Buzzards to Put Coal in Scorpions' Stocking
December 19, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
El Paso Buzzards News Release
EL PASO, Texas â The El Paso Buzzards will look to bring holiday cheer to the Sun City when they begin their weekend home stand against the rival New Mexico Scorpions at 7 p.m., in the El Paso County Coliseum, Friday. Catch all of the action on KHEY 1380 AM, El Paso's Sports Ticket with Michael LaPlaca and Michael Hissam doing the play-by-play and color commentary.
The Buzzards' two weekend games will feature a Toys for Tots toy drive. For each new, unwrapped toy brought to the Coliseum box office, fans will receive buy one get one free on game tickets. As well, during the games there will be a Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to toss stuffed toys onto the ice after the Buzzards' first goal of each night. The toys and bears will be collected and distributed in a joint effort by Buzzards' players and Marines on Christmas Eve to needy children at Thomason Hospital.
"I'm proud of our organization for helping out disadvantaged children this holiday season," said Buzzards' head coach Craig Coxe. "The toy drive is a great way to give back to El Paso's youth. On the ice, we're going to play hard and give the fans in the Sun City something to cheer about. Our team is focused and ready to go."
This season, the teams have split the season series 2-2-0 with the Buzzards winning the previous contest 4-0 in New Mexico. The Buzzards played their best road game of the season with goaltender Blaine Russell making 27 saves and recording his first win and shutout as a member of the Buzzards. Buzzards' left winger Troy Linna scored a goal and an assist and defenseman Jason Tessier collected two empty net goals. Buzzards' right winger Derrell Upton added to the scoring with two assists.
New Mexico leads the overall series 30-34-5 against El Paso. The Scorpions come into the matchup with some new personnel. The Scorpions announced Monday that Bill McDonald, the former Lubbock Cotton Kings' head coach, will serve as New Mexico's head coach and director of hockey operations. The previous coach, Pat Dunn, accepted a position as the new vice president/general manager of the Corpus Christi Rayz.
WHERE THEY STAND
BUZZARDS - Coming into Friday's action, the Buzzards (14 points) are in fourth place in the Southwest Division, but are just 11 points behind New Mexico for third place. The Buzzards are 4-9-1 at home and 6-16-2 overall. El Paso has 63 goals for and has allowed 89. Buzzards center Jeff Scharf leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and 14 assists (24 points). The Buzzards are ninth in the league on the power play with a 14.1 percent success rate. At the friendly confines of the Nest, the Buzzards have earned the sixth best power play in the league with a 17.3 percent success rate. The Buzzards are fourteenth in the league on penalty kill opportunities with a 78.7 percent rate and have allowed the most short-handed goals at home with 18. Also, the Buzzards lead the league in major penalties with 54.
NEW MEXICO â The Scorpions (25 points) come into the game 12-11-1 overall, but 5-5-1 on the road, are in third place in the Southwest Division. The Scorpions' road power play success rate is dead last in the CHL at 6.9 percent, but third in overall power play conversions with a 19.5 percent success rate. The Scorpions are eighth in the league on penalty kill situations with an 84.7 percent success rate. New Mexico's leading scorers are forwards Chris Richards (17 goals, 20 assists) and Peter Ambroziak (10 goals, 16 assists). The Scorpions are 4-6-0 in their last ten games.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2002
- Buzzards to Put Coal in Scorpions' Stocking - El Paso Buzzards
- Corpus Christi To Change Name and Logo - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bats Wrap Pre-Chrismas Schedule - Austin Ice Bats
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