New Mexico Art : In loving memory.

Santa Fe Artist David Lucero has donated a piece of his art to be used
to raise money in Rob Guinn's memory for Olivia "Ollie" and her educational fund.

If you like traditional New Mexico art you won't want to miss the chance to
own this David Lucero piece & give to a great cause.

This piece is valued at Appox $700.00

Come out & share in making memories for Rob's family.
Let's show them how much Rob meant to us as our Captain & a part of our
hockey family.

Rob Guinn : In loving memory .

If you don't know our former Captain Rob Guinn was killed in July in a car accident.
The teams that Rob had played for have been raising money for his daughter Olivia's educational fund. The Scorpions are hoping to have Brooke Guinn out to New Mexico
in November to give her a check for Oliva.

There will be a fund raising event for Rob Guinn's family this weekend in New Mexico.
There will be t-shirts for sale for $10.00 & items to be raffled off or for sale.

Please bring your extra money & help to honor our former Captain. There will be a live auction after Saturdays game. They will auction off Rob Guinn's jersey. The last jersey Guinner wore as a Scorpion.

I hope that the Scorpions & the great fans of New Mexico keep Rob Guin's memory alive
and encourage collections for the whole season. The Tulsa Oilers will be collecting
all season for Olivia's future.

Rob was our Captain & I know he is missed by his mates. Matt Frick was disappointed
that nothing was done at our first game. He wanted to be here to share in the remembering of Rob. Rob's a part of the Scorpion family and always will be.

It makes me sad that Olivia will never know her Dad. All she will have is memories & stories from the people who knew her Dad. I hope we all help to keep Rob's memory alive. Being a Dad was something he loved so much.

He and Brooke had only been married a short time when he was taken from their lives. They would have celebrated their second anniversary September 16 ,2008.

We need to remember all of the players who have had misfortunes this off season.
Jason Baird who was burned in a off season job. He is at home now & going to 8 hours
of therapy a day. Les Borshiem who is paralyzed & struggling to regain some mobility
for independence. We all are one big family.

Andrew Martin : Scorpions All Star Goaltender .

Andrew Martin played Goaltender for the New Mexico Scorpions of the Central Hockey
League in 2007-2008 & is returning for the 2008-2009 season.

Here is his HockeyDb link.
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid%5B%5D=77792

How long have you played hockey Andrew ?

- I’ve played 11 years of ice hockey going into my 12th. I started playing roller hockey when I was 12 and ice when I started high school at 14.

I read that you played football in Texas.

-I played quarterback in 8th and 9th grade…only on the B team though.

You played hockey in Texas. People don't think about hockey in Texas.
How did you get to be a goalie ?

-I wasn’t a great center and took too many penalties. The goalie on my team quit half way though a season and we had to rotate through playing goal. They wouldn’t let me quit even though I did not want to be a goalie…good thing everyone else made me stick it out looking back now!

How different is play in the CHL from college ?

-College was too much chaos. Plus there were no fights in college.
*side note , Andrew will take a poke at a guy in his crease.*

What is your the biggest or most challenging goal ?

-Making it to the NHL.

What were your best & worst moments in the CHL ?

-Anytime I give up more than 5 goals. There was a weekend last season when we gave up more goals in 3 games than we did the entire 8 game winning streak…Saw the red light too much for my own good.

How much better a goalie are you after your first year in the CHL ?

-So far every year has been 10 times better than the year before, so I would have to saw 20 times better. I think I understand parts of the game better learning from successes and failures the season before.

What were you thinking during your first shut out against the Colorado Rage ?

-“We are up by 10 goals…don’t give up 11.”
* side note: When I asked Marty about his shut out that night after the game. He said
"I saw there was 45 seconds I thought , Surely I can't screw this up."

What are your game day superstitions ?

-Just try to stay relaxed and try not to think of superstitions as controls to how the game will go. I got over them after awhile and just realized I am at my best when I have no worries.

What is your favorite game day meal?

-Usually chicken parm with pasta.

Do you like having contact with fans?

-Yes, I do because I enjoy making the fans happy off the ice so they will take it easy on me on the ice…ha-ha! It also helps when you have supportive fans that give so much which gives guys like me have this opportunity to live out my dream.

What was your favorite game?
Does the All-Star Game count?...I enjoy playing Texas, since I get to see my family and high school friends. They come out and form a Martin section in the corner of the Brahmas new rink which was actually where I played Midget AAA my senior year of high school.

What are your favorite & worst games?

-Favorite game…probably the 3-2 overtime victory over the Thunder last year which was also my first seven game win streak.
-Worst…the game in Arizona when they scored 5 goals in the second period after we lead 2-1 going into the period.

Who on the team last year was the biggest help to you ?

-Mike Minard was a big help to my mental approach to the game. Any time you can be around a player with NHL experience you pay attention to every little detail in their game on and off the ice. I had the privilege of being around him everyday and learning from his habits. He was a great person to bounce of positive and negative experiences I went through last year and helped me find my game.

What will be the biggest change with you being the returning goalie this season ?

-I will be looked upon as a player who has been in the league for 3 years and has seen what it takes to be a good team, a bad team, and a great team. I will have to be a good teammate and leader and take advantage of what I have learned the last few seasons and keep in mind I have much much, more to learn this year.

What do you expect from yourself and the team your second year in New Mexico ?

-I expect to be a better goaltender, knowing the ups and downs a season brings and to stay physically and mentally sharp. The team and I must work hard all the time thanks to memories of a playoff exit. We expect nothing less than what we accomplished last year.

Rillas Kudos

There were 2 small kids standing by the entrance to the ice for the away
team. They were maybe 4 or 5 years old. I thought they had Scorps jerseys on. You know the ones that were give aways.

They stood there with their little hands out waiting for bumps and everyone
of the Ama guys bumped them as they went on the ice.

Their little faces were so lit up. Grins from ear to ear.
The little ones don't care what color the jersey they just see hockey players.
I have seen players from other teams not be so nice.
It's part of what makes hockey so great. Seeing things like this.

Congrats to the Rillas for being nice to 2 little kids who might not remember
this. But I won't forget.

I also met Mark Black from Amarillo.
He is a really nice guy & we chatted a lot about hockey.
He is a well spoken , smart guy with a great sense of humor.
As usual players not playing are itching to get out there.
He was chomping at the bit to be on the ice.
He is a big drink of water , standing 6'5".