Scorpions look to paint the town red Saturday

Published on March 20, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
New Mexico Scorpions News Release


THIS WEEK:

TUE Mar. 20 SCORPIONS @ Arizona

8:00 p.m. Tim's Toyota Center

For the 14th and final time in the regular season, the Scorpions will face their rivals from Arizona . Both teams have clinched a playoff birth, but are looking to secure their seeds. The Scorpions need three standings points in the last week of the season to clinch the Southwest Division, while the Sundogs are currently in the fifth seed, one point behind Amarillo . The winner of Tuesday's game will also gain the edge in the season series.

Season Series: Scorpions lead 6-4-3

All Time Series: Scorpions lead 6-4-3

FRI Mar. 23 Colorado @ SCORPIONS

7:35 p.m. Santa Ana Star Center

"SCI-FI NIGHT"

The Scorpions will look to the future as Sci-Fi Night comes to the Santa Ana Star Center . When the Scorpions face off against the Eagles, fans will be treated to special appearances from local science fiction authors and the Dewback Ridge Squad Mountain Garrison 501st Legion.

Season Series: Colorado leads 6-0-0

All Time Series: Scorpions trail 6-20-1

SAT Mar. 24 Rocky Mountain @ SCORPIONS

7:05 p.m. Santa Ana Star Center

"RED OUT NIGHT"

Help the Scorpions paint the town red with our first annual "Red Out Night." Cal the Scorpions office at 891-PUCK [7825] and reserve your special Red Out T-Shirt for only $15. With the purchase of the shirt, you will get a free ticket to the game Saturday against Rocky Mountain . It is the final regular season home game and the Scorpions plan to fill the Santa Ana Star Center with a sea of red.

Season Series: Scorpions lead 5-0-1

All Time Series: Scorpions lead 5-0-1

SUN Mar. 25 SCORPIONS @ Rocky Mountain

3:00 p.m. Broomfield Event Center

The Scorpions finish the regular season with a game in Broomfield . New Mexico hopes to know their playoff seed by the final day of the season, but this game could mean a lot in the standings.

Season Series: Scorpions lead 5-0-1

All Time Series: Scorpions lead 5-0-1

LAST WEEK:

WED Mar. 14 Corpus Christi @ SCORPIONS

(5-2 WIN)

7:35 p.m. Santa Ana Star Center

Behind a shorthanded goal and two power play goals, the Scorpions beat Corpus Christi 5-2. With the victory, the Scorpions clinched a playoff birth.

Five current members of the Scorpions organization were members of Corpus Christi last year. In the perfect story, one of those players would make a difference early; that's exactly what happened.

With the Scorpions a man down, Chris Robertson stole a pass at center ice. With the puck bouncing, the crafty forward settled the puck, raced towards the net alone and elevated the puck into the net over goalie Ron Vogel. Robertson's goal gave him 50 in his three-year pro career. The Scorpions would take the 1-0 into the locker room.

The second period saw five goals by the two teams in less than five minutes. Corpus Christi tied the game up at the 5:40 mark with a Todd Paul wrist shot.

The Scorpions reclaimed the lead just 30-second later when an unlikely hero came to the forefront. Kevin Harvey, known more for his grit than his finesse took a back door pass from Ryan McLeod and put it into the net for his third goal this season.

Using the momentum the Scorpions grabbed their first two-goal lead of the contest 90-seconds later. Jeremy Garrison tipped in an Aaron MacInnis pass to get his first goal of the season. It was also Garrison's first North American professional goal. He has spent the previous four seasons in Europe .

The Rayz cut the lead back down to one when Derrick McIver registered a power play goal at the 9:13 mark. A minute later, the Scorpions went to the power play and Craig Macdonald stuffed home his 24th goal of the year pushing the Scorpions lead back to two.

The third period was similar the to first period with only one Scorpions goal put on the board. Konrad Reeder picked up a power play goal giving the Scorpions their three-goal margin of victory.

The Scorpions return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

FRI Mar. 16 Odessa @ SCORPIONS

(5-1 WIN)

7:35 p.m. Santa Ana Star Center

Scorpions' rookies have played strong all season and tonight was no different. Four different rookies scored en route to a 5-1 victory over Odessa Friday night.

After surrendering the game's opening goal to Odessa 's Nathan Ward, the Scorpions took control and never looked back. Rookie of the year candidate Ryan McLeod, tied the game up late in the first period.

New Mexico poured on the scoring in the second period, erupting for three goals. Konrad Reeder, Mike Falk and Mike Prpich, three more rookies, all tallied inside the Santa Ana Star Center .

The third period calmed down and one of the old guard lit the lamp. Scorpions' captain Rob Guinn finished the night's scoring with a wrist shot from the sidewall.

SAT Mar. 17 SCORPIONS @ Amarillo

(5-4 SOL)

6:05 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center

In a classic seesaw battle, the Scorpions fell to Amarillo 5-4 in a shootout. Derek Hahn continued his triumphant return to the Central Hockey League with a two-goal performance, including the game winner.

In the six previous meetings, the scores tended to be low as goals and were hard to come by. Tonight, the teams jumped out for a combined three goals in the opening period.

Konrad Reeder got the Scorpions going with a steal inside the Gorillas zone. Reeder had daylight in front of him and roofed it over goalie Shawn Conschafter giving the Scorps the early lead.

The Scorpions wasted little time in building the lead to two goals. Mike Prpich won a face-off back to Rob Guinn. Guinn settled the puck and launched a shot from the blue line and into the back of the net, just 17-seconds after the Reeder goal.

