Saturday, October 31, 2105
THE TICKER
Las Vegas – There they were – the proud retired jerseys of UNLV’s #96 Anthony Greener and #13 Ryan Krametbauer – raised on a wall at the Las Vegas Ice Center last night. It was a great move by UNLV’s GM Zee Khan who knew the importance of saluting Rebel heroes. Greener was one of the greatest – if not the greatest – player in UNLV history. For years he always played on the top line, no matter how big of a game. Krametbauer was a top defenseman in the glory days, when UNLV regularly went to the Western Regionals.
Greener and Nick Robone are co head coaches of UNLV’s Rebels hockey team this season. Robone is a five-time Vegas Hockey Roller Player of the Year.
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UConn, whose greatest rival is Central Connecticut, came into the Ice Center with a strong, structured game. The top lines were positioned perfectly, they skated hard, they will be a tough team to beat. Are they better than Utah which is regarded as one of the great Western hockey clubs this season? We think so.
The UConn players were excited to play before an arena packed with fans. Back home, UConn doesn’t get crowds like the one which was jammed into the North Rink bleachers and with other Rebels fans lined around the rinkboards.
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UNLV’s amazing season is not just on the ice. The team marketing outstanding, the best we’ve seen since the ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers were in town. We plan to add the ‘Best Team Marketing’ category for the annual Vegas Hockey Awards. Voting for those awards including Player of the Year and Best Defenseman plus Best Coaches on all levels here in town begin in December.
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Hockey dad Tony Robone was asked at the rinkboards last night “does your son coach Nick ever ask for tactical advice before a UNLV game.”
Tony paused for a moment as a group of hockey dads leaned in to listen.
“No he never has asked me before a game,” Tony said. “Sometimes after a game he will ask for my observation.”
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It takes big play from a great goalie to keep the WSHL Las Vegas Storm in striking distance of beating a team like the Western Divsion leader Valencia Flyers. The WSHL Las Vegas Storm got that big-game effort last night from Andre Spens who was recently added to the roster. Spens kept his cool facing a hurricane of action in front of his net. His play and some fierce checking took Las Vegas one step closer to beating teams like Valencia. Spens, 19, is from Espoo, Finland. Espoo is the second largest city in Finland.
Las Vegas is 0-for-8 against Valencia but they were getting closer to beating top teams like them and others. That is the challenge for Las Vegas coach for Gabe Gauthier and his team leaders.
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At the rinkboards last night was Adam Tamura, the new head coach of the UNLV Rebels roller team which is off to a big start. Jared Jaeger is the assistant coach. UNLV will play roller games here in Las Vegas next weekend.
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That was Frank ‘Gramps’ Perone, the unofficial GM for the UNLV Rebels, at the game last night….The great Las Vegas Ice Dancers performed after the first period of the WSHL Las Vegas Storm game. This is a very young group who perform to music. Yes, the girls got a standing ovation. They are an important part of what the Storm hockey program is all about…One of the game officials last night was Ryan Townsend who years ago was a top hockey prospect who played in the NAHL with the Springfield Jr. Blues, Kenai River Brown Bears and last skated with Bethel College. Ryan is 26 and he is really is one of the best officials in town…At the Ice Center Snack Bar the #1 seller were Skittles, the ones in the red package. There was a large box of Skittles in the Storm locker room last night. And the #1 drink at the Snack Bar was Powerade Blue, the favorite for the WSHL Las Vegas Storm skaters….Hockey dad Steve Allen of Las Vegas wanted to be at the big games this weekend but had to work. He says hello to all.
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Happy Halloween to all our readers from all parts of the world.
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