Wranglers Agree To Terms With A Pair of Defensemen

September 16, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


LAS VEGAS, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defensemen Brandon Straub and Jim Jorgensen. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Most of our fans will be familiar with Jorgensen, who played for us at the end of the season after finishing school," said General Manager Glen Gulutzan. "He will give us steady play and some extra depth on the back-end. Straub is a big, young and tough defenseman who should bring a physical presence to our lineup."

Jorgensen will enter his first full season of professional hockey after completing a four-year stint at Ferris State University. Jorgensen played for Las Vegas at the end of his college eligibility in late March. In eight games with Las Vegas, the first-year defenseman scored his first professional goal and assisted on two others totaling three points. Jorgensen posted a +4 in his short stint with the Wranglers. For his college career, the Sault Ste. Marie native posted 30 assists and 38 points in 114 games. The 6-foot, 200-pounder defender also racked up 54 penalty minutes. As a sophomore in 2005-06, Jorgensen set collegiate highs and was the team's leading scorer among defensemen with 15 assists and 16 points in 32 games.

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.

With the addition of Straub and Jorgensen, the Wranglers have announced a total of 11 players signed for the 2008-09 season. Defensemen Gerard Miller, Bret Tyler, Jason Dest and Mike Madill have all agreed to terms for 2008-09. Forwards Tyler Mosienko, Adam Miller, Matt Beaudoin and Brandon Kaleniecki have also signed. Two-time Central Hockey League Goalie of the Year John Decaro has also agreed to terms for the upcoming season. More player signings will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

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.

Opening night is scheduled for Thursday, October 23rd at the Orleans Arena. Individual game tickets are on sale now at (702) 284-7777.



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