Las Vegas Wranglers plan relaunch summer 2026

Orange County, CA

The Western Professional Hockey League was relaunched in efforts to bring back a once beloved and nostalgic minor professional league full of high octane energy and electrifying on-ice entertainment. Speaking of nostalgia, the WPHLis delighted to announce another franchise to join the league--one that too, boasts of a long, rich and colorful history of nostalgia itself.

Que in the: the Las Vegas Wranglers.

Long before the Las Vegas Golden Knights, Vegas had an appetite for ice hockey. The Las Vegas Thunder came to the desert hot spot as apart of the International Hockey League and fed the growing fan base of hockey in Las Vegas. But eventually, operations came to a close and the now established fan base was left longing for hockey to return. That's when the Las Vegas Wranglers were conceived. 

Roaring into Las Vegas with the East Coast Hockey League, the Wranglers captured the hearts of local hockey fans and reigned supreme for 11 long seasons. Las Vegas loved them. Because of that support, the "My Town. My Team." franchise found success and made playoff appearances in almost every season of existence, finishing as finalists twice which helped pave the way for Las Vegas to solidify its position as a premier western hockey market.

Of all the hockey franchises to have graced the lights of the Las Vegas strip, the Wranglers became one of the most beloved to locals. Ask all the original hockey fans from Las Vegas if they remember the Wranglers and it's guaranteed that they will instantly light up in the delight of memories the Wranglers once brought them. With the WPHL coming back, the opportunity to bring the Las Vegas Wranglers to a full-time status becomes less and less of an idea of fantasy, and more and more of a tangible reality.  More details about the league and team below!

       "The WPHL is proud to officially welcome the Las Vegas Wranglers as a founding member of our inaugural 2025 summer season. Known for its rich hockey roots and electric sports scene, Las Vegas is the perfect home for the Wranglers—bringing grit, speed, and big-market energy to the WPHL. This team is more than just a logo; it’s a revival of pro hockey pride in Vegas, and fans can expect high-tempo action and fierce rivalries from day one. The Wranglers will join the California Grizzlies, Long Beach Avocados, and San Diego Pro Hockey (name to be revealed soon) in a tightly built four-team slate that’s designed for fast growth and community-first excitement.

The WPHL is launching this summer, running from May through August, creating a fresh, seasonal brand of professional hockey on the West Coast. This isn’t just a league—it’s a movement. Backed by the Pacific Coast Hockey Foundation, our mission is to grow the game in new markets while giving players, fans, and cities a reason to fall in love with hockey year-round. Whether it’s hockey under the palm trees or rivalries lighting up the desert, the WPHL is here to redefine what summer sports can look like—and the Las Vegas Wranglers are leading the charge."