Dominic Osman scored on the game’s first shift with only 20 seconds gone in the game, his 17th of the season, and the Scorpions never trailed. Craig Macdonald’s goal off a Konrad Reeder pass with 8:03 left in the opening stanza gave New Mexico a 2-0 lead.
The Scorpions had five power play chances in the first period, but the penalty calls evened up as Austin had five opportunities of its own in the second period. On the first one, Brendon Cook’s rebound goal past Andrew Martin just 2:30 into the period narrowed the margin to 2-1.
The Scorpions avoided further damage with two penalty kills, then regained the momentum on a Mitch Stephens rebound goal off a Reeder shot for the final goal of the night with 9:42 left in the second period. Despite four more power play chances for the Ice Bats and two for New Mexico, no one scored in the rest of the period.
A major brawl in with 12:34 left in the game resulting in both goalies, Austin’s Doug Groenstege and New Mexico’s Andrew Martin, earning three penalties: for leaving the crease, a fighting major and a secondary fighting/game misconduct. Vladimir Hartinger of New Mexico and Austin’s Taylor Raszka both earned two-minute roughing penalties and Scorpion Andrew Smale joined Ice Bat Stuart Kerr on the bench for a five-minute fighting major.
Before being ejected, Martin had 26 saves on 27 shots, and Groenstege was 15-of-18. Mike Minard came on for New Mexico to stop all 15 shots he faced, while Austin substitute goalie Miguel Beaudry was 4-for-4.
Austin outshot New Mexico 42-22 for the game, including 21-5 in the third period and 14-7 in the second, and was 1-for-7 on the power play. New Mexico shot Austin 10-7 in the opening period but was 0-for-8 on the power play.
New Mexico totaled 40 minutes on 13 penalties; Austin had 42 minutes on 14 infractions.
With the victory, New Mexico improved to 17-12-4 on the season and gained ground on both teams in the Southwest Division.
Arizona lost 6-5 in a shootout at Laredo in a battle of division leaders to gain one point, while Odessa fell at Colorado 4-3. That leaves Arizona with the division lead with 44 points, followed by Odessa at 43 and New Mexico at 38. Laredo leads the Southeast Division and the conference standings with 54 points.
New Mexico finishes a three-game, four-night Texas trip tonight at Hidalgo against Rio Grande Valley. Pre-game radio coverage on 610-AM The Sports Animal begins at 6:20 p.m. The game will also be televised on the CHL Network.
New Mexico returns home for a pair of home games starting on Friday against Odessa. Special Scorpion jerseys from that night’s game will be auctioned to benefit the American Cancer Society.
The Special Olympics will be recognized the next nigh when the Scorpions play host to Wichita. The first 1,500 children inside the Santa Ana Star Center will receive a Junior Jersey courtesy of Peoples Mortgage.
Prior to the game, the New Mexico Ice Holes will play the Media at 4 p.m. to benefit New Mexico Special Olympics. Fans holding a ticket for the Scorpions game get in free to the Ice Holes charity game.
Both games will be part of an “All You Can Eat Weekend Special” where a corner seat ticket plus all the hot dogs, sodas, nachos and popcorn you can consume costs only $20.
For ticket information, call 881-PUCK or visit www.ScorpionsHockey.com. Complete CHL statistics and standings are available at www.CentralHockeyLeague.com.
