Pair of Wranglers Head to AHL, Beaudoin Returns from San Antonio

Published on November 11, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers® announced today that defenseman P.J. Atherton has been recalled by the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. Las Vegas also announced that defenseman Brandon Straub has been recalled by the Quad City Flames of the AHL. In a separate transaction, the team announced that forward Matt Beaudoin has been returned to Las Vegas by the San Antonio Rampage (AHL). Las Vegas will return home to host Idaho on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM.

Beaudoin returns after his recall to the AHL with San Antonio. The second-year winger was scoreless with the Rampage in one appearance. 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).

Straub returns to Quad City where he started the 2008-09 season by suiting up in three games with six penalty minutes and zero points. The rugged defender was scoreless in five games with the Wranglers. He racked up 15 minutes in penalties with Las Vegas before his recall to the AHL. Straub is in his second professional season after splitting his first season between the Johnstown Chiefs and the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters. The defenseman 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.

P.J. Atherton returns to Grand Rapids where he started the season, going scoreless in two games with the Griffins. Atherton scored a goal and picked up an assist in five games with the Wranglers. The 26-year old also posted a +2 with four penalty minutes. 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.

The Wranglers host Idaho on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM. The first 2,000 fans to the game on Friday night receive a fake mustaches sponsored by Studio Blue. The Wranglers will also wear light blue helmets, which will be auctioned off for Prostate Cancer Awareness.

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