Scorpions bounce Lubbock to end skid

Published on February 17, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
New Mexico Scorpions News Release


SCORPIONS RECAP –

LUBBOCK 5, SCORPIONS 2 – The Cotton Kings jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one period on Tuesday and held on from there for a 5-2 victory over the Scorpions. Matt Mathias and Clint Wensley scored the Scorpions goals. Jan Melichercik scored twice while Anders Strome added a goal and an assist to lead Lubbock. Miguel Beaudry made 21 saves in goal for New Mexico. LUBBOCK 4, SCORPIONS 3 (SO) – Brian Barker forced overtime with 2:11 left in regulation but Jan Melichercik scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Cotton Kings their second win over the Scorpions in three days with a 4-3 shootout victory on Thursday in Lubbock. Clint Wensley scored twice for the Scorpions as they led 2-1 after two periods, but Anders Strome scored twice in the third to put Lubbock ahead. Danny Lorenz stopped 30 shots for the Scorpions.

ODESSA 3, SCORPIONS 1 – Odessa scored twice in the first three minutes of the game to lift the Jackalopes to a 3-1 home win on Friday, extending the Scorpions' season-high winless streak to six games (0-5-1). Mike Rutter and Sebastien Thinel each had a goal and two assists for Odessa, while Shawn Legault scored New Mexico's only goal. Miguel Beaudry stopped 33 shots.

SCORPIONS 5, LUBBOCK 1 – The Scorpions turned the tables, scoring twice in the first five and a half minutes on Saturday to end their skid and take a 5-1 decision at Lubbock. Walker McDonald led the Scorpions with two goals and an assist, while Mike Oliveira added a goal and a helper. Craig Stahl and Brian Barker also scored while Clint Wensley chipped in a pair of assists. Miguel Beaudry was stellar in goal with 39 saves on 40 shots. The Scorpions' penalty kill was strong as well, successfully thwarting 9-of-10 Lubbock power plays, including a pair of 5-on-3's in the third period.

SCORPIONS MATCH-UPS –

TULSA – The Scorpions are 3-0 against the Oilers this season, but all three games have been close, including one in overtime and one in a shootout. The Scorpions claimed a 4-2 victory in their last meeting with Tulsa at Tingley Coliseum on Jan. 23. Todd Marcellus (23g-35a-58pts) and Jason Bermingham (29g-28a-57pts) lead the Oilers in scoring while Dan Gravelle (26g-25a-51pts) was named CHL Player of the Week yesterday after posting 11 points in four games last week. Goalie Rod Branch is 16-13-7 with a 2.90 GAA. Tulsa is last in the CHL allowing 35.4 shots per game.

AMARILLO – The Scorpions have won four in a row against the Gorillas, who have recently dropped out of first place in the Southwest Division behind San Angelo, although they still have three games in hand. All-Star Derek Hahn leads the Gorillas in scoring with 23 goals and 54 points, followed by Scott Wray (18g-25a) and Henry Kuster (15g-28a) with 43 points each. Defenseman Mark DeSantis is sixth among CHL blueliners with 39 points (9g-30a). Goalie Shawn Degagne is 22-13-2 with a 2.47 GAA.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE DON'T PLAY THEM AGAIN? Scorpions forward Walker McDonald sure has liked playing against his old teammates in Lubbock this season. Six of his eleven goals this season have come against the Cotton Kings. Unfortunately for McDonald, the Scorpions have no remaining games against Lubbock. However, he does have bragging rights against his ex-mates since the Scorpions won the season series by going 6-2-2 against the Cotton Kings.

STINGERS – Erik Adams has an assist in four straight games for the Scorpions... He has become the team's top-scoring defenseman with 32 points (6g-26a) in 51 games... Shawn Legault also has a four-game point-scoring streak intact... He has seven points (3g-4a) in nine games since joining the Scorpions from Austin... He also has 32 penalty minutes to place him second in the league with 240, just one behind Corpus Christi's Brad Wingfield... The Scorpions enter the busiest part of the schedule to finish the season with 13 games scheduled in 22 days, including seven games in 11 days beginning on Saturday at Tulsa... Miguel Beaudry has made 30 or more saves in eight of his last nine starts.

SCORPIONS RESULTS –
25-22-4 record, 54 pts., 3rd place, Northwest Division (16-9-1 home, 9-13-3 away)
Tuesday, Feb. 10 Lubbock 5, SCORPIONS 2 – Matt Mathias, Clint Wensley – 1 goal each
Thursday, Feb. 12 LUBBOCK 4, Scorpions 3 (SO) – Wensley – 2 goals; Peter Ambroziak – 2 assists
Friday, Feb. 13 ODESSA 3, Scorpions 1 – Shawn Legault – 1 goal; Miguel Beaudry – 33 saves
Saturday, Feb. 14 Scorpions 5, LUBBOCK 1 – Beaudry – 39 saves; Walker McDonald – 2 goals, 1 assist
Home team in CAPS

SCORPS IN ACTION –
Saturday, Feb. 21 Scorpions at Tulsa Oilers (18-22-10, 46 pts., 5th place, Northwest Div.) – 6:35 p.m. MST
Sunday, Feb. 22 Scorpions at Amarillo Gorillas (30-16-3, 63 pts., 2nd place, Southwest Div.) – 3:10 p.m. MST

SCORPIONS ON THE RADIO – The Scorpions are teaming up again this season with SportsRadio 610 The Sports Animal to bring you all of the Scorpions action on the radio. Mike Sheehan returns for his second season as the Voice of the Scorpions. Saturday's game is scheduled to air on 1050 KTBL-AM while Sunday's game will air on 610 The Sports Animal. The games are also available on the Internet through www.sportsjuice.com.

SCORPIONS HOCKEY TALK CONTINUES – Scorpions Hockey Talk returns TONIGHT live from 7 to 8 p.m. at Coaches Sports Grill, 1414 Central SE, and on Sports Radio 610 The Sports Animal. Join Mike Sheehan, Scorpions coach Bill McDonald and special Scorpions guests every show. Tonight's guests are tentatively scheduled to be defensemen Pat Stachniak and Daniel Tetrault. Shawn Legault and Craig Stahl will be next week's guests, when the show will on Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 7 to 8 p.m.

SCORPIONS EVENTS – The Scorpions invite everyone to join them this Thursday, Feb. 19 at Hooters on San Mateo beginning at 7 p.m. for Hooters Hockey Night. Scorpions players will be on hand to sign autographs, and discounted tickets to Scorpions games will be available as well. The Feb. 26 game against Colorado is Beach Night, as any fan wearing beach attire to the game will receive $3 off each ticket purchased at the box office. The Friday, Feb. 27 game against Amarillo will be Bright Ideas Clapper Night to the first 2,500 fans, while anybody wearing NASCAR attire to the game will receive $3 off at the box office as the #38 NASCAR Busch Series Dodge car sponsored by Great Clips and driven by Kasey Kahne will be on display.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2004


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