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CHL Colorado Eagles

Short-Benched 'Scorps Get First Regulation Win at BEC

December 27, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - On "Old Time Hockey Night" at the Budweiser Events Center, the Colorado Eagles would probably have liked to turn back the clock after the game and try again as they lost to the New Mexico Scorpions, 6-4. The Scorpions -- playing with just 15 skaters -- picked up their first regulation victory at the BEC in 19 chances against a Colorado team that has historically dominated them like no other opponent. New Mexico's win was powered by a Christopher Robertson hat trick and a 50 percent clip on the power play (4-8).

In a first period that saw plenty of back-and-forth action, the Eagles and Scorpions each carried an equal amount of the play -- both registered 15 shots on goal -- but it was New Mexico that finished the first 20 minutes with a 1-0 lead. The period's lone goal came at 14:42 when Craig Macdonald knocked home a rebound from the right side of the crease on the Scorpions' second power play of the period.

The Scorpions scored four goals in the second period -- the most goals allowed in a period all season by the Eagles -- starting with a pair of goals from Robertson just 12 seconds apart at 4:14. Robertson's first goal came via a rebound directly off a faceoff win in the right circle, and his second came off the ensuing faceoff when he broke into the offensive zone and his blast from the high slot fluttered off of Morgan Cey's glove and into the net.

Lyon Messier (Mark Messier's son) got his first professional goal at 6:47 when his shot from the right point beat Cey high through a screen in front on the power play. Scott Polaski finally got Colorado on the scoreboard with a power-play goal of their own 59 seconds later with a low shot from the point. Cey kept New Mexico from making it 5-1 at 17:23 when he stopped Mike MacDonald on a penalty shot, but Macdonald scored his second man-advantage goal of the game just over 20 seconds later with the 'Scorps taking advantage of a separate penalty.

Andrew Penner started the third period in net for Colorado, who began the final frame with a two-man advantage, but the league's top power play unit couldn't convert (they went just 1-6 on the night). But they made it a three-goal deficit at 4:16 when Erik Adams' drive from above the left circle deflected off of Ryan Tobler in front of the net. The Scorpions, though, got it back at 11:16 with their fourth power play marker of the night as Robertson notched a hat trick by poking home a Torren Delforte shot that snuck through Penner's pads.

Ed McGrane chipped away at New Mexico's lead again at 13:16 when he took the puck from behind the 'Scorps' net and tucked it inside the right post for a wraparound score. But Andrew Martin snuffed out any chance the Eagles would have from fully gaining momentum when he stopped Kevin Ulanski on bang-bang, shorthanded chances at the 15 minute mark. Adams and Tobler connected again with just under 17 seconds left to account for the final margin.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2008


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