Weekend Wrap-Up: Nov 16-18

Dallas Snipers (7-8-1, 2^nd in Midwest Division) @ New Mexico Renegades (9-5-1, 3^rd in Mountain Division)

   Three-game series in Rio Rancho, New Mexico

   The Dallas Snipers began the year on a tear and have already amassed more wins than they did all of last season. Due to their success, teams have not been taking them lightly and that was evident this weekend when they rolled into Rio Rancho to clash with the feisty New Mexico Renegades.

   The Renegades got on their former division rival early and often in the series opener, scoring five first period goals en route to an 8-2 victory.

   Eight different New Mexico players scored goals in the pounding, with defenseman Tanner Doty leading the way with three points on the night.

   Things were much closer in game two, as the two teams were knotted at two after 40 minutes of play.

   After a Jordan Smith goal made it 3-2 New Mexico, Kenny Orlando picked up his second goal of the night, which would hold up as the eventual game-winner in a 4-3 Renegades victory.

   The Renegades led 3-0 through two periods of play in the series finale and looked as though they would cruise to a sweep but the Snipers had other ideas.

   Dallas rattled off three power play goals in the third period, two from Justin Becton and one from Aaron Krominga, to tie the game and send it into overtime.

   Midway through the extra frame however, Eric Hewitt put home a power play goal of his own, as the Renegades earned the sweep despite being outshot in all three of the games.

   The new-look Renegades continue to showcase a great amount of depth and seem to have different players contributing each time out. Goaltender Joey MacConnell has also been on top of his game, with the number one job being his to lose in his second season with the team.

   New Mexico has now won five straight and are showing signs of being one of those teams that nobody wants to face come playoff time.

   After a great start to Travis Clayton’s tenure, the Snipers have now lost five in-a-row and continue to fall further behind the Dallas Ice Jets in the Midwest Division.

   They’re already light-years ahead of where they they were at this point last year and anything from here on out is an improvement but they can’t start getting complacent.

   Veteran forward Shane Bonds has started to heat up but some of their other big guns have suddenly hit a dry patch.

   They’ve ran into a couple of solid goaltenders but they’ll need to find that depth they had early in the season and give their own goaltenders some help at the other end.

   Story by Brent Maranto does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Dallas Snipers or the Western States Hockey League