CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – In front of 6,733 fans, the Corpus Christi IceRays (32-19-4-5) set a new junior franchise record for single-season wins in their 5-1 victory over the Wichita Falls Wildcats (29-24-5-2) on Saturday night from the American Bank Center. The IceRays finished the season with a 32-19-4-5 record, and they now sit as the second-best win percentage in the franchise’s 19-year history.
Unlike the previous night, scoring started in the first period when IceRays forward Cole Gammer was fed for a one-time shot from center David Thomson at 17:08 to gain the 1-0 lead. The first frame went back and forth, but the second started with a strong IceRays effort. Just 50 seconds into the second period, IceRays defenseman Trevor Wilhelm rushed off the bench and buried a one-time shot from the left circle to double the lead, 2-0. The Wildcats found their lone answer of the night on the power play at 12:45 when forward Blake Ripley knocked in a shot through traffic coming from the right point, drawing the Wildcats within one, 2-1.
The IceRays came alive in the third period starting just 21 seconds in when IceRays forward Brad Power also knocked in a one-time shot, this time on a 2-on-1 rush with center Mason Krueger to take a two-goal edge, 3-1. IceRays forward Larry Jungwirth capitalized twice on the power play in the third period starting at 10:54 when he was fed across the goal crease for an open shot during a 5-on-3 power play to triple the lead at 4-1. Jungwirth earned his second at 15:39 on a 5-on-4 power play with an open shot in the slot to bring the scoreline to its resting point, 5-1.
IceRays netminder Camden Burggrabe (11-6-2) earned the win, turning aside 31 of 32 shots, while Wildcats goaltender Jared Dempsey (13-13-3) received the loss, stopping 43 of 48 shots. The IceRays begin the 2017 Robertson Cup Playoffs on Friday, Apr. 14 at 7:11 p.m. to open a best-of-five series against the Shreveport Mudbugs from George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum. Coverage begins at 6:55 p.m. on SportsRadio Corpus Christi (KSIX 1230AM) and Hockey TV.
The IceRays are heading to the postseason for the third time, and 2017 Robertson Cup Playoffs tickets and schedules will be announced on Monday. Stay connected with the IceRays as they continue their quest for the Robertson Cup on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Snapchat (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
