Miller and Paukovich Return to Wranglers

Published on September 29, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, Nev. - The Las Vegas Wranglers(r) announced today that they have agreed to terms with centers Adam Miller and Geoff Paukovich ("PAW-ko-vitch") for the 2011-12 season.

Miller, 26, earned an amateur try-out agreement with the Wranglers in the 2007-08 season after four years at Ferris State University. In nine regular-season games and 20 playoff matches, the 6'1, 201-pound center collected 24 points (7g, 17a) and 28 penalty minutes.

For his first professional season with the Wranglers in 2008-09, Miller put up 57 points (17g, 40a) and 53 penalty minutes over 54 regular-season games and 18 playoff games. He appeared in 10 games with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals as well. During the Wranglers 2009-10 season, he played in 77 games, racking up 89 points (34g, 55a) and 102 penalty minutes. Miller also won first place in the Reebok fastest skater competition at the 2010 ECHL All-Star Skills Competition with a time of 14.29 seconds. The Livonia, Mich. native spent the 2010-11 season playing in Sweden and Finland.

"Adam Miller gives us a lot of speed up the middle, and he's an offensive threat every time he steps on the ice," said General Manager and Head Coach Ryan Mougenel. "We are elated to have him back in our line-up."

Paukovich, 25, joined the Wranglers in the 2010-11 season, recording 23 points (7g, 16 a) and 84 penalty minutes in 61 games. The 6'4, 215-pound forward spent the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons primarily with the AHL's Springfield Falcons, where he acquired 17 points (10g, 7a) and 126 penalty minutes. Paukovich was named "Springfield Hockey Man of the Year" in 2009 for his community service efforts as well.

The Englewood, Colo. native turned pro in the 2007-08 season with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder. He notched 26 points (13g, 13a) and 94 penalty minutes in 70 games, and appeared in six Thunder games in the 2008-09 season. He was also a second-round NHL draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2004.

"Paukovich is a big presence up the middle," said Mougenel. "He's an extremely responsible player and was a big reason why we had the second-best goals-against record in the ECHL last year."

The Wranglers host Opening Night, billed as "The Last Professional Hockey Game on Earth," on Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 7:05 PM against Ontario Reign. 2011-12 season seat packages are on sale now at (702) 471-PUCK. The Wranglers play all 36 regular season home games at the Orleans Area, located adjacent to the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue.

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