New Mexico Scorpions
Encyclopedia
The New Mexico Scorpions were a Central Hockey League
(CHL) team located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico
. The team was established in 1953 as a part of the Western Professional Hockey League
(WPHL). In 2001, the WPHL merged with the CHL. In July 2009, the Scorpions ceased operations.
The Scorpions' home arena during their WPHL and early CHL days was the Tingley Coliseum
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
. The team suspended operations for the 2005-06 season, then moved to the new Santa Ana Star Center
, in the neighbouring city of Rio Rancho, for the 2006-07 season.
The Scorpions finished at the top of the WPHL standings for their initial 1996-97 season, winning the inaugural Governor's Cup as regular season champion. The team had limited success in playoff/championship play. They made it to the WPHL championship finals in the 1999-00 season, losing to the Shreveport Mudbugs
in six games. In the 2006-07 CHL season, the Scorpions won the Southwest Division playoffs, then lost the Southern Conference Championship series to the Laredo Bucks
.
The Scorpions' mascot
is named Stanley.
The owners included former National Hockey League
players Dave Ellett
and Brian Savage
. The team's last coach was Randy Murphy.
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
(CHL) team located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
There were 18,995 households out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had...
. The team was established in 1953 as a part of the Western Professional Hockey League
Western Professional Hockey League
The Western Professional Hockey League is a defunct minor professional ice hockey league.It operated in the United States from 1996 to 2001, with teams in the southern United States, mainly Texas. The league started with six teams in the 1996-1997 season and grew to 18 teams in 1999-2000...
(WPHL). In 2001, the WPHL merged with the CHL. In July 2009, the Scorpions ceased operations.
The Scorpions' home arena during their WPHL and early CHL days was the Tingley Coliseum
Tingley Coliseum
The Tingley Coliseum is an 11,571-seat multi-purpose arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Originally built as a rodeo and horse show auditorium, it is located at 300 San Pedro Drive N.E....
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. The team suspended operations for the 2005-06 season, then moved to the new Santa Ana Star Center
Santa Ana Star Center
Santa Ana Star Center is an 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, a suburb of Albuquerque. The arena is located near the intersection of Unser Boulevard and Paseo del Volcan...
, in the neighbouring city of Rio Rancho, for the 2006-07 season.
The Scorpions finished at the top of the WPHL standings for their initial 1996-97 season, winning the inaugural Governor's Cup as regular season champion. The team had limited success in playoff/championship play. They made it to the WPHL championship finals in the 1999-00 season, losing to the Shreveport Mudbugs
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs were a professional ice hockey team which played in the Bossier City-Shreveport metropolitan area of Louisiana. From 1997 to 2001 the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs were members of the Western Professional Hockey League, until the a 2001 merger between the WPHL with the...
in six games. In the 2006-07 CHL season, the Scorpions won the Southwest Division playoffs, then lost the Southern Conference Championship series to the Laredo Bucks
Laredo Bucks
The Laredo Bucks are an ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League. They play in Laredo, Texas, USA at the Laredo Energy Arena.-History:Arena Ventures, made up of six businessmen, teamed up with the City of Laredo to build a state-of-the-art facility for the Laredo area and South Texas...
.
The Scorpions' mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is named Stanley.
The owners included former National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
players Dave Ellett
David Ellett
David George John "Dave" Ellett is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the NHL for 16 seasons...
and Brian Savage
Brian Savage
Brian Savage is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers.-Playing career:...
. The team's last coach was Randy Murphy.
External links
- New Mexico Scorpions (defunct)