to Colorado College for his final three seasons in the NCAA. In 84 games with the Tigers, Straub scored twice and assisted on five others for seven points. The rugged defenseman amassed 105 minutes in penalties over three years at Colorado College.

P.J. Atherton started this season in the AHL, going scoreless in two games with Grand Rapids. The third-year defenseman finished third in team scoring and fourth in goals scored while playing for Reading in 2007-08. Overall, Atherton scored 16 times and dished out 25 assists for 41 points in 55 games with the Royals. The Edina, MN native earned a nine-game call-up to the AHL's Manchester Monarchs in 2007-08. In 139 professional games, Atherton has 23 goals and 56 assists totaling 79 points.

Beaudoin scored once in three games with Las Vegas this season. The second-year winger scored 38 goals in 61 games last season with Dayton (ECHL). Beaudoin will play for his fourth AHL team in the last two seasons.

Houle returns to the AHL where he played most of the last three seasons with Philadelphia. Houle made three appearances with Las Vegas, going 1-2-0 with a 3.03 goals against average. The fourth-year netminder split last season between the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) and the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL). In ten games with Philadelphia, Houle posted a 2-5-0 record with a 2.85 goals against average and a .892 save percentage. The 23-year old goalie spent the rest of the season in Wheeling. In 26 appearances with the Nailers, the Montreal, PQ native posted a 5-13-3 record with a 3.73 goals against average and a .889 save percentage.

This Friday night, all kids in costume may receive a free ticket at the Orleans Arena Box Office the night of the game. The Wranglers are also offering a safe form of trick-or-treating to all costumed kids from 6:30 PM -7:25 PM in the concourse of the Orleans Arena. The Wranglers will also hold an on-ice contest for all kids in costume. Every child will receive a prize for participation. Throughout the game, the Wranglers will be playing Halloween themed music with decorations in the concourse. All members of the Las Vegas Wranglers staff will also be in costume.

Las Vegas will host Stockton at 7:30 PM this Friday at the Orleans Arena. The team will travel to Phoenix for a game with the RoadRunners on Monday, November 2nd at 6:11 PM (PST) at U.S. Airways Center. Las Vegas will return home to host Bakersfield on Friday, November 7th at 7:30 PM and Phoenix on Saturday, November 8th at 7:30 PM.

2008-09 season seat packages are on sale now at (702) 471-PUCK. The Wranglers play all 36 regular season home games at the Orleans Arena, located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue.

Individual game tickets are on sale now at (702) 284-7777.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from October 30, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Las Vegas Wranglers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central