 |
| Power
Play |
17.7%
- 8th |
| Penalty
Killing |
77.1%
- 17th |
| FORWARDS |
| KONRAD
REEDER |
41-67-108
(+21) |
| CHRIS
ROBERTSON |
34-44-78
(+22) |
| CRAIG
McDONALD |
29-34-63
(0) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| VLADIMIR
HARTINGER |
20-43-63
(+16) |
| AARON
MacINNIS |
10-32-42
(+1) |
| ANDREW
SMALE |
7-6-13
(+1) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| ANDREW
MARTIN |
19-12-2
(2 SO)
3.12 GA
.902 PCT |
|
| MIKE
MINARD |
15-12-4
(0 SO)
3.74 GA
.895 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
New
Mexico vs Arizona |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
MAR.
28 |
NEW
MEXICO 6 - ARIZONA 7 |
SEED
3 |
2 |
MAR.
29 |
NEW
MEXICO 5 - ARIZONA
2 |
SEED
2 |
34-24-6
(74) |
3 |
APR.
2 |
ARIZONA
6 - NEW MEXICO
3 |
38-19-6
(82) |
| |
4 |
APR.
4 |
ARIZONA
4 - NEW MEXICO 5 |
|
| |
5 |
APR.
5 |
ARIZONA
8 - NEW MEXICO
5 |
|
| |
6 |
APR.
7 |
NEW
MEXICO 3 - ARIZONA 4 |
|
| |
7 |
APR.
8 |
NEW
MEXICO at ARIZONA |
|
| Arizona
Wins Series 4-2 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW
|
| by
LOU LAFRADO - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Rio
Rancho, NM
- The season-long battle between the Arizona SunDogs (39-19-6)
and the New Mexico Scorpions (34-24-6) will resume in
the second round of the Central Hockey League playoffs
this week. Last season the Scorpions won the regular season
and post season confrontations. This year the SunDogs
won their first Southwest Divisional crown.
The post season for both clubs begins with two squads
that are fairly evenly matched if not but talent then
by heart and effort. Few contests this season results
in multiple goal wins.
The SunDogs benefit from a close affiliation with the
San Antonio Rampage of the AHL and have seen a number
of high quality next-tier players come through Prescott
Valley. While the benefits are obvious the SunbDogs have
also been plagued by that same affiliation and players
coming and going at inopportune times.
In New Mexico, the Scorpions have been a pleasant surprise
this season. New head coach Randy Murphy took the reigns
after Ray Edwards left for San Antonio in the off-season.
Murphy has stuck with the roster he started this season
and has only tinkered on occasion and when necessary.
The Scorpions finished second in the division and third
in the conference based on effort and heart if not the
talent level of Arizona.
This should be a fun series.
Goaltenders
If there is one position that has seemed unsettled in
Arizona is the netminder. A series of goalies have come
and gone and some of the moves have appeared odd. Marco
Emond and Robert McVicar are now in net for the Dogs heading
to the offseason. McVicar went 11-4-2 in his time in Prescott
Valley with a 3.66 GAA and 0.903 save percentage. Emond
came to Arizona via the Colorado Eagles and posted a 5-3-0
record with Arizona and a 4.50 GAA and an 0.879 save percentage.
Both goalies have benefitted from the SunDogs ability
to score goals in bunches.
For New Mexico, the nets are patrolled by veteran Mike
Minard and Andrew Martin. Both have played well during
the season with the exceptions along the way. Minard came
to Rio Rancho from the Belfast Giants and posted a 15-12-4
mark and a 3.74 GAA and 0.895 save percentage while Martin
went 19-12-2 with two shutouts and a 3.12 GAA and .902
save percentage.
Goaltending is a push in this series. Arizona needs to
score early and often to offset the New Mexico slight
advantage in net. New Mexico on the other hand needs a
solid performance from the starting netminder who may
be the veteran Minard.
Defense
On the blueline the Scorpions sport three strong defensemen.
Vladimir Hartinger was the CHL defenseman of the year
and is supported by Aaron MacInnis and Shawn Skiehar.
Hartinger has provided leadership and an unexpected offensive
outburst this season. MacInnis chipped in 42 points on
10 goals this year. In the meantime, Skiehar has played
an exceptional defensive position this season.
In Arizona, the SunDogs are led by Chris Bartolone (18
goals and 42 assists; plus-25) and Dan Laperriere (18
goals and 33 assists; plus-12). Jon Landry added 42 points
on 9 goals and was a plus-21 this season.
As a team the SunDogs were a plus-123 and New Mexico was
plus-44. From a defensive point of view the SunDogs take
the edge on defense in this series.
