Scorpions Win Back-to-Back Games in Shootout

Published on December 15, 2003 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
New Mexico Scorpions News Release


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. Friday's game is scheduled to air on 610 The Sports Animal while Saturday and Sunday's games will air on 1050 KTBL-AM. The games are also available on the Internet through www.sportsjuice.com.

SCORPIONS HOCKEY TALK CONTINUES – Scorpions Hockey Talk returns tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 16 live from 7 to 8 p.m. at Coaches Sports Grill, 1414 Central SE just east of I-25. Join Mike Sheehan and Scorpions coach Bill McDonald and special Scorpions guests every show. There will be food and drink specials as well as merchandise giveaways each week. Craig Stahl and Peter Ambroziak will be tomorrow's guests. Be sure to visit the show each week and sign up for your chance to win two tickets to see the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks in Denver on Jan. 17. You must be at the show to sign up for your chance to win, so see you there!

SCORPIONS EVENTS – Friday's game on Dec. 19 vs. San Angelo is Creamland Team Poster Night to the first 1,500 fans. On Sunday, Dec. 21 against Amarillo, it will be a busy night with 100.3 The Peak Family Night (4 Center Ice tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 sodas all for $44), the second annual Teddy Bear Toss to benefit area charities (bring the bears and toss the bears and toss them onto the ice when the Scorpions score their first goal) and after the game it's Skate with the Scorpions presented by Blades Sports Center in Rio Rancho.

SCORPIONS RECAP –

SCORPIONS 4, LUBBOCK 3 (SO) – The Scorpions rallied from a 2-0 deficit after the first period to take a 4-3 shootout win from the Cotton Kings on Friday at Tingley Coliseum. Chris Richards scored a power play goal in the second period while Shaun Peet and Ben Gorewich tallied 23 seconds apart in the third period to give the Scorps the lead. But Joe Blaznek tallied just 1:05 after Gorewich's goal to force overtime. Richards and Mike Oliveira scored in the shootout while Miguel Beaudry stopped four of five Lubbock attempts for his first win since Nov. 4.

SCORPIONS 2, COLORADO 1 (SO) – Mike Oliveira was credited with both goals and Danny Lorenz extended his unbeaten streak to nine games at 7-0-2 in a 2-1 win over the Eagles on Saturday, the Scorpions' first win in four trips to Colorado this season. Greg Pankewicz put the hosts on the board in the first period, then Oliveira tied it with a power play goal in the second period. Lorenz stopped 38 of 39 Eagles shots for the game, including all six Colorado attempts in overtime. He also denied three of four attempts in the shootout while Chris Richards, Oliveira and Vladimir Hartinger all scored to ice the game.

SCORPIONS MATCH-UPS –

SAN ANGELO – Realignment makes Friday's visit by the Saints to Tingley Coliseum their only visit of the season to New Mexico. San Angelo stole a 4-3 win from the Scorpions on a penalty shot goal by Steve Roberts with 0.9 seconds remaining on Oct. 28. However, the Saints have been struggling lately, going 0-4-1 in their last five games and claiming just one win in their last nine games (1-6-2). Chris Minard (9g-17a-26pts) and Ryan Finnerty (9g-15a-24pts) lead the Saints in scoring. Goalie Scott Reid has been the go-to guy between the pipes for the Saints, posting a 10-6-1 record and a 2.73 GAA. The Saints allow 34.1 shots per game, second-most in the CHL.

AMARILLO – After a slow start, the Gorillas have roared to the top of the Southwest Division. The Gorillas have won two in a row and three of their last four after posting an 11-game winning streak in November. They beat the Scorpions 3-1 on Nov. 18 in the only previous meeting this season heading into this weekend's home-and-home series. Last year's CHL Rookie of the Year Derek Hahn leads the Gorillas in scoring with 26 points (12g-14a) while Scott Wray is next with 19 points (8g-11a). While posting 3.25 goals per game for the league's fifth-ranked offense, Amarillo is second defensively allowing 2.21 goals per contest. Goalie Shawn Degagne is a big reason for that, posting a 12-5-1 record and 2.12 GAA.

FANS OF FREE HOCKEY – Almost half of the Scorpions games this season have gone to overtime or a shootout, with ten of 24 games going beyond 60 minutes. In addition, seven of the last eleven games have needed extra time. The Scorpions lead the CHL with five shootout wins (5-1), and with a 2-2 record in overtime, they also lead with seven total victories coming after the end of regulation time.

MR. CLUTCH – In addition to ranking second in the CHL with 17 goals, Mike Oliveira leads the league with five game-winning tallies on the season. Two of Oliveira's game-winners came in overtime (against Lubbock on Nov. 22 and Tulsa on Nov. 26), while both of this weekend's wins came courtesy of Oliveira in the shootout. The 24 year-old native of West Lorne, Ontario is eighth in the league in overall scoring with 32 points (17g-15a) in just 17 games. He is one goal away from tying his career high of 18 goals, set during the 2001-02 season with Trenton and Jackson of the ECHL.

GETTING THE JOB DONE – Goalie Danny Lorenz is a big reason for the Scorpions ' recent success, posting a 7-0-2 record in his last nine starts. The Murrayville, British Columbia native, who turned 34 on Friday and celebrated his birthday a day late with a 2-1 shootout win at Colorado on Saturday, also tied a season best by allowing just one goal against the Eagles.

STINGERS – The Scorpions are 8-2-2 in their last 12 games and above the .500 mark for the first time since an Opening Night win at Corpus Christi...Walker McDonald scored a pair of goals in this season's earlier meeting with San Angelo, while Erik Adams has the Scorpions lone goal against Amarillo this season... Adams and Mike Oliveira each have a point in each of the last three games, while Jeff Alcombrack had his four-game scoring streak snapped on Saturday at Colorado... The Scorpions have moved into a third place tie with Tulsa in the Northwest Division, and are four points behind Oklahoma City for second with two games in hand.

SCORPIONS RESULTS – 11-10-3 record, 25 pts., T-3rd place, Northwest Division (6-3-1 home, 5-7-2 away)

Friday, Dec. 12 SCORPIONS 4, Lubbock 3 (SO) – Mike Oliveira – GW goal; Ben Gorewich – 1 goal

Saturday, Dec. 13 Scorpions 2, COLORADO 1 (SO) – Mike Oliveira – 2 goals; Danny Lorenz – 38 saves

Home team in CAPS

SCORPS IN ACTION –

Friday, Dec. 19 Scorpions vs. San Angelo Saints (12-11-3, 27 pts., 2nd place, Southwest Div.) – 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 20 Scorpions at Amarillo Gorillas (16-7-1, 33 pts., 1st place, Southwest Div.) – 6:10 p.m. MST

Sunday, Dec. 21 Scorpions vs. Amarillo Gorillas (16-7-1, 33 pts., 1st place, Southwest Div.) – 5:05 p.m.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2003


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