Amarillo Gorillas cease Operations

The Amarillo Gorillas have announced today that they will cease operations and will not be playing for the first time in the Central Hockey League since 1996 when they entered the what was then the Western Professional Hockey League. The Gorillas entered the league in 2001 when the WPHL & CHL announced a merger that also included teams like the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

Rumors are heating up in Amarillo that they will be a junior team in the North American Hockey League that will be taking the place of it.

From the Amarillo Gorillas Website: www.amarillogorillas.com

Here's a story from the City of Amarillo Website: www.amarillo.com/stories/051910/new_news1.shtml

With deep regert, the Amarillo Gorillas will not play in the 2010-2011 hockey season, the team announced Wednesday.

"Despite our best efforts to secure local and other investors, the Gorillas could not find financing to play in Amarillo," commented owner/president Randy Sanders. "Our dedicated season ticket holders will receive full reimbursement for their 2010-2011 season ticket holders."

All 2010-2011 season ticket holders will be granted a full refund by contacting Box Office Director Michelle Macfadden at 806-242-7825 x 106.

A press conference has been scheduled for Friday May 21 at 2 PM CDT in the "Ape Escape" of the Amarillo Civic Center. Owener/President Randy Sanders will present to answer questions regarding the present situation.

The Amarillo Gorillas front office is located at 901 South Buchanan, Amarillo, Texas 79109 in downtown Amarillo. For Media Inquiries, contact Cody Eastwood at 806-242-7825.

Austin Sutter in the CHL Chat Room

Here's a look at when Austin Sutter was in the Central Chat Room recently. They will do chats with several players from different teams throughout the season.

How do you feel about the team overall this year?

I am very excited about our team this year. The season is very fresh, but getting off to a good start helps tremendously. Our team feels very confident, knowing we do have a lot of work. Every team will improve throughout the season. Our goal is to keep improving everyday.

What is it like when players from different leagues like the ECHL, do they adapt to the CHL quickly?

I think that the CHL has improved greatly in the four seasons I have been involved. I have seen players transition from the CHL and ECHL. I know both leagues have a lot of talent and is great hockey watch. The bigger difference in the leagues is probably the average age of it's players. The ECHL has younger players then the CHL.

What do you and coach Pellerin expect from the team this year, where do you see us going this season?

Every teams goal is to win a championship. Our goal is to improve everyday as a team, be competitive each game, and what that leads to hopefully a successful run in the playoffs.

How was your first training camp under coach Pellerin different from your experience with past coaches?

Yes, it's very different. We decided to keep our camp small in terms of the number of players and starting to work on systems early. Mix a little work and conditioning in and so far our teams feels pretty good.

I know that you are a player who steps onto the ice with the attitude of giving your all. Where would rate this group of guys to those you've played with in different seasons?

We feel that we have a team full of good attitude players. Guys that will block shots, back check and pay a price to win. This team ranks high on my list who are willing to buy into a team concept.

I know you have spent a lot of time with youth hockey in Amarillo, what is the best thing about your time donated to youth hockey? Also whats the best advice you could give a young player in Amarillo?

I have a passion for working with kids. The feeling is amazing when you see yourself making a difference in a child's life. When I was a young player, I had the blessing of many players in my community giving back to youth. I feel like it's my turn to give back now. The best advice I could give is to follow your heart. If you love something, give it all you have. If it's sports, music, art, education, or whatever it may be, do it to the best of your ability. Find a passion and fuel your love with hard work, dedication, and the commitment to be the best at what you do.

What do you like the most about playing in Amarillo for the number of years you have played here?

The people are amazing. I could write a book on how many wonderful friends my wife and I have in this town. We feel so blessed to be a part of this community. Amarillo is an honest, hard working city. It's the perfect place for us. Thank you to everyone who makes hockey in Amarillo possible.