Offense
Seems fitting that the Dogs and Scorps are facing off
in this series based on offense this season. Alex Leavitt
picked up the league scoring title with 128 points on
40 goals. Leavitt is supported by centermen Dusty Collins
who picked up 23 goals and 53 points and Cory Urquhart
who had 20 goals and 33 points. On the season the SunDogs
netted 294 goals and sprinted to the finish to easily
claim their first divisional crown.
Meanwhile second Scorpions Konrad Reeder had 41 goals
and 108 points this season for second on the scoring list
in the CHL. The diminutive right-wing was easily the teams
leading scorer and leader on and off the ice. But he has
a great deal of support in the form of Christopher Robertson
who stepped up in the second half of the season this year
and was a solid face-off man all season. Robertson had
a solid 34 goals and 78 points on the season. In addition,
Craig MacDonald chipped in with 29 goals and 34 assists
this year and gave some balance to the scoring sheet.
The edge on offense goes to the SunDogs if only by a slight
measure. Total goals this season favor the Dogs and the
depth of talent on the roster in the forward lines favors
Arizona.
Intangibles
The SunDogs have home ice advantage in this series which
in this series may be meaningless. The two teams have,
over the last two seasons demonstrated the ability to
win on each others ice.
The SunDogs have the momentum from the division crown
and will certainly ride that into this series.
The Scorpions have an intangible this franchise has not
had in a long time, if ever. Heart. Perhaps that is a
reflection of head coach Randy Murphy.
Prediction New Mexico Scorpions move in 7 games.
Contact the reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com |
|
|
Game
1
|
New
Mexico 6 - Arizona 7
|
| by
LOU LAFRADO - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Arizona
Leads Series 1-0
|
Prescott
Valley, AZ - Who needs defense when you
have an offense that goes as hard as these two teams?
After a relatively quiet and playoff minded two stanzas
the Arizona SunDogs and New Mexico Scorpions combined
for seven third period goals in a wild 7-6 opening game
win for the Dogs.
Late in the second the Scorpions erased a 3-1 deficit
on goals by Konrad Reeder and Dominic Osman. That outburst
continued into the third where the Scorpions put up two
more goals for a quick 5-3 lead.
However, four straight, one each from Dan Laperriere and
Chris Bartolone and two from David Schlemko put the 'Dogs
back in front 7-5. A late powerplay tally from New Mexico’s
Christopher Robertson made the last five minutes of the
game a bit tense.
Arizona was potent on its powerplay picking up four markers
on six opportunities while New Mexico was two for eight
on their chances.
Both goalies, Andrew Martin for New Mexico and Robert
McVicar for Arizona, faced 36 shots on goal in the game.
Arizona’s Cory Urquhart was the game’s first star with
six points on the night (2 goals and 4 assists).
Game two in this series is Saturday night. The Scorpions
would like to go home with a split. The SunDogs need to
defend home ice a little better than a tight 7-6 goal-fest
against a team that is not scared of them.
Contact the
reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
2 |
New
Mexico 5 - Arizona 2 |
| by
LINDA DAVIS - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 1-1 |
Prescott
Valley, AZ – Where games one and two differed
in this series was the rise of the Scorpions’ defense
including some solid goaltending by veteran Mike Minard.
Cory Urquhart got the SunDogs on the board first with an early first period score. For the Scorpions it was a bit of a wake-call if they wanted to compete and extend this series beyond a four and out.
Aaron MacInnis and Konrad Reeder rode to the rescue in this western high country arena. Both scored first period goals to wrest control of the game away from the 'Dogs and essentially send the Scorpions to the series-tying win.
Vladimir Hartinger, Mitch Stephens and Christopher Robertson picked up goals for New Mexico in the second wrapped around a second marker from Urquhart.
Meanwhile Minard stepped between the pipes after a rough outing by Andrew Martin in game one. After allowing the first goal of the game Minard settled down and held serve for the 'Scorps. Marco Emond started in net for the SunDogs but was pulled after yielding Stephens’ goal in the second. Robert McVicar played well in relief allowing only Robertson’s goal on eleven shots.
This was a crucial win for New Mexico which did not want to have to duplicate its efforts from last postseason and come back home down by two games to a much improved Arizona roster.
In the third, there was little pressure on either goal as the Scorpions were held to two shots on goal and the SunDogs registering eight shots of their.
The biggest improvement in New Mexico’s game was their effort on the penalty kill. After yielding four power play goals in game one the Scorpions gave up only one in game two (on eleven chances) and scored two shorthanded markers of their own. New Mexico went two for seven on their powerplay opportunities.
