CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Tim Vitek’s first goal for the New Mexico Scorpions came as the fifth shooter and final shooter in a shootout, securing a 2-1 victory for the visiting team Wednesday night in a Central Hockey League game.
The win gave New Mexico a season high four-game winning streak and moved the Scorpions within seven points of first place in the Southwest Division. Vitak, who spent the last 2½ seasons playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League, joined the Scorpions on Dec. 15. He also played two years for New Mexico head coach Randy Murphy when both were with Corpus Christi.
After a scoreless first period, each team used the power play to get on the board in the second. The Rayz’ Jay Latulippe notched his fifth goal of the season when his shot deflected off a stick into the net at the 10:49 mark.
New Mexico came back late in the period when Erik Johnson brought the puck into the zone on the power play. He found defenseman Jay Holladay at the blue line with a pass. Holladay’s shot was saved by goalie Jason Tapp, but Chris Robertson put in the rebound to even the game with 1:15 left in the period.
After a scoreless third period and five minutes of four-on-four hockey without a goal, it was little surprise that the shooters struggled in the five-man shootout, too. Konrad Reeder scored as New Mexico’s first shooter, but the next seven skaters were turned away before Vitak fired in the game-winner. Kevin Walters scored as the last Corpus Christi shooter, making the overtime tally the same as the final score: 2-1.
Jason Tapp had 31 saves for Corpus Christi and Andrew Martin stopped 27 shots on goal to earn second and third star of the game honors behind Vitek. Both teams were 1-for-5 one the power play.
Arizona and Odessa are tied for the Southwest Division lead with 43 points, with New Mexico in third with 36 points. That leaves the Scorpions 11 points ahead of last-place Amarillo but also six points ahead of the Rayz in the conference standings. Laredo leads the Southeast Division and the Southern Conference with 52 points.
The Scorpions have two more games on their current road trip before returning home next weekend for a pair of game. New Mexico is at Austin for a game that begins at 6:38 p.m., with the pre-game show starting at 6:20 p.m. on 610 The Sports Animal.
New Mexico plays at Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, then returns home for a pair of home games stating on Jan. 18 against Odessa. Special Scorpion jerseys from that night’s game will be auctioned to benefit the American Cancer Society.
On Saturday, Jan. 19, the Special Olympics will be recognized 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 $26.
For ticket information, call 881-PUCK or visit www.ScorpionsHockey.com. Complete CHL statistics and standings are available at www.CentralHockeyLeague.com.
