Gorillas weekly

Published on January 17, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release


GORILLAS HIT ALL-STAR BREAK ON A ROLL - The Amarillo Gorillas will certainly be able to rest and enjoy the current All-Star break as they're coming off a weekend in which they won 2 out of 3 games and took 5 of a possible 6 standings points in the process. With the successful weekend, the Gorillas have sprung into sole possession of 2nd place in the Southwest Division with an overall record of 16-13-3 and 35 standings points. The Gorillas trail 1st place Odessa by just 1 point and still possess 2 games-in-hand over the Jackalopes. Arizona and New Mexico are currently tied for 3rd with 33 overall points while the Lubbock Cotton Kings remain 5th and last with 29. The Apes enter the All-Star break having won 7 of their last 10 contests.

WEEKEND RUNDOWN -

FRIDAY January 19th vs. New Mexico Scorpions, 7:05 P.M. (The Jungle)

SATURDAY January 20th vs. Tulsa Oilers, 7:05 P.M. (The Jungle)

**Susan G. Komen Foundation Breast Cancer Jersey Night**

GORILLAS TRADE HUGHES TO COLORADO - Approval from the Central Hockey League (CHL) came through late Tuesday evening validating a trade between the Amarillo Gorillas and Colorado Eagles, which sends Gorillas' winger Brent Hughes to Colorado in exchange for future considerations. The trade frees up a roster spot for the Gorillas, which was immediately filled with the activation of John Glavota off the injured reserve. Glavota had missed the last 14 games with a knee injury. In 20 games this season, Hughes has registered 5 goals and 12 assists in a Gorillas uniform to go along with 26 penalty minutes and a -3 +/- rating. The Toronto, Ontario native has missed 12 games due to injury this season, 4 for a concussion earlier in the year and 8 recently with a bruised ankle. Hughes came to Amarillo at the beginning of the 2004/05 season and in 3 seasons in Amarillo has suited for 136 total games while registering 35 goals and 61 assists. Hughes turned pro during the 2003/04 season with the Austin Ice Bats and has spent every season of his professional career in the CHL.

TAKING STOCK AT HALFTIME - With 32 games in the books, the Amarillo Gorillas have officially reached the midway point of the season and while some areas in the first half of the year have excelled others have struggled. One of the positives would have to be the Gorillas' goal scoring of late. After averaging only 2.9 goals/game in the first 16 games of the season, the Apes have turned it on recently and have now averaged 3.7 goals/game in their last 16 games played. On the year, the Gorillas have tallied a total of 106 goals for an average of 3.3 goals/game (T-8th CHL). Conversely, however, Amarillo's defense which seemed stingy at the outset of the season has struggled as the campaign has moved along. In 32 games this season, the Gorillas have allowed a total of 113 goals against, an average of 3.5 per game, which ranks just 13th in the 17-team Central Hockey League. Special teams have become an increasingly important component in the game of hockey in the past two years and the Gorillas have remained right in the middle of the pack in both power play and penalty kill this season. The Apes have registered a total of 41 power play goals this season for a man-advantage percentage of 16.0%, 9th best in the CHL. Amarillo has tallied power play goals in 28 of 32 games this season. The Gorillas' penalty kill meanwhile is ranked 10th in the CHL having allowed 38 power play goals against amassing an 84.0% penalty kill rating. The Gorillas have blanked the opposition's power play 11 times this season.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE - Chris Lipsett will not represent the Gorillas at the 2007 CHL All-Star game, but that doesn't mean his own team doesn't recognize the importance he carries here in Amarillo. With points in all 3 games this past weekend, the Gorillas' player/assistant coach has extended his current point streak to now 11 consecutive games, a stretch that began back on December 16th. Lipsett has tallied 12 goals and 9 assists during the streak, the 2nd longest such stretch in the CHL this season. Jeff Christian holds the league's longest streak this season at 19 consecutive games. Lipsett also registered a 10-game point streak earlier this year in which he tallied 3 goals and 9 assists between November 11th and December 2nd. The Ottawa, Ontario native now leads the Gorillas in scoring with 42 points overall and has registered points in 27 of 32 games this season.

Individual game tickets as well as great group ticket rates 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). Also be sure to call the Gorillas front office today to learn about all the great incentives you can gather by bringing a group out to a Gorillas game!

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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