Amarillo Gorillas Hot Start

It's only 6 games into the season, but the Amarillo Gorillas are quickly beginning to show the Central Hockey League that the Gorillas are looking very tough and dangerous in the first couple of weeks into the season.



Last week was a great example as the Sundogs out shot the Gorillas 46-22 during the game. However, the reining goaltender of the week had another stellar game by stopping 44 of 46 shots in the 5-2 win over the Sundogs back on Wednesday night by the help of a great PP by going 2-6 in the game including opening the scoring and put the game away in the final minutes.

Their penalty killing was also very strong by only allowing 1 PP Goal and Jake Morrissette scoring short handed midway through the 3rd period with great assists by James Jernberg and Austin Sutter.

Their top players are leading the way, including Joe Guenther who's leading the league with 7 goals through 6 games so far. This past weekend, he also had 2 goals in the 3-2 win over the Missouri Mavericks back on Saturday night. Some other important forwards that have been off to good starts include Jake Morissette with 5 goals and Anthony Bataglia who already has 4 goals in the young season.

If Amarillo wants to prove that the Gorillas are for real this year and that the start is not just a fluke after finishing with the worst record in the league last year by winning only 19 games all of last season. They will need to get rid of the culture of losing that's plagued the team the last few seasons, players like Joe Guenther who's shaping up to be a contender for the CHL Scoring title this season, along with Anthony Bataglia and Stuart Macrea to help put the puck in the net.

On defense, Andrew Smale has been great on the blue line where he's expected to be a big play maker and Neil Smith who's expected to bring the physicality where he racked up over 100 penalty minutes last season.

So far on defense, the team already has a very strong +8 goal differential (24 GF 16 GA) which is a far cry from having the worst GD last season with a -101 (193 GF 294 GA) which was the worst in the league by a pretty sizable margin, as from what we have seen so far, this stat is going to be much much better this year.

One of the players that's going to be under the radar that will have a big season include defensemen James Jernberg who's going to be one of the most physical defensemen on the ice and will be an important part of the special teams where he got all 3 points in the 5-2 win against Arizona.

Speaking of Special Teams, being in the penalty box has been no problem for the team as the team has been a solid 85.37 % on the Penalty Kill. With the exception of the game on October 24 against the Odessa Jackalopes where they gave up 4 PP Goals in a 9-4 loss, this is been a very solid part of their game and they entered the off season looking to improve greatly after being near the bottom on the Penalty Kill last season.

In goal, Mike Brown who's had a great start to the season which included being the leagues goalie of the week during the opening weekend has been rock solid. A shutout against the Wichita Thunder gave them a spring board to early success which also include impressive wins over the Odessa Jackalopes and the Arizona Sundogs. After not having a solid reliable goalie last year, Brown has been off a good start which includes a 3-1-0 record and a 2.33 GAA and a .938% SV.

His backup, Tuomas Lothander has been off a 2-0 start and a 3.12 GAA with him looking to lower that stat as the season goes on and has a .895 SV%. If both goalies can even come close to help them get off to the fast start, they could be a lot of long nights for opponent's this season in Amarillo and across the league.

This is a team that's looking to get back and battle with the elite in the Central Hockey League and with the way they playing so far, they will be roaring up the standings and look to battle with the best in the Southern Conference like the defending champion Texas Brahmas and South Texas Powerhouse Laredo Bucks.

2009-2010 Central Hockey League Schedule: South Zone

With the 2009-2010 Central Hockey League Schedule now out, I will show the schedule for the teams that I'm going to cover in the South Zone. In my last post, I did the teams which are in the North Zone which are the Allen Americans, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Texas Brahmas and the Tulsa Oilers.

For the South Zone, the teams will be the Amarillo Gorillas, Corpus Christi Icerayz, Laredo Bucks, Odessa Jackalopes, and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

Here's the full league schedule for when the regular season starts up on October 16.

www.pointstreak.com/prostats/leagueschedule.html?leagueid=12&seasonid=4438

Each team plays a 64 game schedule with a majority of games being played on Weekends which starts up on October 16 and ending on March 20. As for the playoffs, the top 5 teams in both the Southern and Northern Conferences.

