Scorps go down swinging as season ends in dramatic fashion

March 18, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
New Mexico Scorpions News Release


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – They were a long shot going in. Down five points with three games to play, and needing help, the New Mexico Scorpions clawed and fought their way to a dramatic finish in the 2001-2002 Central Hockey League season. Although their season has ended, the New Mexico Scorpions never gave up.

New Mexico started the week on Tuesday night as the Lubbock CottonKings visited Stingley Coliseum for the Scorpions regular season home finale. It was a huge night for New Mexico as Jonathan Delisle and David Cornacchia were returned from Quebec for the stretch run. The two would remind Scorpion fans what they had been missing on the games very first goal three minutes and forty-eight seconds into the contest as Cornacchia fed Delisle for a quick 1-0 lead. That would be the only scoring the game would see until the third period as Lubbock netted a power play goal just eight seconds into the period compliments of Barry McKinlay. Just over six minutes later, Lubbock would take their first lead of the game as Jeff Dewar netted a goal giving the CottonKings a 2-1 lead. The teams would battle back and forth over the course of the third period, but Lubbock put the game away as Blaz Emersic scored with one minute to play in the contest sealing the 3-1 victory.

"It was good to have Delisle and Cornacchia back and have them play well", said Scorpions head coach Tony Martino. "But we put ourselves in trouble with the loss, now we need some help."

With the loss New Mexico fell to five points behind the El Paso Buzzards for the fourth and final spot in the Southern Conference with three games remaining in the regular season. The Scorpions not only had to win out, but need an Odessa win versus El Paso Friday night to have a chance.

Friday night, with their destiny out of their hands, the New Mexico Scorpions rolled into the San Angelo Coliseum for a huge match up with the San Angelo Outlaws. New Mexico was in a game they had to win, but the Outlaws had different plans as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead with five minutes and forty-seven seconds gone in the first period after a Daniel Chaput goal. Things would stay that way until the second period when San Angelo stretched their lead to two with a Chris Peach goal six minutes into the second. New Mexico would fight back though less than a minute later as Gatis Tseplis lit the lamp making it 2-1 with just under thirteen minutes to play in the second. As tension continued to grow, San Angelo would back New Mexico into a corner as Chris Peach tallied his second goal of the period giving San Angelo a 3-1 lead after two periods of play. At the start of the third period it was uncertain if it was the end of the Scorpions season, or the beginning of the rest of the season. Eleven minutes went by and nothing. The Scorpions still trailed by two goals, and Outlaw goaltender Jaime Ronayne was making amazing save after save. With eight fifty-six to play, New Mexico would get the wheels turning as Sergei Radchenko beat Ronayne making it 3-2. With three eighteen to play, the Scorpions would continue the unbelievable comeback as Chris Mackenzie tied the game at three. As the pressure of needing a win continued to grow, Chris Richards took New Mexico and their fans to the excitement threshold working his way out in front and scoring top shelf with five point four seconds to play in the game. For Richards it was his tenth game-winning goal of the season, and it kept the Scorpions playoff hopes alive, as all eyes turned to the Odessa-El Paso game.

"What a roller coaster ride", said Scorpions head coach Tony Martino. "We had our backs against the wall and never quit. It's up to Odessa now."

New Mexico received the help they needed as Odessa beat El Paso 3-1 setting the table for a two game fiasco in El Paso trailing the Buzzards by three points.

Saturday night, the El Paso County Coliseum already had a playoff type atmosphere, as Buzzard and Scorpion fans alike proudly donned their team's colors. New Mexico had to win both games against El Paso to clinch the fourth and final spot in the Southern Conference, and things looked good early. Arturs Kupaks delivered the games first goal twelve minutes into the contest giving New Mexico a 1-0 advantage. The teams skated to a stalemate through the course of the first period, until with point five seconds remaining and El Paso on a power play, Jeremy Vanin slid a pass through the crease that took a freakish carom off Scorpion goaltender Scott Myers' skate and into the net tying the game at one at the end of one. The Scorpions would shake that goal off in the second as they came out with a lot of intensity and built a 3-1 lead with goals from Chris Richards and Sergei Radchenko. With the Buzzards apparently folding up shop, late in the second, things would take a turn for the worse, as the Buzzards suddenly got back into the contest netting two goals in thirty-seconds to tie the game at three. The outburst sent the Coliseum faithful to their feet and left the Scorpions scratching their collective heads. In the third New Mexico would gravely out shoot El Paso 14-9 but Jeremy Vanin slipped another goal past Myers with just under five minutes to play giving the Buzzards a 4-3 lead. With their season on the line New Mexico battled and battled, but ran out of miracles as Vanin finished off his hat trick with an empty net goal with five seconds to play assuring the Buzzards of a playoff position.

"We're devastated", said Scorpions head coach Tony Martino. "We had our destiny in our hands and couldn't get it done. El Paso played a great game and we did as well. Somebody's got to win and somebody's got to lose."

With the loss New Mexico was officially eliminated from playoff contention. But there was still one game remaining.

On Sunday afternoon New Mexico would wrap up their season with the second of two with El Paso. The Scorpions could have pitched their tents, but decided to continue fighting as they took an early 1-0 lead after a Chris Richards goal two minutes and twenty-two seconds in. The Scorps would make it 2-0 with just under two minutes to play in the first as Jonathan St. Louis streaked down the near side and beat Buzzard goaltender Rob Laurie. El Paso would come back to life in the second as they evened the score at two at the end of the second. El Paso took the lead early in the third, but New Mexico never gave up and Jonathan Delisle tied it at three sending the game to overtime. In the extra period, El Paso's Corey Waring found himself open in the near circle and ended the game with a blistering slap shot.

"We never gave up", said Scorpions head coach Tony Martino. "The boys went out and played like the playoffs were still on the line. I'm proud of their efforts."

The Scorpions concluded their season with a 33-25-6 record. New Mexico also finished their season with eight rookies on their roster, the most in the Central Hockey League.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2002


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