On thick ice

By Rob Miech

Thursday, April 10, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Peter Ferraro didn’t come to Las Vegas thinking he would rule the ECHL, the lowest level of professional hockey in his 14-year career.

But he did dominate, with a Wranglers franchise-record 36 goals. His eight game winners were second in the league, and he was 11th with 73 points.

Coach Glen Gulutzan points to Ferraro as the weapon that could carry Las Vegas far in the Kelly Cup playoffs.

Ferraro, however, accepts accolades from his boss as rarely as he underrates that guy lined up across from him.

“I never underestimate any league,” he said. “You’ve seen a lot of players from this level get chances in the NHL. That says a lot of the league.”

The Wranglers open a best-of-seven series Friday against Stockton, and the first two games will be played at the Orleans Arena.

Gulutzan, also the Las Vegas general manager, said Ferraro, 35, gives the Wranglers an element of danger that the team didn’t have in its first four seasons.

“We never had that guy who could just really sting you,” Gulutzan said. “Peter Ferraro can really sting you if you make a mistake. That’s the difference.”

Asked to translate, Ferraro bowed his head. He disdains individual credit. He appreciates Gulutzan tapping him to lead and giving him a long leash that allows him to concentrate on offense.

“He’s allowed me that freedom,” Ferraro said. “At the same time, it’s a team game. Teammates put me in those good situations. They draw opponents to them. I have the easiest job. Fortunately, the puck has gone in a lot this season.”

Ferraro had mostly skated in the American Hockey League, the Triple-A level of the sport, and he played 92 NHL games and about 50 in Europe.

He and brother Chris were the first set of identical twins to play in the NHL, for their hometown New York Rangers in 1995, and Gulutzan salivated about acquiring them.

The Ferraros, whose sister, Michelle, runs a Las Vegas model and talent agency, are signed through next season.

Chris has been out for more than a month, from injuries sustained by a cheap-shot blow from a Victoria player, but Peter believes his mirror image will return to the ice soon.

He also admitted he’s had more fun than he thought he’d have down here in the basement of professional hockey.

“We knew this was a winning, and classy, organization, and our big expectations were met,” Peter Ferraro said. “But the job at hand is to have a long stretch in the playoffs and reach our ultimate goal.”

Triple figures, again

Las Vegas (47-13-12, 106 points) made ECHL history with its third consecutive 100-point season. Big deal, because the Wranglers have never won a Kelly Cup championship, right? Think again.

“I think it’s a reflection of the character-type players I’ve had here the past three years,” Gulutzan said. “Every new group that comes in sees that the bar has been set high.”

Then again ...

“A few records are nice,” Gulutzan said, “but it’s not the one we’re chasing.”

He rattled off what has to happen to capture that first title and might have finished with the most important key: “Puck luck.”

Between the pipes

Gulutzan had the luxury of two goalies rated among the league’s top seven, but Switzerland called for Daniel Manzato two weeks ago.

He will participate in the International Ice Hockey Federation world championship in Canada next month. The Swiss haven’t fared well in the tournament in 55 years.

The Wranglers’ top net minder still is Kevin Lalande, whose goals-against average is barely over 2. He’s the second-ranked goaltender in the league, behind Anton Khudobin of Texas.

Lalande, a 21-year-old from Kingston, Ontario, is 17-5-4 and sparkled from the start when he shut out Phoenix in his professional debut.

Tyler Sims, who just finished his career at Providence College, lost to Bakersfield on Friday in his Wranglers debut, but beat Phoenix on Saturday.

Gulutzan said he likes the way Sims stones first shots. Rebounds have been challenging, but it’s up to Las Vegas defensemen, Gulutzan said, to swat them away.

Mutual trust

Wranglers owner Charles Davenport couldn’t pinpoint the deal he has with Gulutzan.

The short version is that they sat down last summer and agreed on an open-ended deal that allows Gulutzan to run the hockey operations as long as he wants.

“More like a CEO,” Davenport said. “It’s a fixed deal with a buyout that’s open-ended. He trusts me and I trust him. He doesn’t have to come to me year after year for a contract.”

Gulutzan was an assistant in Fresno when Davenport owned that franchise. When Davenport bought the rights to a Las Vegas expansion club, he thought only of Gulutzan.

“He makes my life easier,” Davenport said. “If the AHL or NHL came calling, it would be a terrible day for me and Las Vegas, but great for Glen.”

A proud owner

Davenport closed escrow last week on a San Diego nightclub that he will open in the fall. That’s where his family, which made its fortune in wind energy, calls home.

Hours later he hopped on a plane to see his team win in Phoenix.

He’s a regular in Gulutzan’s office after games, and he vowed to own the Wranglers and keep them in Las Vegas for a long time.

Wranglers fans astound him as he cruises the arena concourse and sees them wearing team uniforms in a Hawaiian or other curious motif.

“Some of the ugliest you can imagine, and they still buy them,” Davenport said. “It’s a sign that people are passionate about it. Can’t ask for more.”

Davenport shares that passion and he loves this time of year. If the playoffs end without the Wranglers winning a championship, though, don’t ring Davenport for two months.

“I never ask why I do this,” he said. “There’s nothing more that I want to do than win a championship in Las Vegas.”