With 47 seconds left in the game an ugly fight broke out perhaps reflecting the frustration of Arizona’s bench and the stereotypical attempt to send a message to New Mexico for game three in Rio Rancho on Wednesday.
New Mexico showed resilience in this win and now returns home with momentum and home ice advantage on their side.
None of which Arizona expected
|
|
| Game
3 |
Arizona
6 - New Mexico 3 |
| by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Arizona
Leads Series 2-1 |
Rio
Rancho, NM – So many words and phrases
come to mind after this so-called contest.
Pathetic, Miserable, Gutless, Impotent, Ineffective, Mind-numbing.
But most important for the Scorpions the word that should
hurt the most is Heartless.
The one intangible New Mexico had going into this game
was heart. All season they demonstrated heart and commitment
to head coach Randy Murphy’s program.
On Wednesday night the Scorpions gave all that heart up
and the home ice advantage in this second round best of
seven series.
After building a 2-0 lead early in the second period the
Scorpions just stopped playing. The Arizona SunDogs did
nothing to earn the victory except continue to skate and
play the game.
Few skaters for the Scorpions deserve even a shower after
this game. Goaltender Mike Minard was left defenseless
on most occasions and took the loss after yielding five
goals (one empty net goal) on 48 shots. That total included
a barrage of 19 shots in the second period when New Mexico
launched an incredible three shots on goal. That’s right,
three shots on goal.
Hard to win even a period with that total.
For Arizona, Cory Urquhart got back on track with two
goals on the night. Arizona spread their scoring around
the roster and took full advantage of the heartless effort
displayed by the Scorpions.
Both clubs scored once on the powerplay in four chances.
Robert McVicar picked up the win in net for the Dogs and
really had little work. The 28 shots he faced in the “game”
were hardly challenging and he should be well rested for
Friday night’s game four in this series.
Without a major turn around from Wednesday night the next
time the SunDogs go home it may be to pick up fresh clothes
for the trip to Laredo and the conference finals.
Contact the
reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
4 |
Arizona
4 - New Mexico 5 |
| by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 2-2 |
Rio
Rancho, NM – It is hard to put a perspective on the fourth game in this best of seven series between Arizona and New Mexico.
This was a must win contest for New Mexico who almost certainly faced a sweep at home at the hands of the SunDogs.
The Scorpions regained some of their heart with Mitch Stephens saving the night and possibly the series with his game winning powerplay goal at 12:24 of the third.
What appeared to be icing on the scoreboard became the game winner when Arizona decided it was time to contest the game. Within five minutes of the Stephens’ goal the SunDogs had posted three straight and closed the gap to a single goal. For New Mexico, time ran out on the 'Dogs and the 'Scorps escaped with the series-tying win.
Through two periods, the Scorpions built a 4-1 lead and seemed in total control of the game. Aaron MacInnis’ powerplay goal less than a minute into the second gave New Mexico a 3-0 lead that stood up until Cory Urquhart continued his hot play with a powerplay marker off a beautiful feed from Alex Leavitt.
Midway through the middle stanza Konrad Reeder connected on a gorgeous odd man rush and finished off a perfect pass from Craig MacDonald.
New Mexico’s Andrew Martin was strong in net for most of the game but was assaulted for those five minutes in the third period. The Scorpions seemed to relax and permitted Arizona to run free in the defensive zone. A full sixty-minute effort, while a cliché, is essential against the SunDogs.
Marco Emond was the surprise starter in net for the SunDogs on Friday night. Emond has been shaky since joining the Dogs while Robert McVicar has been solid. Emond was tenuous in net Friday and survived because New Mexico backed off and allowed Arizona to take control of the final minutes of the game.
New Mexico deserved the win with the 55-minute effort. But they were lucky too in finding their heart and restoring self-respect.
The series continues Saturday night in Rio Rancho where the Scorpions face another must win.
Contact the
reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
5 |
Arizona
8 - New Mexico 5 |
| by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Arizona
Leads Series 3-2 |
Rio
Rancho, NM – Saturday night’s game five in this series must rank as one of the most bizarre contests in the history of the Central Hockey League.
The Arizona SunDogs put plenty of distance between themselves and the Scorpions by the end of the first period. Indeed, the Dogs scored 22 seconds into the contest and toyed with the home town club for the better part of the first twenty minutes.
The Scorpions played an undisciplined, unhurried and unenergetic first period with only Konrad Reeder’s goal to show for any effort. New Mexico’s Andrew Martin was shaky in net and never returned after the first intermission.
