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Scorpions hope for turnaround at home

February 23, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
New Mexico Scorpions News Release


SCORPIONS EVENTS – The Feb. 26 game against Colorado is KISS 97.3 FM Beach Night, as any fan wearing beach attire to the game will receive $3 off each grandstand ticket purchased at the box office. It's also Cheap Beer Night as discounted beer will be on sale during the game. The Friday, Feb. 27 game against Amarillo will be Bright Ideas Clapper Night to the first 2,500 fans, and NASCAR Night as anybody wearing NASCAR attire to the game will receive $3 off a grandstand ticket at the box office. The #38 NASCAR Busch Series Dodge car sponsored by Great Clips and driven by Kasey Kahne will be on display. Prior to Friday's game at 3:30 p.m. will be the New Mexico State High School Hockey championship game, a rematch from last year between defending champion Taos and Los Alamos. Next Tuesday's game against Tulsa will be 2-for-1 Ticket Night.

SCORPIONS RECAP –

TULSA 5, SCORPIONS 4 (SO) – Wes Scanzano scored the only goal of the shootout after Branislav Kvetan forced overtime with 8.4 seconds left to give Tulsa a 5-4 victory over the Scorpions on Saturday. Mike Oliveira scored twice and added an assist as the Scorpions led 4-2 after the first period. Peter Ambroziak also scored and added a helper, while Walker McDonald found the back of the net for the second straight game. Miguel Beaudry was credited with 51 saves, including 27 stops in the third period.

AMARILLO 4, SCORPIONS 1 – Amarillo ended the Scorpions' four-game winning streak against the Gorillas with a 4-1 win yesterday at the Amarillo Civic Center. Jeff Cameron scored the only goal for New Mexico on the power play in the first period, just 1:13 after Scott Wray had given Amarillo the lead. Derek Hahn scored the eventual game-winner in the second after Vladimir Hartinger had flattened him with a hard open-ice hit late in the first period. Henry Kuster and Wray added third-period goals. Miguel Beaudry made 32 saves for the Scorpions.

SCORPIONS MATCH-UPS –

WICHITA – The Scorpions are 1-3-0 against the Thunder this season, including a 1-0 setback in the most recent meeting between the teams on Feb. 7 at Tingley Coliseum entering tomorrow's fifth and final meeting. The Thunder have won eight of their last ten games, with three of those victories coming in overtime, where they are 6-0 this season. Adam Calder leads the Thunder with 32 goals and 64 points. His 32 goals are tied for fourth in the CHL. Travis Clayton has 58 points (20g-38a) while Mark Kolesar has 54 points (16g-38a). Nathan Grobins has started 22 of the last 24 games for Wichita. For the season, he is 26-13-2 with a 2.46 GAA and third with 26 victories.

COLORADO – The Eagles maintain first place in the Northwest Division heading into this week's final two meetings of the season with the Scorpions. Greg Pankewicz is the CHL's second-leading scorer with 80 points (38g-42a), and he is tied for first with 38 goals. Teammate Ryan Tobler is next with 79 points (30g-49a), but he is one of three Eagles currently on recall to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL along with defensemen Jesse Cook and Scott Swanson. Goalie Ryan Bach (29-14-3, 2.36 GAA) leads the league with 29 wins. The Eagles are second in the CHL offensively and third on defense.

AMARILLO – Amarillo ended the Scorpions' four-game winning streak in the season series yesterday, but still trail San Angelo by three points for first place in the Southwest Division with two games in hand. Derek Hahn, who scored the game-winning goal in Sunday's 4-1 Amarillo win over the Scorps, leads the Gorillas with 59 points (26g-33a), followed by Henry Kuster (17g-29a-46pts), Scott Wray (20g-25a-45pts) and Mark DeSantis (10g-34a-44pts). Goalie Shawn Degagne is 24-14-2 with a 2.56 GAA and a .923 save percentage.

PLAYOFF PICTURE – The Scorpions are nine points behind Indianapolis with one game in hand and ten points in back of Memphis with three fewer games played in search for a Northern Conference playoff spot. Wichita is currently five points ahead of the Scorpions with the teams even in games entering tomorrow 's pivotal matchup at Tingley Coliseum. In addition, the Scorpions are tied with Oklahoma City, with the Blazers having played one fewer game.

WEEK'S SCHEDULE – Don't forget the recent changes made to the schedule for this week. Tomorrow's game is against Wichita, and fans should use the regular tickets marked for Feb. 24. The Scorps host Colorado on Thursday, Feb. 26, and fans should use tickets from the rescheduled Saturday, Feb. 28 game on Thursday.

STINGERS – The Scorpions have 11 games remaining, six at home and five on the road... Those six home games come in the next seven contests before the Scorps finish with their last four games on the road... Mike Oliveira now has nine points (7g-2a) in four games against Tulsa this season... Peter Ambroziak had two points on Saturday at Tulsa, becoming the first player to surpass 300 points in a Scorpions uniform.

SCORPIONS RESULTS –
25-23-5 record, 55 pts., T-3rd place, Northwest Division (16-9-1 home, 9-14-4 away)
Saturday, Feb. 21 TULSA 5, Scorpions 4 (SO) – Mike Oliveira – 2 goals, 1 assist; Peter Ambroziak – 1g-1a
Sunday, Feb. 22 AMARILLO 4, Scorpions 1 – Jeff Cameron – 1 goal; Miguel Beaudry – 32 saves Home team in CAPS

SCORPS IN ACTION –
Tuesday, Feb. 24 Scorpions vs. Wichita Thunder (28-21-4, 60 pts., 2nd place, Northwest Div.) – 7:05 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26 Scorpions vs. Colorado Eagles (36-15-3, 75 pts., 1st place, Northwest Div.) – 7:05 p.m. F
riday, Feb. 27 Scorpions vs. Amarillo Gorillas (32-17-3, 67 pts., 2nd place, Southwest Div.) – 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 29 Scorpions at Colorado Eagles (36-15-3, 75 pts., 1st place, Northwest Div.) – 6:05 p.m.

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. Thursday's game is scheduled to air on 1050 KTBL-AM while the other three games 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 this Wednesday, Feb. 25 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. Shawn Legault and Craig Stahl will be this week's guests.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2004


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