Robbie Bina leaves Las Vegas Wranglers

By Anthony Fenech

Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 | 5:49 p.m.

Just a week before his first scheduled All-Star appearance, Las Vegas Wranglers defenseman Robbie Bina has left the team.

Bina, who was named to the 2010 ECHL All-Star team just before the new year, has decided to pursue hockey opportunities in Europe.

"He went to Europe," Wranglers head coach Ryan Mougenel said in a text message Wednesday. "That's my comment."

Bina, a 27-year-old graduate of North Dakota, was unable to be reached for comment.

He will be replaced on the All-Star Game's National Conference roster by Sasha Pokulok of the Bakersfield Condors.

A league-wide e-mail sent out Wednesday stated, "Bina has chosen to leave the Wranglers to sign with a team overseas."

He recorded two shots and two penalty minutes in last night's loss at Victoria and tallied 22 points in 27 games with Las Vegas this season.

With Bina's departure, center Adam Miller will represent the Wranglers at the All-Star Game next Wednesday at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.

Miller's 31 points — 10 goals and 21 assists — rank second on the Wranglers, one behind Ned Lukacevic.

The Livonia, Mich., native will be replacing Ontario's Jon Rheault, who currently is in the AHL with the Manchester Monarchs.

"Robbie Bina is a really good defenseman," said Miller just a week ago. "You can see that in his numbers and he's just a really solid defenseman out there. To be an all-star is a big accomplishment."