AMARILLO, Texas – Amarillo played their very worst – then their very best – in New Mexico to open December play. “It was a like being on a roller coaster. I can sum it up as we embarassed ourselves, and then we rebounded,” Gorillas Head Coach Tom Coolen said. “During the first game, we gave up too many soft two on one plays. I felt we made some bad decisions.” If bad decisions were the cause of an 8-2 stinging by the Scorpions on Friday evening, Amarillo’s reaction to the trouncing was swift and appropriate. A gut-check 6-3 victory the following evening in the same Rio Rancho arena showed the stuff the Amarillo players are made, not to mention a hot hand by Amarillo’s Joe Guenther who nailed a hat-trick during the game’s first period. “It was very embarassing the first night. Losing 8-2 sucks,” Gorilla forward Austin Sutter said. “The second night we took it to them. Every guy responded well to the the beating the night before. Our team had a lot on the line, and we pulled through.” The Gorillas spent the month of November treking around the CHL while their home ice hosted rodeos and farm shows. But the wobbly October start of 1-7 saw the Gorillas improve to 4-5 in November, beating both Arizona and Odessa in the mix. The dirt scraped off the home ice might help make a difference. “The ability to practice in Amarillo and not having to worry about a lack of ice time is a huge relief for us now,” Sutter said. “We are entering a better suiting schedule for our team. This point in the season is critical. It is time to make or break it.” It was noted New Jersey Devils netminder, Sean Burke who said, “It’s too easy when you’re not winning to look for excuses and point at others for reasons.´You can say “Oh well, it’s this guys fault or they don’t do this well” or you can say “I’ve got to play better and contribute more”. You’ve got to find another gear and come up with big games.” “At this point, every game is a big game for us,” Coolen said. “Overall, I am very happy with their play. I believe in our team. There is no one team that terrifies us. We cannot afford to take a night off. You have to play your best every night in this league.” The Gorillas still have a hard road trip ahead this week, facing the still-on-a-roll Odessa Jackalopes, then hopping back on the bus and driving north to face always-tough Colorado, then back home again finally for a game before the home fans in a rematch with the Corpus Christi IceRayz. “We are going into a very hard place to play. Odessa has a very good club. We need to come up big,” Sutter said. “We won there once this season, and there is no reason we can’t do it again. Friday is an even tougher building to play in. Colorado is one of the best teams in the League. These next few games will be a major test.” “At this point, every game is a big game for us, Coolen added. “Overall, I am very happy with their play. I believe in our team. There is no one team that terrifies us. We cannot afford to take a night off. You have to play your best every night in this league.” Sometimes, a big loss at the right time is the best thing that can happen to a team. A winning record this month might just be the best gift they could give to themselves for Christmas. Contact the author at: rushe.hudson@prohockeynews.com
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