ICERAYS SWEPT BY WILDCATS, 7-1

Oct 9, 2015

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (4-6-0) finished their four-game home stand with a 7-1 loss against the Wichita Falls Wildcats (7-1-1) on Friday night at the American Bank Center. The IceRays complete their season-opening home stand with a 2-2-0 record over two weekends.

The Wildcats gained the early advantage, 1-0, for the second-straight night at 8:11 when forward Andre Pison converted on the team’s first power play of the night. The doubled, 2-0, at 12:08 when forward Aleksi Poikola notched a one-time slap shot from the right circle coming from defenseman Matt Hines. The IceRays gained chances in the first period but finished 0-for-4 on the power play.

With the IceRays on a major power play early in the second period, Poikola was launched ahead by a lead pass from forward Garrett VanWyhe and led to his first shorthanded goal of the season and a 3-0 Wildcats lead at 5:15. Another lead pass, this time by Wildcats defenseman Jeff Baum to forward Austin Albrecht, led to a breakout goal which ballooned the lead to 4-0 at 16:25.

The IceRays found an answer early in the third period at 1:52 when forward Ryan Cusin hit the crossbar but found a favorable bounce off a Wildcats player to take away the shutout, 4-1. The Wildcats answered back at 4:31 with forward Ben Lown earning his second-straight game with a goal and moving the lead back to four, 5-1. The Wildcats tacked on two more on the power play after numerous penalties were called against the IceRays: defenseman Jake Dalton converted on a five-on-three power play at 17:09, and forward Nikita Litviak found twine from the middle of the slot at 18:22 of a five-on-four power play to shut down the IceRays, 7-1.

Wildcats goaltender Justin Kapelmaster (6-0-0) earned the win, turning aside 24 of 25 shots, while IceRays netminder Dryden McKay (2-3-0) picked up the loss, saving 28 of 35 shots. The IceRays head on the road on Friday, October 16 at 7:05 p.m. to continue their season series against the Amarillo Bulls in their first trip of the year to the Amarillo Civic Center. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio Corpus Christi (KSIX 1230AM) and FASTHockey.com.

Contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK or go to www.goicerays.com for details on season tickets along with pricing and seating. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).