The Las Vegas Wranglers received a jolt of excitement when they walked into their Orleans Arena dressing room late Friday afternoon and saw Chris Ferraro’s sweater hanging on a hook.
In addition, the veteran right wing’s name was on a grease board showing that night’s lineups.
“It was really, really surprising to my teammates,” he said. “I kind of had an idea. But they saw my name on the board and, from what my brother Peter says, they were just really, really excited to see me back.”
That boost might have helped a team when it was down, as the Wranglers were beaten by the Cincinnati Cyclones, 4-2, in Game 3 of the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals on Thursday night in Las Vegas. Las Vegas led 2-0 lead before falling apart during a six-minute stretch in the second period.
Friday night, with Chris Ferraro in uniform, the Wranglers evened the series, at two games apiece, with a 2-0 victory over the Cyclones.
Game 5 is Monday night at the Orleans. The series shifts to Cincinnati for Game 6 on Thursday and, if necessary, Game 7 on Saturday.
Chris Ferraro had been out of action for three months, since Victoria goon Robin Gomez sucker-punched him in his head on March 1.
About a week ago, Ferraro told Wranglers coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan that he was feeling much better.
If there’s a point in time, Ferraro told Gulutzan, that you feel the team needs a little spark, I’m there as an option. He participated in an optional skate at the Orleans on Friday morning.
Gulutzan told him there’s a chance he’d play. Go home. Get some rest. Be ready.
“Come to the rink,” Gulutzan said. “If your name’s on the board and your jersey is up, you’ll be playing. If not, hop on the bike and do the usual.”
After Ferraro saw his jersey, Gulutzan, in his office, told him he couldn’t have Chris look at him after the first period and say, I can’t go.
“I wouldn’t do that to you, my teammates or the owners,” Ferraro said. “I’m as good as I can be at this point, get me in there.”
Ferraro, 35, took as many hard hits as he dished out. When he was on the ice, he took face-offs. He declined to talk about his medical condition.
He and his identical twin brother, Peter, won an NCAA championship at the University of Maine, with former NHLer Paul Kariya, in 1993. Peter helped Providence win an AHL title in 1999, and Chris was a part of the IHL-winning Chicago club in 2000.
That’s a total of four championships in 34 combined seasons of organized hockey for the Ferraro twins.
“I don’t think a lot of young kids realize how rare it does happen,” said Chris Ferraro. “This opportunity may come once, or it may never come. We have a chance to do something real special.”
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