Wranglers Gulutzan named Coach of the Year

Published on April 9, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, NV- The ECHL announced on Sunday that Glen Gulutzan of the Las Vegas Wranglers is the 2005-06 recipient of the John Brophy Award.

The annual award is presented to the ECHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success as selected in a vote of league coaches. The trophy is named for John Brophy, who won a record three ECHL titles with Hampton Roads in 1991, 1992 and 1998.

The only coach in Wranglers history, Gulutzan led his team to a 53-13-6 record and a second place finish overall with 112 points. The Wranglers tied the 1999-2000 Florida Everblades and the 2005-06 Alaska Aces for the second-most wins in ECHL history and finished with the third-highest point total in league history. The Wranglers tied the ECHL record for longest road winning streak with 10 consecutive wins from Nov. 22-Dec. 31 and tied the third-longest winning streak in league history with 12 wins in a row from Dec. 3-30. Las Vegas set team records with 53 wins, 28 home wins and 25 road wins. Gulutzan led the Wranglers to a 42-point increase in points from the 2004-05 season. This season, Las Vegas set over 50 new team records. For his success this season, Gulutzan was named Head Coach of the National Conference All-Star Team at the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game in Fresno.

In their inaugural season in 2004-05, the Wranglers finished second in the division at 43-22-7 and lost in five games to eventual champion Idaho in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Gulutzan is 127-68-21 in three seasons behind the bench for Las Vegas. Before becoming the head coach for Las Vegas, Gulutzan was a player-assistant coach for Fresno of the West Coast Hockey League for four seasons, earning All-WCHL honors in 1999 and 2000 and helping the Falcons capture the championship in 2002 and reach Game 7 of the finals in 2003.

Jeff Pyle of Gwinnett finished second in the voting followed by Davis Payne of Alaska. Gwinnett was 50-15-7 and finished first in the American Conference and third overall with 107 points. The Gladiators tied the 2004-05 Pensacola Ice Pilots for the sixth-highest point total in ECHL history and became only the ninth team in league history to win 50 games. Gwinnett set team records for wins (50), home wins (29) and road wins (21). Alaska was 53-12-7 and won the Brabham Cup as the regular season point champion with 113 points. The Aces finished with the second-highest point total in ECHL history and tied the 1999-2000 Florida Everblades and the 2005-06 Las Vegas Wranglers for the second-most wins in league history.

The John Brophy Award is named in honor of John Brophy. Brophy coached more seasons than any other coach in ECHL history with Hampton Roads from 1989-2000 and Wheeling from 2001-03, compiling a career record of 480-323-79 in the regular season and 55-39 in the postseason. Hampton Roads reached the postseason in each of his 11 seasons behind the bench, winning back-to-back titles in 1991 and 1992 and an ECHL record third title in 1998. His three ECHL titles are the most in league history and he is also the all-time leader among ECHL coaches in regular season games (878) and regular season wins (480) and postseason games (94) and wins (55). Brophy ranks second all-time in professional hockey to only the legendary Scotty Bowman. After a 20-year playing career with several different minor league teams, Brophy began his coaching career with the Long Island Cougars (NAHL) in 1973-74. The following season he moved to Hampton Roads to coach the Hampton Gulls (SHL). He guided the Gulls from 1974-77 and in 1977-78 he was behind the bench when the Gulls moved to the American Hockey League. When the Gulls ceased operations, Brophy moved to the Birmingham Bulls where he garnered WHA Coach of the Year honors. Brophy led the Montreal Canadiens affiliate, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs from 1981-84. Brophy served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1984-85 and was named head coach of the Maple Leafs minor league club, the St. Catherines Saints the next season. The next year, Brophy took over as head coach of the Maple Leafs until 1988-89.

ECHL John Brophy Award Winners 2005-06 Glen Gulutzan, Las Vegas Wranglers 2004-05 Nick Vitucci, Toledo Storm 2003-04 Pat Bingham, Wheeling Nailers 2002-03 Claude Noel, Toledo Storm 2001-02 Dave Farrish, Louisiana IceGators 2000-01 Troy Ward, Trenton Titans 1999-00 Bob Ferguson, Florida Everblades 1998-99 Bob Ferguson, Florida Everblades 1997-98 Chris Nilan, Chesapeake IceBreakers 1996-97 Brian McCutcheon, Columbus Chill 1995-96 Roy Sommer, Richmond Renegades 1994-95 Jim Playfair, Dayton Bombers 1993-94 Barry Smith, Knoxville Cherokees 1992-93 Kurt Kleinendorst, Raleigh IceCaps 1991-92 Doug Sauter, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds 1990-91 Don Jackson, Knoxville Cherokees 1989-90 Dave Allison, Virginia Lancers 1988-89 Ron Hansis, Erie Panthers

The first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs starts at the Orleans Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Las Vegas and Idaho will meet for the second time in three years in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

First Round Playoff Schedule vs. Idaho

Game One Tuesday, April 11th at Orleans Arena at 7:05 pm

Game Two Wednesday, April 12th at Orleans Arena at 7:05 pm

Game Three Friday, April 14th at Idaho at 6:00 pm (PST)

Game Four Saturday, April 15th at Idaho at 6:10 pm (PST)

Game Five Monday, April 17th at Idaho at 6:10 pm (PST) - X

Game Six Tuesday, April 18th at Orleans Arena at 7:05 pm - X

Game Seven Wednesday, April 19th at Orleans Arena at 7:05 pm - X

X = If Necessary

Playoff tickets are now available for the 2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Fans may purchase a strip of tickets that will include every home playoff game for as little as $200.00 per seat. Fans may obtain playoff ticket information from the Wranglers' front office by calling 702-471-7825 (PUCK). Wranglers season ticket holders and mini-plan holders have the first right of refusal for their seats. Tickets for all games are on sale now.

Fans may purchase seats to all Wranglers home games at any of the following ticket locations: The Orleans Arena Box Office, Coast Casinos' showroom box offices at The Orleans, Gold Coast, South Coast and Suncoast, or at the Galleria Mall guest relations/ticket centers.

The Wranglers play all 36 home games at the Orleans Arena, located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue. Seat packages to see the Wranglers play at the Orleans Arena for the upcoming 2006-07 season are now on sale, starting as low as $165. Call (702) 471-7825 for more information or visit www.lasvegaswranglers.com.

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