Three Wranglers called up to AHL

By Steve Silver

Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 | 4:42 p.m.

As the Las Vegas Wranglers prepare for a three-game road trip against the Utah Grizzlies, they will have to do so without some of their top point producers.

The Wranglers (6-8) announced Monday that the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League recalled forwards Justin Bernhardt and Matt Watkins. The Wranglers also loaned defenseman Robbie Bina to the Rampage on Monday.

Bina leads the Wranglers and is second among all defensemen in the ECHL with 14 points through 14 games. Watkins posted four goals and seven assists in 14 games while Bernhardt added four points in nine games.

Las Vegas has struggled mightily against the Grizzlies (8-4) this season. The Wranglers are 1-5 against the Grizzlies and have been outscored 30-17 in those six meetings.

Luckily for Las Vegas, the Grizzlies will also be without some of their top scorers this weekend.

The Abbotsford Heat recalled defenseman Josh Meyers while Utah loaned forwards Ryan Kinasewich to Hamilton and James Sixsmith to Bridgeport.

Kinasewich leads the Grizzlies with 27 points in just 12 games while Sixsmith has notched 21 points in 12 games.

Both of those forwards were particularly dangerous against the Wranglers this season as Kinasewich racked up eight goals and seven assists while Sixsmith recorded six goals and 11 assists in six games against the Wranglers.

The Wranglers travel to the E-Center to face the Grizzlies Friday and Saturday at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday at 4:05 p.m.

Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or [email protected].