CHL Central Hockey League

Shots from the Point

December 17, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


GORILLAS POUND THEIR CHESTS - WIN FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES

The Amarillo Gorillas have shaken off the remnants of a slow start by playing great hockey lately resulting in four straight wins. With their hot play, Amarillo has pulled to within three points of a playoff spot and have set them up for a great second half of the season. The biggest difference is the offense. The Gorillas have totaled 22 goals in their last four games and have moved up to a 3.17 average per game this season.

A group of rookies, all from the University of Alabama-Huntsville, have been helping the cause with centers David Nimmo (acquired at the start of the season in a seemingly minor trade with Mississippi) and Grant Selinger along with defenseman Shaun Arvai showing steady improvement. Nimmo is currently tied for the CHL lead among rookies with 26 points (14-12=26). He has recorded points in five straight games and 10 of his last 11. Selinger has four goals and two assists over the Gorillas four-game win streak and Arvai has points in six of his last seven games (eight assists over that span). Teammate Chris Martini (1-10=11) is also a product of the Charger's hockey program.

Goaltender Dan Bauer has seen more playing time lately and has capitalized winning four straight decisions despite allowing 16 goals. Dan McWhinney won Saturday's decision making 35 saves in the 6-2 win over Odessa. It was the first win for McWhinney since November 21st.

The Gorillas are at home on Friday versus Odessa and on the road Saturday visiting Corpus Christi.

SCORPIONS GET A '10' FOR OFFENSE

The New Mexico Scorpions have had an up-and-down season and currently sit at 11-9-3. One thing that is certain about the Scorpions is their ability to score goals in bunches. After a 10-0 victory on November 3rd versus Rocky Mountain, the Scorpions have done it again. The sequel featured the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Saturday night with New Mexico winning 10-3. The Scorpions scored seven first period goals (a new franchise record and the most in a period since Arizona netted seven on March 24, 2007 versus Colorado. Craig Macdonald netted his first career hat trick and Konrad Reeder set a franchise record with six assists (one shy of the CHL single-game record). New Mexico is fifth in the league averaging 3.74 goals per game.

RAYZ CONTINUE DOMINANCE IN AUSTIN - LOSE QUENNEVILLE TO INJURY

The Corpus Christi Rayz have turned the corner and have pulled to within two points of a potential playoff spot. In their last 10 games, the Rayz are 6-3-1. On Saturday night in Austin, it should have been a given they'd take care of the Ice Bats. After all, the Rayz have never lost a game at the Chaparral Ice Arena in their six previous chances and now stand 7-0 all-time in the "Chap". Jason Tapp's strong play lately has been the catalyst for the Rayz success. Tapp is 6-2-1 in his last nine decisions with a .927 save percentage. Justin Quenneville has also turned it around scoring eight goals with eight assists in his last 11 games. The bad news is that Quenneville returned to Corpus Christi after a collision in the Austin game and is out of the line-up for the foreseeable future.

M*A*S*H* Last week produced several key injuries that have several of the top players in the CHL questionable entering this week. In Friday's 8-4 win at Tulsa, Mississippi watched goaltender Sebastien Centomo (10-4-1) leave with an injury after facing just two shots. He did not play on Saturday in the RiverKings 5-4 shootout victory over Colorado. In Corpus Christi's 2-1 victory over Austin on Saturday night, the Rayz lost top scorer Justin Quenneville (10-11=21) after a collision with Austin's Daniel Veenema. Quenneville left the Rayz current road trip to go back to South Texas for further evaluation on his lower body injury. Texas' Scott Sheppard (13-8=21) missed the first two games of the three games in Youngstown and played sparingly in the third game.

NOT HOW THE COACHES DREW IT UP

The Mississippi-Colorado game on Saturday featured a goaltender fight that got both Adam Hanna and Ian Keserich tossed for their respective teams. That provided the chance for both Colorado's Bryan Bridges (in for Marco Emond) and Mississippi's Kyle McNulty (in for the injured Sebastien Centomo) to play in their first CHL game. Both were solid with Bridges making 39 saves and McNulty stopping 21 shots. Each allowed just one goal with the game being decided in a shootout with a RiverKings win.

OTHER TIDBITS

The Eagles are 0-3 in shootouts this season, all on the road...The Eagles are 13-0-3 all-time at home versus New Mexico (they play on Saturday at the BEC)...Austin Captain Darryl McArthur (broken foot) could come off the 30-day IR this week...Bossier-Shreveport's Ken Carroll made 34 saves in the Mudbugs 3-0 victory over Colorado on Friday night earning his CHL record 23rd shutout...Dennis Maxwell came off the IR for the Killer Bees on Saturday and had a goal and an assist...The Brahmas win on Friday in Youngstown is their sixth in seven contests on Friday nights.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2007


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