Scorpions Lose Round One in Court by a Technicality Knockout.(Sports)

Byline: Glen Rosales For the Journal

If the legal battle between the New Mexico Scorpions and the Western Professional Hockey League is a prize fight, the first round has to go to the league in what was nearly a knockout blow.

State District Court Judge Robert Scott on Wednesday summarily dismissed the Scorpions players' request for a temporary restraining order against the league and restoration of the points that were stripped as a league-imposed penalty for an alleged salary cap violation.

But the team holds out hope that a hearing at 2 p.m. today before U.S. District Court Judge C. LeRoy Hansen will produce better results.

"At least we have the opportunity to say our piece," said team owner Michael Plaman. …