Gorillas weekly

Published on November 7, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


GORILLAS TAKE OVER SOUTHERN LEAD - After a pair of hard-fought one-goal victories this past weekend, the Amarillo Gorillas begin the week atop not only the Southwest Division but the Southern Conference as well. After dropping the Corpus Christi Rayz 2-1 Friday night and following that up with a 3-2 victory over the Youngstown Steelhounds Saturday the Gorillas finished the weekend with a 4-1-1 record and 9 points in the standings, which places them at the top of the Southern Conference mountain. The Gorillas now lead the Southwest Division by a single point over the Lubbock Cotton Kings and Arizona Sundogs who each have 8 points in the standings. The 4-1-1 start is a marked improvement for a Gorillas franchise that has started each of the past 3 seasons with a 2-4 mark in their first 6 games.

THE "H" IN HANSEN STANDS FOR HOT - The Gorillas as a team this season have at times had trouble putting the puck in the back of the net. Heading into this week the Gorillas had tallied just 17 goals in 6 games and their 2.83 goals-per-game ranks just 11th in the 17-team league. But one player is certainly doing his part and that is the scorching-hot Rich Hansen. Through just 6 games played this season, Hansen has already found the back of the net 8 times, which includes 5 power play goals, one short-handed marker and 3 game-winning tallies. Hansen's 8 goals and 5 power play markers are the 2nd highest such totals in the entire Central Hockey League while his 3 game-winning goals is the highest such total in the CHL. Hansen is currently riding a 3-game point streak in which he has totaled 6 points (5 goals, 1 assist) during that stretch.

JUNGLE SWEET JUNGLE - The phrase home-ice advantage can be an overrated one at times during the course of the hockey season but no one can downplay the advantage its been for the Gorillas early on in the 2006-07 season. Through 4 home contests the Gorillas are an impressive 3-0-1 on their home ice and have garnered 7 of a possible 8 points when playing inside the Cal Farley Coliseum. The Gorillas have notched 14 of their 17 total goals this season inside the Amarillo Civic Center while their home power play percentage of 17.5% is the 9th best home man advantage in the league.

PARADE TO THE PENALTY BOX - The Amarillo Gorillas continue to be one of the most penalized teams in the entire Central Hockey League. The Gorillas have been guilty of 73 minor penalties this season, which currently ranks 7th in the league. The Apes are averaging only 27.7 penalty minutes per contest (12th) but have found themselves short-handed 66 times already in just 6 games, which is the 2nd highest number of man-down situations in the league, behind just Bossier-Shreveport's 67. The Gorillas have given up at least one power play goal in 5 of 6 games this season but have remained competitive in every contest this season because of a sparkling penalty kill that currently ranks 3rd in the league at 87.9%

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MASKED MEN - Gorillas goaltenders Jamie Vandespyker and Shawn Conschafter have split the first 6 games right down the middle and each have proven to be stellar when give the opportunity between the pipes. Through three starts apiece, each netminder has garnered a pair of wins and they each rank in the top 7 in goals-against average (Vandespyker - 2.00, Conschafter - 2.60) and the top 5 in save percentage (Vandespyker - .931, Conschafter - .925).

TIME TO HIT THE ROAD - After playing 4 of their first 6 games at home, the Gorillas will now have to try and continue their winning ways on the road. The Gorillas are in Lubbock this Friday, Odessa the next night and continue their road play in Wichita next Friday before finally returning back to the Amarillo Civic Center next Saturday November 18th when they welcome the Lubbock Cotton Kings for the first time this season. The Gorillas are 1-1 on the road this season. All the Gorillas road games this weekend can be heard on the Gorillas new flagship station 1010 AM The Canyon.

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).

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 7, 2006


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