Gorillas weekly notes
January 5, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release
LAST WEEK: Amarillo won once in three games last week, losing their fourth consecutive home game against Odessa, 5-2 on Wednesday. They followed the loss up with a 5-4 victory at the Amarillo Civic Center against Rio Grande Valley on Friday, and lost Saturday in Broomfield to the Rocky Mountain Rage, 4-1.
THIS WEEK: The Gorillas will play back-to-back-to-back games for the first of four times this season. Amarillo will play at Colorado Friday night before coming back to the Texas Panhandle for a pair of games against New Mexico on Saturday and Sunday.
THIS SEASON: On the season, Amarillo is 10-20-0. They begin the week as the fourth-place team in the Southwest Division, six points behind New Mexico for third.
AGAINST THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: Amarillo has a record of 1-3-0 against the Scorpions this year, winning their last matchup with New Mexico on December 6, 6-3. They are 1-2-0 against Colorado, having lost twice at home to the Eagles and won 5-3 at Loveland December 12.
SLICK NICK: After a period of adjustment following a stint on the 30-day IR, Nick Theriault has started to showcase his skill from the blueline. Theriault has registered points in four of his last five games (3G, 5A over that span). Nine of his 15 points this season have come via special teams play (60%).
NET WORTH: Mike Gorman, the Gorillas starting netminder since his acquisition in November, needs just 19 wins to surpass Tony Martino for second, and 26 wins to surpass Rod Branch for first on the all-time CHL wins list.
'MO'MENTUM: In each of his three games against Colorado this season, Jake Morissette has scored a single goal for the Gorillas. He netted the game-winner in Amarillo's only victory over Colorado, a 5-3 triumph at the Budweiser Events Center on December 12.
ATTRITION: The Gorillas have lost 46 man-games to injury this year. Injuries have been spread throughout the team-only three Gorillas have played all 30 games with the team this year (Austin Sutter, Sam Ftorek, and Stuart MacRae).
FIRST-YEAR FINISHERS: Rookies Jake Morissette and Jonathan Ornelas have been a crucial part of the Gorillas' scoring attack in 2008-09. 'Mo' is ranked 8th among all CHL rookies with 21 points, while Ornelas is 19th with 14 points on the year. The two combined have 12 points in their last five games.
CENTENNIAL STATE SUCCESS: Until this season, Amarillo had only won once all-time in Colorado since 2003 (an overtime win against the Rocky Mountain Rage in 2006). In 2008-09, however, the Gorillas are 2-1-0 playing in the "Centennial State", winning at Rocky Mountain on November 29 and at Colorado on December 12.
CLEARING THE ZONE: Amarillo is the third-least penalized team in the league with just 20.7 penalty minutes taken per game...Amarillo has won just one weekday game in 2008-09, going 1-5-0 in six contests...the Gorillas have won just twice in their last eight home games...Sam Ftorek leads all CHL defensemen in goals and points with 11 and 30 through 30 games...Austin Sutter is starting to heat up for Amarillo, netting five points over the last four games.
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Central Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2009
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- Eagles Nest Notes - Colorado Eagles
- Shots from the Point - CHL
- Rage Weekly Release - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Amarillo Acquires Bonello from Mississippi - Amarillo Gorillas
- Emond Named Oakley/CHL Goaltender of the Week for Second Consecutive Week - Arizona Sundogs
- Kinnunen Named CHL's Player of the Week - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Oakley CHL Player/Goaltender of the Week Winner Announced - CHL
- Bucks At Bees Tuesday - Laredo Bucks
- Jacks Release McWhinney - Odessa Jackalopes
- Emond Wins December's Oakley Three Stars Award - Arizona Sundogs
- Arizona's Marco Emond Wins Oakley Three-Star Award for December - CHL
- Gorillas weekly notes - Amarillo Gorillas
- Sundogs Notes - Arizona Sundogs
- Eagles Week In Review - Colorado Eagles
- Thunder Weekly Update - Wichita Thunder
- Mudbugs Weekly - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Bucks "Pink In The Rink" Game Friday - Laredo Bucks
- Jacks Lose Two, 13 Points Ahead in First Place - Odessa Jackalopes
- Rush Finally Win In Overtime To Top Rage 5-4 - Rapid City Rush
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