Sundogs Grab First Win of Season, 5-3 Over Division Rival New Mexico
Published on October 23, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - In the first of 10 meetings this season, the 2008 Central Hockey League Ray Miron President's Cup Champion Arizona Sundogs faced off against the Southwest Division New Mexico Scorpions on Wednesday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. The Sundogs used consistent play and a strong third period to grab their first win of the 2008-09 season 5-3 over their division rival.
More resembling the championship team from last season than that of last weekend, the Sundogs came out firing early Wednesday night and converted on their first power play opportunity to take their first lead of the 2008-09 season. Open between the circles, Karl Sellan calmed a centering pass from Derek Legault and sent a wrist shot past Scorpions netminder Andrew Martin for his second tally of the season 2:17 into the contest. Forward Martin Gascon also assisted on the early go-ahead marker. Skating four-on-four following separate Seth Leonard hooking and Jason Visser interference penalties, New Mexico tied the game with their first of the game from Craig Macdonald at the 12:33 mark. Macdonald lifted a Dylan Row rebound over a sprawled-out Marco Emond for his third goal of the season. Arizona outshot New Mexico 13-8 in the first 20 minutes of play.
Much like the opening frame, the Sundogs scored first to take a one-goal lead but New Mexico sent both teams to their respective locker rooms deadlocked at two goals apiece. At the 6:44 mark, Arizona took a 2-1 lead while on the penalty kill as Gascon collected a pass from rookie forward Peter Cartwright and skated down the near boards sending a wrist shot off of a Scorpions defenseman and past Martin for his second point of the game. Defenseman Sean Zimmerman also assisted on the play. Still on the power play, New Mexico answered back just 37 seconds later to pull even at 2-2. Christopher Robertson sent a low slap shot from the top of the far circle past the right leg of Emond for his second tally of the year from forward Torren Delforte and defenseman Aaron MacInnis. The Sundogs outshot New Mexico 11-7 in the middle period for a 40-minute 24-15 advantage.
Still on a 5-on-4 power play following a late Sam Bowles interference penalty in the second, the Sundogs took advantage early to regain a one-goal cushion as Jason Visser and Joel Irving teamed up to send a through pass to defenseman Jon Landry who snuck behind the Scorpions defense and sent a one-timer past Martin 1:09 into the period. Gascon notched an unassisted tally nine seconds later, his second of the game, to give his club a 4-2 lead after a Scorpions player fanned on a breakout pass leaving Gascon alone in close on Martin. Continuing the trend of the game, New Mexico pulled back to within one at the 4:35 mark on a Corey Courchene marker, their second goal of the night with the man advantage. Jamie Herrington collected the lone assist on the play. Less than a minute later and in his first game of the season, 2007-08 CHL Rookie of the Year Finalist Mark Kolanos made it 5-3 with a wrist shot over the glove of Martin. Cartwright grabbed his second helper of the night while rookie Josh Coyle registered his first point of the season to close out scoring.
Emond stopped 22 of 25 New Mexico shots for his first win of the season while Martin turned aside 35 of 40 shots in his and his club's first loss of the year. Both teams finished 2-for-11 with the man advantage. With the win, Arizona improves to 1-2-0 on the season.
Next up for the Sundogs is a President's Cup Finals rematch with the Colorado Eagles in Loveland, Colorado on Friday. Game time is set for 6:05pm Arizona time but will be tape-delayed until 7:00pm on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2008
- Shots from the Point - CHL
- Broadcasting Change For Saturday's Game - Mississippi RiverKings
- RiverKings Report - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks Open Three Game Weekend Friday In Rio - Laredo Bucks
- Rob Guinn To Be Remembered This Weekend - New Mexico Scorpions
- Sundogs Donate $15,000 to Susan G. Komen in Support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Arizona Sundogs
- Rapid City Rush Release Game Day Tickets Saturday, October 25 at 10 am - Rapid City Rush
- Sundogs Grab First Win of Season, 5-3 Over Division Rival New Mexico - Arizona Sundogs
- Scorpions Suffer Season's First Loss - New Mexico Scorpions
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