Here's the Conference Alignment in case you forget.

Northern Conference

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Colorado Eagles
Mississippi Riverkings
Missouri Mavericks
Rapid City Rush
Tulsa Oilers
Wichita Thunder

Southern Conference

Allen Americans
Amarillo Gorillas
Arizona Sundogs
Corpus Christi Icerayz
Laredo Bucks
Odessa Jackalopes
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Texas Brahmas

Here's the links for the rest of the Central Hockey League teams.

Arizona Sundogs: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/teamschedule.html?teamid=57810&seasonid=4438

Colorado Eagles: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/teamschedule.html?teamid=8749&seasonid=4438

Mississippi Riverkings: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/teamschedule.html?teamid=3107&seasonid=4438

Missouri Mavericks: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/teamschedule.html?teamid=203410&seasonid=4438

Rapid City Rush: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/teamschedule.html?teamid=136473&seasonid=4438

Wichita Thunder: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/teamschedule.html?teamid=3103&seasonid=4438

Amarillo Gorillas Home Schedule

All Home Games are at the Amarillo Civic Center

October

10/16: @ Wichita Thunder

10/17: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

10/18: VS. Mississippi Riverkings

10/21: @ Arizona Sundogs

10/23: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

10/24: VS. Missouri Mavericks

10/30: @ Laredo Bucks

10/31: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

November

11/6: VS. Texas Brahmas

11/7: VS. Colorado Eagles

11/11: @ Colorado Eagles

11/13: @ Texas Brahmas

11/14: @ Odessa Jackalopes

11/17: @ Odessa Jackalopes

11/21: VS. Arizona Sundogs

11/22: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

11/25: @ Colorado Eagles

11/27: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

11/28: @ Wichita Thunder

11/29: @ Odessa Jackalopes


December

12/4: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

12/5: @ Missouri Mavericks

12/7: VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

12/11: VS. Colorado Eagles

12/12: VS. Arizona Sundogs

12/13: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

12/18: @ Tulsa Oilers

12/19: VS. Laredo Bucks

12/26: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

12/27: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

12/29: @ Arizona Sundogs

12/31: VS. Rapid City Rush

January

1/1: @ Odessa Jackalopes

1/3: VS. Tulsa Oilers

1/6: @ Arizona Sundogs

1/9: VS. Texas Brahmas

1/15: VS. Arizona Sundogs

1/16: VS. Rapid City Rush

1/19: @ Rapid City Rush

1/20: @ Rapid City Rush

1/22: @ Allen Americans

1/23: VS. Colorado Eagles

1/24: VS. Colorado Eagles

1/27: @ Colorado Eagles

1/31: VS. Arizona Sundogs

February

2/4: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

2/6: @ Laredo Bucks

2/12: VS. Allen Americans

2/13: @ Tulsa Oilers

2/14: VS. Arizona Sundogs

2/19: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

2/20: VS. Missouri Mavericks

2/24: @ Colorado Eagles

2/26: @ Odessa Jackalopes

2/27: @ Odessa Jackalopes

March

3/3: @ Arizona Sundogs

3/5: @ Arizona Sundogs

3/6: @ Arizona Sundogs

3/12: VS. Wichita Thunder

3/13: @ Wichita Thunder

3/14: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

3/16: VS. Tulsa Oilers

3/19: VS. Rapid City Rush

3/20: @ Allen Americans


Corpus Christi Icerayz Schedule

All Home Games are at the American Bank Center


October

10/16: @ Odessa Jackalopes

10/17: VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

10/23: VS. Laredo Bucks

10/24: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

10/30: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

10/31: VS. Arizona Sundogs

November

11/5: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

11/6: VS. Allen Americans

11/7: @ Allen Americans

11/13: @ Arizona Sundogs

11/14: @ Arizona Sundogs

11/17: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

11/20: VS. Allen Americans

11/21: @ Allen Americans

11/22: @ Amarillo Gorillas

11/28: VS. Laredo Bucks

11/29: @ Laredo Bucks

December

12/3: VS. Arizona Sundogs

12/4: @ Texas Brahmas

12/5: VS. Allen Americans

12/8: @ Laredo Bucks

12/11: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

12/12: VS. Missouri Mavericks

12/17: VS. Laredo Bucks

12/18: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

12/19: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

12/22: VS. Mississippi Riverkings

12/26: @ Laredo Bucks

12/29: VS. Laredo Bucks

12/31: @ Laredo Bucks

January

1/1: VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

1/2: @ Odessa Jackalopes

