Scorpions routed by Odessa, play Wichita on Saturday

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

Before the season started, New Mexico Scorpions coach Randy Murphy said the Odessa entry in the Central Hockey League looked pretty good on paper and would probably be the team his squad would have to beat to win the Southwest Division.

Unfortunately for the Scorpions, the Jackalopes looked even better on ice Friday night, routing New Mexico 9-2 and leaving the second year coach far from lacking words on his team’s performance.

 “Absolutely they were that much better. That was like men amongst boys out there tonight,” Murphy said with controlled anger after his team lost its second straight game. “We weren’t even on the same rink.”

In specific, the Scorpions were “outworked. They were quicker, faster, stronger, smarter.”

Odessa scored four goals in the first 6½ minutes, forcing Murphy to pull starting goaltender Jason Wolfe, who had shut out Amarillo in his only previous game.

The reason for the slow start, Murphy said, was “not associating the rink with work. There are a few guys here who think this is a country club. There are jobs on the line, starting now.

“That’s the team we need to beat to be in first place in our division. That’s our goal. It’s been our goal since Day One. I won’t settle for anything less. If guys do, they won’t be here.”

With two players expected to clear up immigration problems soon and a third due to come off the injury list perhaps as soon as tonight, some changes were expected anyway. But listening to Murphy, some more changes could be coming, too.

“It’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassed for our fans. I’m embarrassed for our owner. Most of all, I’m part of a team that is absolutely embarrassing. That’s the worst loss I’ve ever been a part of as a professional.

“We’re not good enough right now to compete in our division. The out-everythinged us. That’s the best way to put it. There’s not one facet of the game where they weren’t better than us. Hat’s off to them.”

The Scorpions started the season at 2-0 after sweeping a home-and-home series with Southwest Division rival Amarillo, only to lose at Arizona on Tuesday before Friday’s disaster.

“Probably some complacency set in. At 2-0, they were thinking it was going to be a cakewalk, then getting your ass handed to you by teams that are going to be the supremacy of this division if we don’t smarten up.”

Murphy ordered team staff to edit a video showing all nine goals to show to the team. Whether it will make the Scorpions any smarter will be on display Saturday at 7:15 p.m. when New Mexico plays host to Wichita at the Santa Ana Star Center.