But the real problem with the game came in the second period. The Scorpion’s Craig MacDonald was cross checked in the back after delivering a perfect outlet pass to Mitch Stephens who raced down the far boards. MacDonald did the senseless thing and retaliated with a slash across the legs of the SunDogs player. Meanwhile, Stephens continued his rush and cut to the net, faked Robert McVicar and scored to cut the lead to 4-2.
The officials met at the scorer’s box and discussed the play. At this point, referee Paul DePuydt waved off the goal. The call was that there was a delayed penalty to MacDonald that negated the Stephens’ goal. At no time during Stephens’ rush up ice was there an indication from DePuydt of a delayed call. The result of the call was a five-minute major against MacDonald and a game misconduct. The major led to Arizona’s Alex Leavitt scoring on the powerplay.
Aaron MacInnis then took a boarding major and the Dogs had a two-man advantage on concurrent five-minute majors. Instead of a 4-2 deficit the SunDogs netted two more powerplay goals and built a 7-1 lead. Christopher Robertson netted a powerplay goal late in the second for New Mexico to put some lipstick on this pig of a game.
The Scorpions came out in the third and decided to play twenty minutes of hockey and it nearly worked. Three straight scores cut the lead to 7-5 with nine minutes left in the game. However, Arizona’s Rob Lehtinen scored a shorthanded goal to ice the Scorpions and send the SunDogs home with the series lead.
The Scorpions played a poor game for the better part of two periods. Poor decisions on the ice by veteran players left the club shorthanded at critical points in the game and provided the SunDogs with opportunities to score, and they did.
The life that the Scorpions displayed in the final period was too little too late but sent the crowd home with a glimmer of hope rather than the dread that should be felt.
It should be remembered too that the Central Hockey League is a minor league system for all concerned including the officials.
Referee DePuydt lost control of this contest with little more than one minute gone in the second. His call on MacDonald while justified seemed nearly accidental and an afterthought. It impacted the remainder of the game and left Scorpions’ head coach Randy Murphy, at the end of the game, standing at the officials’ circle giving DePuydt a piece of his mind.
Contact the
reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
6 |
New
Mexico 2 - Arizona 4 |
| by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Arizona
Wins Series 4-2 |
Prescott
Valley, AZ – Game six in this series opened with a defensive flavor not seen in the previous five contests. The two teams traded goals in the first period with the Scorpions netting the first goal with Mitch Stephens taking a pass from Erik Johnson to beat Robert McVicar.
The lead lasted all of 18 seconds as the SunDogs broke in on Mike Minard and Steve Rymsha got the equalizer. New Mexico enforcer Kevin Harvey scored his second in as many games early in the second to give the Scorpions their second lead but goals from Kyle Hood and Cory Urquhart erased the deficit and gave the Dogs the lead after two periods.
Urquhart’s goal came after the Scorpions’ Christopher Robertson rang the puck off the crossbar twice nearly giving the Scorpions the lead and some momentum.
The Scorpions skated without their scoring leader and sparkplug, Konrad Reeder, who was suspended by the CHL earlier in the day for a blow to the head of Tyler Liebel in game five. Of course, Liebel embellished the hit and drew the ire of the referee and the CHL front office for Reeder’s hit.
The SunDogs were whistled for only one infraction on the night and played smart defensive hockey while the 'Scorps were assessed four minor penalties yielding one powerplay goal and picking up a shorthanded tally as well.
Jason Visser picked up the game winner in the third period on the powerplay off feeds from Chris Bartolone and Alex Leavitt.
Mike Minard was solid again in net for the Scorpions but the offensive talent for the SunDogs was too much for him and the Scorpions’ young blueliners. McVicar earned the victory with 30 saves on 33 shots.
The series was best characterized by New Mexico’s failure to protect multi-goal leads. In addition, their undisciplined play in games three and five was costly at home as they dropped two of three games in Rio Rancho.
The SunDogs now have the unenviable task of facing the Laredo Bucks in the southern conference finals which begin later this week in Laredo.
Contact the
reporter at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Power
Play |
26.8%
- 1st |
| Penalty
Killing |
79.0%
- 14th |
| FORWARDS |
| ALEX
LEAVITT |
40-88-128
(+20) |
| MARK
KOLANOS |
31-31-62
(+2) |
| JASON
VISSER |
19-38-57
(+11) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| CHRIS
BARTOLONE |
18-42-60
(+25) |
| DAN
LAPERRIERE |
18-33-51
(+11) |
| JON
LANDRY |
9-33-42
(+22) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| ROB
McVICAR |
11-4-2
(0 SO)
3.66 GA
.903 PCT |
|
| MARCO
EMOND |
5-3-0
(0 SO)
4.50 GA
.879 PCT |
|
|
|