1/8: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

1/9: VS. Laredo Bucks

1/15: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

1/16: @ Laredo Bucks

1/21: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

1/22: @ Texas Brahmas

1/23: @ Texas Brahmas

1/29: @ Allen Americans

1/30: @ Laredo Bucks

1/31: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

February

2/2: @ Odessa Jackalopes

2/4: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

2/5: VS. Texas Brahmas

2/9: @ Laredo Bucks

2/12: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

2/13: VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

2/14: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

2/19: VS. Laredo Bucks

2/20: VS. Rapid City Rush

2/25: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

2/26: @ Texas Brahmas

2/27: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

March

3/4: VS. Texas Brahmas

3/5: @ Odessa Jackalopes

3/7: VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

3/10: @ Laredo Bucks

3/12: VS. Arizona Sundogs

3/13: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

3/14: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

3/16: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

3/19: @ Allen Americans

3/20: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees



Laredo Bucks Schedule

All Home Games are at the Laredo Events Center


October

10/16: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

10/17: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

10/23: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

10/24: VS. Allen Americans

10/30: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

November

11/1: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

11/4: @ Arizona Sundogs

11/6: @ Arizona Sundogs

11/7: @ Arizona Sundogs

11/11: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

11/15: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

11/20: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

11/21: VS. Texas Brahmas

11/27: VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

11/28: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

11/29: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

December

12/2: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

12/4: @ Odessa Jackalopes

12/5: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

12/8: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

12/11: VS. Missouri Mavericks

12/12: @ Allen Americans

12/17: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

12/19: @ Amarillo Gorillas

12/22: @ Missouri Mavericks

12/26: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

12/27: VS. Tulsa Oilers

12/29: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

12/31: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

January

1/2: @ Allen Americans

1/3: VS. Texas Brahmas

1/8: VS. Colorado Eagles

1/9: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

1/15: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

1/16: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

1/20: @ Colorado Eagles

1/22: @ Colorado Eagles

1/23: @ Rapid City Rush

1/29: VS. Texas Brahmas

1/30: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

1/31: @ Odessa Jackalopes

February

2/4: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

2/5: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

2/6: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

2/9: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

2/12: @ Texas Brahmas

2/13: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

2/14: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

2/18: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

2/19: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

2/20: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

2/25: @ Allen Americans

2/26: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

2/27: VS. Texas Brahmas

March

3/4: VS. Allen Americans

3/5: VS. Texas Brahmas

3/6: @ Odessa Jackalopes

3/10: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

3/12: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

3/13: VS. Arizona Sundogs

3/14: @ Texas Brahmas

3/17: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

3/19: @ Odessa Jackalopes

3/20: VS. Wichita Thunder


Odessa Jackalopes Schedule

All Home Games are at Ector County Coliseum

October

10/16: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

10/17: @ Amarillo Gorillas

10/20: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

10/23: @ Amarillo Gorillas

10/24: VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

10/27: VS. Missouri Mavericks

10/30: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

