Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Scorpions sting IceRays, 3-2

Marketplace \| Services \| Contact Us \| Community \| Arts & Entertainment \| Local Guides

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Wednesday, December 6, 2000

Scorpions sting IceRays, 3-2
Corpus Christi winning streak ends
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

David Adame/Caller-Times

New Mexico’s Dave Gilmore (71) and IceRay Byron Pool (right) fight for the puck near the IceRays’ goal during the first period on Tuesday.

The last time Corpus Christi and New Mexico faced each other, the Scorpions knocked the IceRays out of the Western Professional Hockey League playoffs.
   Although postseason survival wasn't at stake Tuesday night, New Mexico denied the IceRays' hopes of avenging last season's elimination anyway, scoring all of its goals in the second period and then holding on for a 3-2 victory at Memorial Coliseum.
   The loss ends Corpus Christi's three-game winning streak and drops the IceRays to 13-13-1 (27 points) in the WPHL Eastern Division. The Western Division Scorpions improved to 12-6-2 (26 points).
   Corpus Christi trailed, 3-1 entering the final period. At 12 minutes, 1 second into the third, forward Brad Wingfield brought the IceRays to within one. But Corpus Christi's efforts late in the period failed to produce the game-tying goal.
   The IceRays went on the attack immediately after the opening draw, spending the first minute of the game in the New Mexico zone.
   Corpus Christi then went on a power play when Scorpions forward and former IceRay Dave Gilmore was called for highsticking. New Mexico entered the game with the second worst penalty killing unit in the WPHL, but the IceRays managed just two shots before the penalty expired.
   With 12:45 left in the first period, a shot by Alex Kholomeyev was stopped by New Mexico goalie Steve DeBus. Brad Wingfield slapped at the puck with his stick to keep DeBus from drawing a stoppage of play. The puck eventually got past DeBus, but referees did not allow the goal, saying Wingfield kicked it in with his skate.
   Boasting the league's second-best power play scoring percentage, New Mexico had three consecutive power play opportunities midway through the first period. Corpus Christi goalie Eddie Skazyk held strong in front of the net and stopped all 13 of the Scorpions' shots.
   New Mexico began the second period on a power play after Corpus Christi's Byron Pool was called for slashing late in the opening period.
   The Scorpions made good on the little time they had with the man advantage. Just 15 seconds in to the period, Peter Ambroziak passed to Mark DeSantis who sent a slap shot from the right wing into the net, giving the Scorpions a 1-0 lead.
   Three minutes later, the Scorpions found themselves with a 2-0 lead after a goal by Jonathan Bishop.
   It wasn't long before Corpus Christi cut into New Mexico's lead. At the 4:46 mark of the second period, recently acquired forward Jeff Cheeseman beat DeBus for his third goal of the season.
   New Mexico continued its scoring romp, extending its lead to 3-1 when David Neilson slipped the puck past Skazyk 6:28 into the period.



Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

| Talk about this story | Next Story | Home |

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

[ Printer-friendly version ]
[ Subscribe to newspaper ]

SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND

[an error occurred while processing this directive]