The 5-year-old minor league hockey franchise hasn't captured the hearts and minds of most Southern Nevada residents -- at least not the way UNLV's 1990 national champion men's basketball team did -- or even the way the school's 1998 national champion men's golf team did, for that matter.

But earning the equivalent of a Double-A title might compare to the Las Vegas Stars' Triple-A baseball team claiming Pacific Coast League crowns in 1986 and 1988, and it would be a high point in the lives of Wranglers players, coaches and a core group of fans.

"It'd be unbelievable," Wranglers defenseman Jason Krischuk said. "It would be something no one could ever take away from you. Every time you'd come back to Las Vegas, you'd always see the banner hanging."

Las Vegas coach Glen Gulutzan, who has guided the Wranglers to a record three straight 100-point seasons, said his team's hot playoff run has brought back memories of winning a West Coast Hockey League title as a player with the Fresno Falcons.

"I've been involved in a few long (playoff runs) like this," he said. "It's fun, but it's more fun to win them. As a coach, you're hoping for your players more than for yourself. Most of the excitement comes from watching these guys work for it for 21/2 months."

Las Vegas native Aaron Hawley became hooked on hockey after attending one game of the now-defunct Thunder -- which advanced to two conference finals series, losing each time -- and has been a Wranglers season-ticket holder since the team's inception.

"This is what I've been waiting for," he said. "We haven't had a champion in this town for a while."

Hawley, who plans to watch the Finals on the Internet for $7 per game (lasvegaswranglers.com), re-

calls watching the Rebels rout Duke 103-73 to win the 1990 national title. He hopes the city embraces the Wranglers in similar fashion.

"This town went nuts," said Hawley, who watched the game at a local bar. "There was a parade. People were honking their horns through town. I couldn't believe it. I'm hoping the town gets behind this team that way."

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has bet Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory "the Ohio River for the Fremont Street Experience." Goodman also has agreed to wear a Cyclones jersey during a City Council meeting if Cincinnati wins, provided Mallory agrees to wear a Wranglers jersey at a meeting if Las Vegas prevails.

Councilman Larry Brown, a former Stars pitcher, said the Wranglers probably would receive a proclamation from the mayor.

A mayor's aide said the Wranglers might receive keys to the city if they win.

"We'd have the whole team down and the coach," Brown said. "They are the Las Vegas Wranglers, and we certainly take pride in what they've accomplished. It's so difficult, be it UNLV or the Wranglers, when you're playing at that level, to get to the championship series and win it."

UNLV golf coach Dwaine Knight said Las Vegas loves a winner.

"This town loves people who compete for a championship," he said. "I think it would be very special if they can win."

When the Rebels won the national title, Knight said "it was pretty big."

"It was an incredible time and something I'll never forget," he said. "We had a parade downtown and a big party at Shadow Creek (Golf Course). We went to the White House and played golf with President Clinton.''

When the Stars won their two PCL titles, team president Don Logan said a couple of hundred people greeted the team at the airport and attended a victory celebration downtown.

"Winning certainly does have a positive impact from a marketing standpoint and from an emotional standpoint," Logan said. "As a fan, everybody feels better when their team wins, whether it's a minor league hockey team or baseball team or whatever."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.