Scorpions Salute The Badges With A Win Over Arizona

Published on March 2, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
New Mexico Scorpions News Release


[ RIO RANCHO, N.M.] - On a night when the Scorpions "Saluted the Badges" they beat their rivals from Arizona 5-3. As the police and fire battles for their own cup, the Scorpions continue to push towards a playoff birth.

The game was fast, furious, and fun throughout. The hits were big and loud, the players were skating fast and the hometown fans were treated to two exciting goals.

New Mexico used two special teams goals to grab the first period lead. On the power play, Mike Prpich put a Craig Macdonald rebound home to ignite the Santa Ana Star Center fans. Late in the period the Scorpions went down two men but the penalty kill rose to the occasion. Just as Vladimir Hartinger came out of the box, he found Aaron MacInnis. MacInnis started a two-on-one with Chris Robertson who finished the job for his 18th goal of the season.

Arizona turned the tide and gained momentum in the second period with two goals of their own. Dmitri Leonov picked up a power play goal cutting the lead to one at the 14:59 mark. Mike Falk gave the Scorpions their two-goal lead back at the 17:58 mark of the second period. Unfortunately, the Sundogs fought back and scored with only 22-seconds remaining in the third period, cutting the Scorpions lead to one after two period of play.

The third period gave the fans all they could ever want in a hockey game. New Mexico wasted no time grabbing momentum back early in the final frame. Jamie Herrington picked up his own rebound and scored 24-second in. Once again Arizona fought back as Leonov scored his second goal of the game.

The period continued and the physical play picked up. The teams showed playoff intensity and a distain for each other. Mike Prpich finished the scoring with his second goal of the game, but that was only the start to the fun that would happen.

The Scorpions and Sundogs had enough of nice play and the team decided to take it the next level. Kevin Harvey delighted the fans with a decided win in a fight against the Sundogs' David Lizotte. Only a few second later, all six players on the ice grabbed a hold of each other and started an altercation of their own, once again bringing over 4,000 people to their feet.

The win coupled with the Arizona and Amarillo losses gave New Mexico a five point cushion in the Southwest Division.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2007


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