Scorpions Get Big Win over Amarillo

December 2, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
New Mexico Scorpions News Release


SCORPIONS ON THE RADIO – The Scorpions are teaming up this season with SportsRadio 610 The Sports Animal to bring you all of the Scorpions action on the radio. Mike Sheehan is in his first season as the Voice of the Scorpions. Both games this weekend are scheduled to air on SportsRadio 610 The Sports Animal.

SCORPIONS HOCKEY TALK – The Scorpions' weekly radio talk show continues this Wednesday night from 6 to 7 p.m., live on location at the Corner Pocket, 9603 Lomas NE just west of Eubank. Scorpions Hockey Talk features Scorpions coach Pat Dunn and the "Voice of the Scorpions" Mike Sheehan, along with special guests each week.

SCORPIONS TICKETS AND EVENTS – Saturday's game against El Paso is Dodge Mini-Stick Night. The first 1,500 fans will receive a FREE Scorpions mini-stick courtesy of Dodge. The Scorpions' home game on Saturday, Dec. 14 against Indianapolis is Arby's Puck Night to the first 1,500 fans. It will be also be Teddy Bear Toss Night. Fans are asked to bring a teddy bear to the game and toss it onto the ice when the Scorpions score their first goal. The teddy bears will be donated to a local charity.

REMINDER – Just an early reminder that the Scorpions' home game originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 21 against Amarillo has been moved up two days and will now be played on Thursday, Dec. 19. Game time at Tingley Coliseum is still 7:05 p.m.

SCORPIONS RECAP –

LAREDO 7, SCORPIONS 2 – The Bucks took a 2-0 lead after one period and never trailed as they skated to a 7-2 win over the Scorpions on Tuesday. Pete Brearley and Tyler Baines each scored for the Scorpions while Luciano Caravaggio made 27 saves.

ODESSA 3, SCORPIONS 2 – For the fourth time in as many games between the teams, the final score was 3-2, but this was the first game decided before overtime. For the second time in a row, the Jackalopes took the victory. Chris Richards scored both goals, including one with 31.5 seconds left in the third period, but the Scorpions couldn't net the equalizer. Luciano Caravaggio made 22 saves in goal for the Scorps.

SCORPIONS 3, AMARILLO 2 – Peter Ambroziak scored twice, including the game-winner with 52.6 seconds remaining in the third period, as the Scorpions broke a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Amarillo. Chris Richards assisted on both of Ambroziak's goals, while Nate Mauer fed the puck to Ambroziak for the game-winner. Mike O'Malley also scored for the Scorps while Luciano Caravaggio turned aside 26 shots in the win.

SCORPIONS MATCH-UPS –

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Scorpions make their first and only visit of the season to Oklahoma City and the brand-new Ford Center on Friday. The Blazers are one of the hottest teams in the CHL having won six in a row after an 8-5 loss at Tulsa on Nov. 16 but have a tough game at Odessa tomorrow. The Blazers' offense is bolstered by three players in the top 15 in scoring – Blair Manning (6g-20a) and defenseman Hardy Sauter (4g-22a) are tied for seventh with 26 points each while veteran Joe Burton is tied for 12th with 24 points (12g-12a). Sauter's 22 helpers lead the league and tops all blueliners while Manning is tied for third in assists. Goalie Boyd Ballard is 6-5-0 with a 2.83 GAA while Aren Miller is 4-1-1 with a 3.25 GAA. Oklahoma City makes their only visit of the season to Tingley Coliseum on Jan. 17.

EL PASO – The Buzzards return to Tingley for the first time since the Scorps thumped them 10-1 on Nov. 22. New Mexico has now won two straight against their Rio Grande rivals after dropping the first meeting. The Buzzards snapped an eight-game skid with a 7-3 win over San Angelo on Friday, but lost 4-1 to Odessa on Saturday. Jeff Scharf leads the Birds with 10 goals and 21 points, while Russ Guzior is still second with 16 points (8g-8a) despite having missed the past five games due to injury. The Buzzards made big changes last week, bringing in four new players. Goalie Matt Carmichael (5-11-1, 3.21 GAA) tops the circuit with 11 losses.

RICHARDS ROLLS ON – Chris Richards continues to get the job done for the Scorpions this season. Richards leads the Scorps with 14 goals and 32 points. He is tied for second in the Central Hockey League in points, third with seven power play goals and fourth in goals. He has recorded points in 14 of the 18 games he has played in this season.

TIME TO CHILL – After finishing the month of November with nine games in 16 days, things take a decidedly calmer tone to start December. The Scorpions play just six games between now and Christmas, just two games per week for the next three weeks. After Christmas, however, business picks up again with seven games in ten days beginning Dec. 27 at Odessa.

STINGERS – Peter Ambroziak and Pete Brearley are tied for fifth in the league with three game-winning goals each... Luciano Caravaggio is fifth with eight wins... Brearley and Shaun Peet lead the Scorps with a +6 plus/minus rating... Peet leads the team with 92 PIM... Ambroziak and Chris Richards lead the Scorps with 11 points each in their last five games... The Scorpions play four of their next five games against teams outside the Southwest Division with Oklahoma City (Friday), Austin (Dec. 13), Indianapolis (Dec. 14) and Amarillo (Dec. 19) on the upcoming slate... After Friday's game at Oklahoma City, the Scorps open a four-game homestand against El Paso on Saturday... Mario Dumoulin became a father last week after his wife gave birth on Wednesday afternoon... Little William checked in at 3:35 p.m. weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and 20 inches long.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2002


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