RIO RANCHO, NM – The 2008-2009 Central Hockey League season started with a modest amount of anticipation. Head coach Randy Murphy had shown his ability to recruit and find gold nuggets in rookies last year and there was a hint that Torren Delforte would not disappoint. And he has not.
But the preseason also brought some nervousness. That was well founded in the wake of the departure of Vladimir Hartinger, the soul of the defense, who went to play in Italy. As âVladyâ packed his bags so did the defense in a tidy rucksack slung over its back.
The result has been a porous defense all season that has looked foolish at times and at others has looked aimless and out of work. The victim in this tragic scenario has been the goaltending crew.
The club started the season with a proven all-star in Andrew Martin, now in his fifth season as a professional. Martin has been a fan favorite since arriving in New Mexico. The Plano (Texas) native has been left to dry on the line with his former teammate and now International Hockey League goalie Jason Wolfe.
Wolfe arrived from Oklahoma City in the CHL and played well enough to record two shutouts on the season. But his GAA had ballooned over 4.00 and he left the team in early January to ply his trade in the IHL with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder. The club signed goalie Kyle McNulty of Rhode Island.
McNulty saw mop-up action in the third period of a game the Scorpions lost in the first twenty minutes. But he played well enough and did not allow a goal in a game the Odessa Jackalopes had stopped playing in the second period.
This past week the Scorpions made a move that brought Ryan Gibb from the Laredo Bucks to New Mexico in exchange for Mitch Stephens. At the same time the club waived their all-star, Andrew Martin.
Within nanoseconds of that move, Terry Ruskowski of the Bucks picked up Martin off the waiver wires and promptly suited up the netminder for the Bucksâ game on Saturday night. Martin will share the crease with Sebastian Centomo.
âTo pick up another All-Star goaltender at this point in the season could be huge for our teamâ, President, General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski said in a team press release. âI have always liked the way Andrew has played in net; he could be a big asset to our clubâ.
In the meantime, Ryan Gibb was shelled in the first period of his first game in net for the Scorpions and allowed three goals. The Scorpions lost to the Colorado Eagles 6-2 in that game. He did face 21 shots in that opening period.
His second game was more of the same. Though he faced fewer shots, the Eagles still managed three markers to the Scorpions none. He was mercifully pulled after the first twenty minutes in net.
One has to feel for Gibb. He was jettisoned from a solid team in Laredo and has been sent to backstop one of the worst defensive teams in the history of the New Mexico franchise.
Wolfe in net for 1 of his 2 IHL wins. Photo by Larry Burdick
The lucky ones may be Wolfe and Martin. While Wolfe may struggle with the weaker Thunder of the IHL, Martin will almost certainly thrive once again on a team that stresses team defense first. Wolfe is 2-0 since joining Bloomington.
Team defense is a novel concept for a New Mexico team going nowhere, battling the Amarillo Gorillas for last in the Southwest Division. At least in Amarillo the team plays with heart.
Unfortunately for New Mexico, âwait âtil next yearâ may not be a reality.
Contact the author at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com . Contact the photographer at larry.burdick@prohockeynews.com.
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