The IceRays are re-introducing the play of the year competition to recap the golden moments from the most recent season in a single elimination style tournament. The field has been narrowed down to the 16-best goals, moves, and saves from the 2015-16 season and seeded based on organizational rank. Now, YOU must decide which will be crowned the 2016 IceRays Best of the Bend!
(6) – Lindsay Bats In OT Win On Kids Day Game
In the only home series of November, the IceRays were looking for a pick-me-up after a disappointing weekend in Odessa starting on Thursday morning with the only day game of the season at home. The annual Kids Day GAme brought in over 4,000 students from the greater Corpus Christi area inside the American Bank Center to view the first game of a three-game weekend against the Lone Star Brahmas, and the kids were entertained until the very end. The IceRays gave up the lead to go to overtime, and in the new three-on-three format, more ice was created to make plays, something the IceRays cashed in on. Winger Drake Lindsay carried the puck up the right wing with just over one minute remaining and crossed ice to defenseman Simon Butala. He fanned on a shot, slipping the puck into the midst of eight legs in front of the Brahmas net. Amidst the chaos, the puck squirted free to a waiting Lindsay, who snapped it home to earn the first home overtime win of the season in thrilling fashion. The play is still considered one of the most exciting at the American Bank Center this season.
(11) Kircher Goes The Distance For OT Win
It seems that center Toby Kircher has a flair for the dramatic, picking up three overtime game-winning goals this season across two teams, but this came on a play created on his own while on the road in Odessa during December. With the three-on-three format, Kircher had time to collect the puck at his own blue line and range around the zone to create the next attack and think about his decisions. After two wide circles, he led the charge right at the Jackalopes defense and advanced to their blue line. Much like Cavanagh would do in February, he slipped through two stick checks and found an open lane to the right of the Odessa goaltender and flipped a backhanded shot over the near-side shoulder to reach top shelf and seal the victory for the IceRays. For the second-straight day, the bottom seed is a thread through stick lifts.
Will the excitement from day game chaos land Lindsay in the Quarterfinals, or will another threading play seal an upset and second play for Kircher for the next round? Now, it's YOUR turn. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. CDT tonight.
