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Wranglers Add Bellissimo and Huddy; Acquire Fritsch

August 12, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers announced today that they have agreed to terms with centers Vince Bellisimo and Ryan Huddy for the 2010-11 season. The team also announced that they have acquired the rights to defenseman Jamie Fritsch from the Gwinnett Gladiators in exchange for considerations.

Bellisimo comes to Las Vegas entering his sixth full professional season. The Toronto, Ontario, native has spent time in the ECHL, AHL and Europe since finishing his career with Western Michigan University in 2005. At Western Michigan University, Bellissimo appeared in 110 games, scoring 49 goals and adding 64 assists for 113 points. The 27-year-old then spent time in the AHL, first with the San Antonio Rampage in 2004-05, then with the Lowell Lock Monsters in 2005-06, where his time was split between Lowell and the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. The 6-1, 190-pound center was with the Everblades again in 2006-07, earning 72 points in 56 games and appearing in 16 postseason contests for an additional 23 points. Bellissimo spent the next three years with various teams in Europe, including Ingolstadt ERC, KalPa Kuopio, Innsbruck EV and Asiago HC.

Huddy, 26, joins the Wranglers for his fifth professional season. Huddy, a native of Stony Plain, Alberta, played for Bemidji State University of the NCAA from 2002-2006, appearing in 140 games and tallying 90 points. The 5-9, 180-pound center began his post-collegiate career with Peiting EC in Germany in 2006-07 and spent 2007-08 with Germany's Hannover Indians. In 2008-09, Huddy joined the Stockton Thunder and scored 35 goals and 38 assists for 73 points in 69 games. He also appeared in 14 playoff games with the Thunder, where he added 14 points, and spent five games with the AHL's Springfield Falcons earning one assist. Huddy signed with the Odense Bulldogs of Denmark for the 2009-10 season. In 20 games with the Bulldogs, Huddy scored 20 goals and added 16 assists for 36 points.

Fritsch, a 6-2 200-pound defenseman entering his second professional season, was acquired by Las Vegas via trade with the Gwinnett Gladiators for considerations. Fritsch played four seasons with the NCAA's University of New Hampshire and earned 39 points in 146 games from 2005-2009 before going pro. The 25-year-old signed an Amateur Tryout with the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL in the 2008-09 season, where he appeared in one game for a +1 rating. A native of Odenton, Maryland, Fritsch spent 48 games with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL in 2009-10, tallying five points and 41 penalty minutes. Fritsch also earned a call-up to Norfolk of the AHL, where he played two games.

Wranglers GM/Head Coach Ryan Mougenel expressed his excitement in adding Fritsch to the Wranglers squad, saying, "Jamie has been on my radar for the past two years. He is a player with NHL experience who adds to an already solid blue line."

The Las Vegas Wranglers(r) are the ECHL affiliate to the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes and the American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage.

The Wranglers host Opening Night on Friday, October 22nd, 2010 at 7:05 pm against Victoria. 2010-11 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 adjacent to the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue.

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