Scorpions Out-Sting Bees 5-2

Published on October 16, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


Hidalgo, Tx - It was a reunion of coaches at the Dodge Arena Saturday night, as Tracy Egeland's Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees hosted Bill McDonald and the New Mexico Scorpions, but unfortunately for Egeland it was not a reunion worth remembering. Longtime Scorpions forward Peter Ambroziak posted a pair of goals to lead the Scorpions past the Killer Bees 5-2 in Central Hockey League exhibition play at Dodge Arena

Egeland served as a player and an assistant for two seasons with the Lubbock Cotton Kings under McDonald and Egeland took over for McDonald midway through the 01/02 season when McDonald departed for the current position he has in New Mexico. This was the first time the two have faced each other since Egeland has come to the Valley.

Ambroziak opened the game's scoring with 7:30 remaining in the first period with a power play goal after he was able to slide the puck past Jeff Levy's right side. The Scorps' closed out the period with a goal by Daryl Moor with just 29-seconds remaining to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Scorpions continued their offensive production early in the second period, as forward Andy Katzberg slammed the puck past Levy from the right slot for the Scorpions second power play goal of the game 1:28 into the period to build the Scorps' lead to 3-0. The Bees continually tried to get their offense going, but could not catch any breaks. Bees rookie defenseman Coel Doty played the puck off the far boards midway through the game while rushing the puck through the neutral zone, but the puck was kicked by official Fred L'Ecuyer and it went directly to the stick of Scorpion Mike Possin, who turned it into a two-on-one break. Possin fed a pass over to Mike Oliveira, who had no problem placing the puck past a stranded Levy. Ambroziak tallied his second goal of the game with just over six minutes remaining in the period to give New Mexico a 5-0 advantage.

Returning Bees forward Jason Hawes finally removed the zero from the scoreboard with his first preseason goal on a nice feed from Bill Newson 48-seconds into the final period. It appeared the Bees might stage a late rally with a goal by Danny Helmers less than eight minutes later, but goaltender Miguel Beaudry sealed the pipes for the games remainder.

Beaudry stopped 31 of 33 Killer Bees shots for the victory, while Levy stopped 25 of 30 in net for the Bees and suffered the loss The Bees out shot the Scorpions 33-30.

Philadelphia Flyers head coach and former Dallas Stars Stanley Cup winning coach Ken Hitchcock was in attendance, but the Bees were trying to catch the attention of their own coach Tracy Egeland, who has to narrow down his camp roster from 20 to 18 active players by the regular season. The only member of the Bees not suiting out in the contest was goaltender Terry Dunbar.

The Bees preseason record goes to 1-1-0 and they will wrap up the regular season Monday night on the road in Corpus Christi in a battle against the Rayz before opening up the regular season Saturday night in Austin.

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2004


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