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New Scorpions goalie Andrew Martin skates around the rink during conditioning drills. Martin had a 53-save performance against New Mexico when he played for the Wichita Thunder, a performance that made the Scorpions take notice. This year, he'll be battling veteran goalkeeper Mike Minard for the starter's role.

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If you are one of those hockey fans who thinks icing has something to do with cake, don't fret. The New Mexico Scorpions aren't exclusively for hard-core hockey nuts.

The casual fan and the curious are welcome, too.

The Scorpions begin their second season at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho on Friday night. The Scorps, defending champions of the Southwest Division, face Laredo in their season opener, set for 7:15 p.m.

Here are four story lines for the 2007-08 Scorpions:

PLAYER TO COACH

If you recognize the Scorpions' new coach it's because you've seen him before - either as a player for the Scorps or on the bench as an assistant coach for the team last season.

Randy Murphy takes the reins from Ray Edwards, who resigned in late August to become an assistant coach with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League, an affiliate of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes.

Murphy, 35, inherits the core of a team that advanced to the conference finals last season.

Murphy played 199 games for the Scorpions from 1998-2000 and 2004-05 before moving on to coaching. The Scorpions Hall of Famer scored 328 goals in 11 seasons of professional hockey.

His challenge will be keeping his players motivated while pushing them to play their best over a grueling 64-game schedule.

"It's been quite a transition, but a fun one," Murphy said. "I still have quite a bit to learn in the coaching ranks, but I think I know enough right now to make our team better."

Murphy said his age and close proximity to his playing days should help him direct the team.

"I know the mind-set of the players, the off-ice challenges, and I know the demand of our schedule," he said. "I know when to scale back on practices and when to push them. I think those are ways I can help this team succeed."

VET IN NET

If you're going to start a hockey team, what better way than to sign a quality veteran goaltender?

The Scorps did exactly that this offseason, getting veteran goalie Mike Minard to replace the departed David Cacciola.

"He's obviously going to be a huge piece of the puzzle here," Murphy said.

The 30-year-old Minard, a fourth-round draft pick of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers in 1995, said: "Hopefully I can bring a little bit of leadership and teach some of the young kids some things."

The Ontario, Canada, native played with Belfast (Ireland) of the European Ice Hockey League the past two seasons.

His NHL shining moment came April 8, 2000, when he had 33 saves to help lead the Oilers to a 6-3 win over the Calgary Flames.

Much of Minard's mentoring will be directed toward fellow goalie Andrew Martin, a promising Scorpions' prospect at age 24.

"Hopefully, we can learn from each other," Minard said. "He's a young kid with a lot of energy. He's a very good goaltender."

Martin has played in the CHL the past three seasons, most recently with the Wichita Thunder.

It was during his days with the Thunder that New Mexico took notice of Martin. He had a 53-save performance against the Scorps in March.

"Anything he can learn from Mike is going to be huge," Murphy said, "as far as becoming a better pro. Andrew's got the potential to be a No. 1 guy, so that's why he's here. It's going to be a competitive battle to be our starter."

C IS FOR CAPTAIN

Every team needs a leader who can motivate on the ice and lend a helping hand off it. That guy is Vladimir Hartinger for the Scorpions.

"I need to be the guy who, when we're not winning, steps up and says, `Let's go boys; everything's going to be OK' to cheer the team up. Also, I need to be one of the guys the younger ones look up to and be there for them off the ice."

Hartinger is entering his fifth season with New Mexico. Last year, he totaled 26 points (21 assists, 5 goals) and had 100 penalty minutes. He had 11 points in 18 games during the Scorps' playoff run.

PACKED PROMOTIONS

Many Scorpions fans, like those who follow the Albuquerque Isotopes, are as interested in the giveaways as the games.

The team opens this weekend with a slew of promotions to help put fans in the seats.

On Friday, the first 2,000 fans each receive a Scorpions watch and the first 1,500 fans each get a team photo.

The next night, the Scorpions are giving away schedule magnets to the first 5,000 fans.

But marketing is merely one part of the equation in the evolution of the Scorpions in this budding community.

The bottom line is building a winner fans can embrace.

"I've seen the sport grow here as a sport when I was a player, and our fan base continues to grow every year," Murphy said. "All we need is for people to come out and they'll be hooked."