November

11/5: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

11/6: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

11/7: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

11/13: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

11/14: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

11/17: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

11/19: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

11/20: @ Laredo Bucks

11/21: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

11/25: @ Texas Brahmas

11/27: VS. Allen Americans

11/28: VS. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

11/29: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

December

12/4: VS. Laredo Bucks

12/5: @ Laredo Bucks

12/12: @ Colorado Eagles

12/13: @ Amarillo Gorillas

12/16: @ Arizona Sundogs

12/18: @ Allen Americans

12/19: VS. Allen Americans

12/22: VS. Allen Americans

12/26: VS. Arizona Sundogs

12/27: VS. Arizona Sundogs

12/31: VS. Texas Brahmas

January

1/1: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

1/2: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

1/8: @ Mississippi Riverkings

1/9: @ Wichita Thunder

1/15: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

1/16: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

1/20: @ Arizona Sundogs

1/22: @ Arizona Sundogs

1/23: @ Arizona Sundogs

1/27: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

1/29: VS. Arizona Sundogs

1/30: VS. Arizona Sundogs

1/31: VS. Laredo Bucks

February

2/2: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

2/5: VS. Colorado Eagles

2/6: VS. Colorado Eagles

2/12: @ Rapid City Rush

2/13: @ Rapid City Rush

2/17: @ Arizona Sundogs

2/19: @ Amarillo Gorillas

2/20: @ Texas Brahmas

2/26: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

2/27: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

March

3/3: @ Colorado Eagles

3/5: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

3/6: VS. Laredo Bucks

3/9: VS. Rapid City Rush

3/12: @ Missouri Mavericks

3/13: @ Missouri Mavericks

3/14: @ Amarillo Gorillas

3/17: @ Laredo Bucks

3/19: VS. Laredo Bucks

3/20: VS. Rapid City Rush



Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Schedule

All Home Games are at Dodge Arena


October

10/17: VS. Laredo Bucks

10/20: @ Odessa Jackalopes

10/24: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

10/30: VS. Arizona Sundogs

10/31: VS. Amarillo Gorillas

November

11/1: @ Laredo Bucks

11/6: VS. Missouri Mavericks

11/7: VS. Missouri Mavericks

11/11: @ Laredo Bucks

11/13: @ Odessa Jackalopes

11/14: @ Texas Brahmas

11/15: @ Laredo Bucks

11/17: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

11/20: VS. Texas Brahmas

11/21: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

11/25: VS. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

11/27: @ Amarillo Gorillas

11/28: @ Odessa Jackalopes

11/29: @ Allen Americans

December

12/2: VS. Laredo Bucks

12/4: @ Allen Americans

12/5: VS. Arizona Sundogs

12/11: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

12/18: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

12/19: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

12/20: VS. Mississippi Riverkings

12/26: @ Amarillo Gorillas

12/27: @ Amarillo Gorillas

12/29: VS. Tulsa Oilers

12/31: @ Arizona Sundogs

January

1/2: @ Arizona Sundogs

1/8: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

1/9: VS. Colorado Eagles

1/15: VS. Laredo Bucks

1/16: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

1/21: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

1/22: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

1/24: @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

1/27: VS. Odessa Jackalopes

1/29: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

1/30: VS. Texas Brahmas

1/31: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

February

2/4: @ Laredo Bucks

2/5: VS. Laredo Bucks

2/6: @ Allen Americans

2/12: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

2/13: VS. Laredo Bucks

2/14: @ Laredo Bucks

2/18: @ Laredo Bucks

2/19: VS. Rapid City Rush

2/20: VS. Laredo Bucks

2/23: VS. Allen Americans

2/25: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

2/26: @ Laredo Bucks

2/27: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz

March

3/2: @ Missouri Mavericks

3/5: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

3/6: @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs

3/11: VS. Arizona Sundogs

3/12: VS. Laredo Bucks

3/13: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

3/16: @ Corpus Christi Icerayz

3/19: VS. Wichita Thunder

3/20: VS. Corpus Christi Icerayz