After a few near misses, Amarillo got on the board at the 10:24 mark. Derek Hahn tucked it though the legs of David Cacciola, scoring his third goal in his second game of his return to the Gorillas.

Things did not slow down in the second period. Amarillo tied the game up when Keith Rowe picked up his ninth goal of the season. The Gorillas took their first lead of the game a minute later when Aaron Sutter picked up a rebound and scored.

The Scorpions found their stride and took momentum back with a bounce that went their way. Lance Herauf grabbed a bouncing puck and found Mike Falk in between the circles. Falk threw a wrist shot just inside the post giving him 26 goals on the season, most among CHL rookies.

Jason Chafe put the Gorillas back on top by a goal at the 2:38 mark of the third period. The Scorpions appeared to have tied it up with 13:25 remaining in the game. The puck appeared to cross the goal line inside the left post, but referee Tom Sterns saw it differently and New Mexico remained down a goal.

Lance Herauf came to the rescue late in the game. Herauf pushed the puck through Conschafter and into the net giving the Scorpions life late in the third.

After a scoreless overtime, the teams combined for five goals in the shootout. Unfortunately, the Scorpions fell one short with Amarillo getting three goals in the shootout.

SUN Mar. 18 SCORPIONS @ Lubbock

(4-3 OTL)

4:05 p.m. City Bank Coliseum

Scorpions picked up a point in their fifth straight game with an overtime loss in Lubbock 4-3. The point moved the Scorpions to within three points of a division crown, with four games remaining.

In a game that went back and forth, Lubbock took little time to put the game away in overtime. A bouncing puck inside the New Mexico zone ended up on Marc Bianchi's stick and into the net, just 28-seconds into overtime.

The first period saw a little bit of everything. Lubbock jumped out to an early lead when Patrick Levesque knocked a rebound goal home. Just over a minute later, Chris Robertson tucked in his 20th goal of the season.

With 8:25 remaining in the first period, Jonathan Hobson ripped a shot that missed the net, but hit the glass behind David Cacciola and shattered it to pieces. The City Bank Coliseum crew repaired the damage and the game resumed after a 13-minute delay.

Penalties filled the second half of the opening period. Each team was unsuccessful on their power plays, but Lubbock would convert shorthanded. Bobby Brown continued to be a thorn in the side of the Scorpions with his 22nd goal of the year, and sixth against New Mexico.

The Scorpions fared better in the second period with two rebound goals. Kevin Harvey picked up the tying goal at the 2:10 mark. The Scorpions' third goal was the result of great passing and hard work.

Vladimir Hartinger fed Robertson across two-lines. Robertson tried a wrap around goal, but Anthony Feyock made the save. A hard charging Aaron MacInnis came to the crease, and pushed the rebound home giving the Scorpions their first lead of the game. When Lubbock went to the power play, they re-tied the game with a Philippe Lacasse goal.

SCORPIONS PROMOTIONS

- Mar. 23-"SCI-FI NIGHT"-Calling all fans of Sci-Fi Adventures to the Santa Ana Star Center. Science Fiction will rule the night with appearances from the International UFO Museum in Roswell , the Dewback Ridge Squad Mountain Garrison 501st Legion and local science fiction authors. There will also be a costume contest, so dress up as your favorite Sci-Fi character.

- Mar. 24-"RED OUT NIGHT"-The Scorpions are looking to paint the town red with a special Red Out T-Shirt. Fans can buy a Red Out T-Shirt for only $15 and get a free ticket to the game against Rocky Mountain.

- THIS WEEK'S BROADCAST SCHEDULE-Tuesday's game can be heard on 610 The Sports Animal. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Scorpions games will be broadcast on 1050 KTBL. For Scorpions fans outside the listening area, you can hear all Scorpions games online by visiting http://www.scorpionshockey.com/schedule/broadcast/. Don't forget that CHLTV is the perfect place to watch Scorpions games online. Visit www.livesportsnetwork.com/chltv for more details.

- Fans inside the Santa Ana Star Center can now hear the games live on 89.5 FM.

SCORPIONS IN THE COMMUNITY

- Keep your eyes open, as the Scorpions will be around town visiting with many different people during March. Check out http://www.scorpionshockey.com/schedule/communitypromos/ for further information.

- On Thursday, March 22nd, the Scorpions will visit Sierra Vista Elementary for lunch. Players will visit eat and sign autographs with the students.

- Head Coach Ray Edwards will visit Intel with some of his players during lunch on Thursday, March 22nd. Coach will chat with the Intel employees about the upcoming playoffs while the players sign autographs.

- On Tuesday, March 27th, the Scorpions have been invited to be the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Rio Rancho's weekly meeting. The members will hear about the Scorpions community relations department, as well as the upcoming playoffs.

TEAM NOTES

- New Mexico is ranked eighth in the latest CHL Coach's Poll.

- RYAN McLEOD and LANCE HERAUF are finalists for the CHL's Rookie of the Year Award.

- DAVID CACCIOLA is a finalist in the CHL's Most Outstanding Goaltender Award.

- AARON ManINNIS is a finalist in the CHL's Best Defenseman Award.

- The Scorpions are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

STANDOUTS

- DAVID CACCIOLA is fourth among goalies with a 2.47 goals against average.

- RYAN McLEOD is tops among CHL rookies with 61 points including 38 assists.

- AARON MacINNIS leads all defensemen with a +33 plus/minus rating.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2007


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