Gorillas season opener tomorrow night

October 20, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


AMARILLO, TX - It's been nearly six and a half months since the Amarillo Gorillas set foot, or rather skate, onto their home ice within the Amarillo Civic Center. And the last time those skates were on that ice it was in the midst of a heart-breaking and season-ending 4-1 loss at the hands of the Odessa Jackalopes in the Central Hockey League Quarterfinals. It's been a long summer for both the Gorillas and their fans but tomorrow evening all those painful memories that ended last season will be washed away with the arrival of a new team and a new season.

The Amarillo Gorillas 2006-07 regular season gets underway tomorrow evening as the Apes welcome one of their oldest rivals, the New Mexico Scorpions, to the Cal Farley Coliseum within the Amarillo Civic Center. The Scorpions return to Central Hockey League action this season after a one-year hiatus during the 2005-06 campaign. But despite the layoff, the Gorillas have still faced off against the Scorpions more times (90) than any other CHL opponent. The Gorillas hold a 36-44-10 record all-time versus New Mexico.

The 2006-07 season marks the 5th anniversary of Gorillas hockey and is a season unlike any previously experienced in the city of Amarillo. The Gorillas underwent a number of sweeping changes in the off-season, including the hiring of new Head Coach Jim Wiley following the departure of Joe Ferras to the American Hockey League and the addition of a new player/assistant coach in Chris Lipsett after 4-time captain Mark DeSantis opted to play in England this season. The Gorillas return only 8 members off last year's club but boast a number of exciting and intriguing new personalities to this year's bunch, the least of which is 9-time NHLer Jeremy Stevenson, who last played for the Dallas Stars during the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Doors will open at 6 P.M. tomorrow evening with the opening face off scheduled for shortly after 7. Great seats are still available and can be purchased at the Gorillas office which will be open Saturday from 9-5 or by calling 242-PUCK (7825).

Season ticket packages and corporate partnerships for the 2006-2007 season are available now! Individual game tickets, once they go on sale, can be purchased at the Gorillas Hockey Office, located at 1934 Civic Circle off of I-40 and Georgia, the Civic Center Box Office and all Panhandle Ticket Outlets. These include Randy's Music Mart, the West Texas Event Center in Canyon and United Supermarkets. Tickets can also be charged by phone at (806) 378-3096 or (806) 242-PUCK (7825).



Central Hockey League Stories from October 20, 2006


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