Gorillas Post Two More Victories

Published on December 23, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


The Amarillo Gorillas punctuated their Christmas break with back-to-back victories over Southern Conference opponents this past week. The Gorillas doubled the New Mexico Scorpions 4-2 and then thrashed the Lubbock Cotton Kings 8-1 to improve their record to 14-9-0 for 28 points, trailing the Oklahoma City Blazers by three points in the Northern Conference's Northwest Division.

AMARILLO 4 – NEW MEXICO 2: The Amarillo Gorillas netted three-second period goals to snap a 1-1 tie and went on to beat the New Mexico Scorpions 4-2 at Tingley Coliseum on Thursday night. Brandon Carper, Dorian Anneck, John Dean and Ben Gustavson fired goals for Amarillo, while Ben Maidment had two assists. Goaltender Shawn Degagne posted the win to improve his record to 6-5 (2.87 GAA) and an incredible 4-0 in the month of December.

AMARILLO 8 – LUBBOCK 1: Ah sweet revenge! The Amarillo Gorillas gained a measure of revenge on their arch-rival Lubbock Cotton Kings by soundly beating them 8-1 on Friday night at The Jungle in the Amarillo Civic Center. After falling behind in the first 15 seconds of the game, the Gorillas scored eight consecutive goals and thoroughly dominated all aspects from start-to-finish.

Ben Gustavson set a Amarillo single season mark for assists in a game with 5 helpers. Brandon Carper and Dave Rattray each had three points for Gorillas. Carper potted two goals and an assist, while Rattray had a goal and two assists. Other marksmen for the Gorillas were Dorian Anneck, Derek Hahn, Ryan Shannon, John Dean and Henry Kuster.

Goaltender Steve DeBus posted his eighth win of the season and lowered his goals against average to 2.32.

STATS PACK: The Amarillo Gorillas are 7-3 in their last 10 games and are 6-1-0 in the month of December. Joe Ferras' charges are 7-7 at The Jungle in the Amarillo Civic Center and 7-2 away from home.

Forwards Ben Maidment and Henry Kuster have been the most productive Gorillas during the month of December with eight points each, while four others (Dorian Anneck, Brandon Carper, Derek Hahn and Ben Gustavson each have seven points.

CLOSING OUT 2002: There are just four games remaining in the 2002 portion of the calendar for the Amarillo Gorillas, beginning with three games in three nights against Northwest Division rivals. On Thursday night, the Gorillas host the Wichita Thunder for the first time this season, beginning at 7 p.m. It is the second ‘Run From Your Relatives Night' with 50 cent hot dogs.

The Gorillas will wear their cool Christmas jerseys and an auction follows the game in the Ape Escape.

The Gorillas make their first ever visit to the fabulous Ford Center on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. to face the Oklahoma City Blazers in a key match-up. The trio of games wraps up with the Gorillas traveling to Wichita to face the Thunder on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Hockey fans are invited to come and celebrate New Years Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 31 when they host the El Paso Buzzards at 7 p.m. The Gorillas will wear their New Years jerseys and an auction follows the game in the Ape Escape. There will be music that night from Andy Chase as well as fast Freddy and the Fairlanes.

ON THE AIR: All four games of the Amarillo Gorillas can be heard live on 1440 AM The Score, the official flagship station of the Amarillo Gorillas, with the always exciting Denis J. Puska behind the mic. The broadcast begins 20 minutes before the puck is dropped with the Pizza Hut Delivers Amarillo Gorillas Warm Up Show.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 23, 2002


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