Monday, 03.19.18 / 2:45 pm CT
IceRays forward Brendan Miller has been named the South Division First Star of the Week, the NAHL announced Monday.
“As an organization and a team we are very happy for Brendan,” IceRays Head Coach Brad Flynn said. “There is a reason he wears the ‘C’ for our club; he is a high-character, big-time team guy. Millsy knew the importance of this weekend and did what all leaders do–lead by example through hard work and a team-first mentality, and his efforts were rewarded and recognized by the league.”
Miller put the team on his back last weekend when the IceRays hosted the Amarillo Bulls, in what was regarded as the team’s most important series for the rest of the regular season. Both nights, he received recognition as one of the SportsRadio Corpus Christi Three Stars of the Game.
Friday night, the 21-year-old Buffalo native became the first player in franchise history to score two shorthanded goals in a 21-second time period. Miller has been a mainstay on IceRays penalty kills all season long, and his back-to-back strikes lifted him to five shorthanded tallies on the season, which tied him for the league-lead with Brookings’ Josh Boyer. He also added a primary assist on Larry Jungwirth’s power play goal.
On Saturday, Miller (6’2, 190) was named the First Star of the Game with a goal and an assist on the night. His goal opened the scoring 11:48 into the tilt, and he also assisted on Grayson Gavin’s power play strike in the third period. He capped off the series with an impressive five-point weekend (3 G, 2 A, 18 PIMS) and extended his point streak to four games.
The Captain will be turning his eye to the Shreveport Mudbugs, who the IceRays will face next weekend in their final road trip of the 2017-18 regular season. The Rays can secure a playoff berth by sweeping, or by a win combined with an Amarillo regulation loss in Lone Star. Puck drop is set to drop from George’s Pond at 7:11 pm CT on both Friday and Saturday night. The games will be broadcast on HockeyTV and on SportsRadio Corpus Christi (1230 AM, 95.1 FM, 96.1 FM). Saturday night’s game will be broadcast at the IceRays Watch Party at Hardknocks Sports Lounge & Grill.
