HOJBJERG STRIKES TWICE AS ‘RAYS SWEEP ODESSA WITH 4-1 WIN

Dec 6, 2013

ODESSA, TX – Special teams was the key tonight as the Corpus Christi IceRays had a perfect penalty-kill and scored four power-play goals, two by Martin Hojbjerg en route to a 4-1 comeback win over the Odessa Jackalopes on Saturday night inside Ector County Coliseum.  The win was their third in a row on the road.

Odessa broke the scoring drought early into the first period at the 2:05 mark on an odd man opportunity.  Connor Thie brought the puck down the right wing wall and back-handed the puck to the front of the net where Trace Jablin got his stick on it and tapped it by goaltender Ben Myers for a 1-0 lead.  The goal was Jablin’s 4th tally on the season and 9th point overall.

Corpus Christi responded on the power-play off a great pass by Martin Hojbjerg to Brad LeLievre.  Hojbjerg was in the corner to the right of the net and centered the puck right to an awaiting LeLievre who knocked it by ‘Jacks netminder Yoshihiro Kuroiwa at the 11:45 mark of the opening period to tie the game up 1-1.  The other assist was credited to Kyle Froese.  The goal was LeLievre’s 5th of the season and 2nd with the IceRays.

In the second period the IceRays struck again while up a skater.  On the man advantage, Jake Durflinger took a pass from Grant Hutton inside the left wing circle and let a rocket go that went top shelf on the short side of Yoshihiro Kuroiwa for his 8th goal of the season and third goal in as many games for a 2-1 lead.  The tally came at the 12:05 mark of the second period and was assisted by both Grant Hutton along with Martin Hojbjerg who recorded his second helper of the game.

In the final period of play Martin Hojbjerg stole the show with a pair of power-play goals.  He had a factor in all the scoring in the game for the IceRays.  His first goal came at 5:10 of the third period after a shot by Kyle Froese was stopped by Kuroiwa, the rebound went right to Hojbjerg who buried his 10th goal on the season and the IceRays 3rd power-play goal of the night for a 3-1 lead.  Assists to Froese and Grant Hutton.

Hojbjerg made it 4-1 with another power-play goal at 8:02 of the third period.  He walked to the bottom of the left wing circle and fired the puck through the legs of Kuroiwa for his 11th of the year and 2nd of the night.  Corpus Christi had all their goals scored on the mad advantage.  The assist was credited to Grant Hutton.

Ben Myers stopped 25 of 26 shots and only allowed one goal all weekend long.

The IceRays are back home at American Bank Center next weekend as they take on the Wichita Falls Wildcats.  Puck drops at 7:05PM, coverage begins at 6:50PM with the IceRays Pregame Show on Sportsjuice.com, ustream.com, and fasthockey.com.  Click Listen Live on the IceRays website for more info!

Stay current with the latest team news by visiting www.goicerays.com.  In addition stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/corpuschristiicerays), Twitter (@goicerays), and the team’s Youtube channel ICERAYS TV (@goicerays)