ICERAYS WEEKLY – JAN. 9, 2017

Jan 9, 2017

The IceRays Weekly is a weekly recap and preview of IceRays news, games and more. The IceRays Weekly will be released every Monday during the 2016-17 season.

 

THIS WEEK…

Thursday, January 12 vs. Amarillo Bulls – 7:05 p.m.
Friday, January 13 vs. Amarillo Bulls – 7:05 p.m.

The Corpus Christi IceRays return from their final off-weekend to begin a four-game stretch against the Amarillo Bulls and the 2017 calendar year. The IceRays took on the Bulls four times in November and begin their final four games in the season series, owning a 3-1-0 record while splitting their home set at the American Bank Center on November 25-26. The IceRays are 12-19-1 at the American Bank Center over the last seven seasons while owning a 24-41-3 record in the junior franchise series.
PROMOTIONS: For the third-straight home game, the IceRays welcome a Winning Weekday on Thursday, meaning when fans buy one ticket only at the American Bank Center Box Office they will receive a second ticket for free. Friday is another Tride Rideshare Frosty Friday with $1 beer and sodas throughout the evening. Use promo code “icerays” on the Tride Passenger app and receive $5 off your fare to or from the arena. Plus, Friday night has an IceRays Post-Game Skate, presented by Braselton Homes.

South Division Outlook:
There was no changing position in the South Division over the weekend, but certain position races changed probabilities. The Lone Star Brahmas swept the Topeka RoadRunners to spread their lead in the division and stand as one of three NAHL teams with over 50 points, while the Wichita Falls Wildcats slipped in both games to the team right behind them, the Shreveport Mudbugs, scrunching the gap to seven points. The Amarillo Bulls and Odessa Jackalopes split their two-game weekend while the Bulls dropped a third game on Sunday to Shreveport. The Corpus Christi IceRays were idle but still hold fourth place.

TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS PCT L10
LONE STAR BRAHMAS 35 26 8 1 0 53 .757 7-3-0-0
WICHITA FALLS WILDCATS 34 21 9 3 1 46 .676 5-3-1-1
SHREVEPORT MUDBUGS 31 19 11 0 1 39 .629 6-4-0-0
CORPUS CHRISTI ICERAYS 31 14 13 1 3 32 .516 5-4-0-1
AMARILLO BULLS 35 12 17 7 0 31 .431 5-5-0-0
ODESSA JACKALOPES 31 13 14 4 0 30 .484 5-3-2-0
TOPEKA ROADRUNNERS 35 11 21 2 1 25 .357 2-8-0-0


ICERAYS NEWS…

IceRays goaltender Tomáš Vomáčka was named NAHL South Division Star of the Week on Monday following a standout performance in net. The 17-year-old halted 61 of 64 shots en route to two wins against Shreveport at home and capping off a five-game point stretch in strong form. He’s the fourth player to earn a weekly honor and joins Nathan Bryer (Oct. 10) and Mason Krueger (Nov. 7) in earning top weekly honors.

The IceRays acquired forward Larry Jungwirth from the Coulee Region Chill on Tuesday in exchange for forwards Andy McGlynn and Christian Stevens. Jungwirth owns 23 points through 29 games this season, coming in a share for the team’s leading point-scorer. In two NAHL seasons, the Bloomington, MN native owns 18 goals and 39 assists for 57 points with 116 penalty minutes through 779 games.

The IceRays are offering a special Half-Season Ticket Plan through Friday for the rest of the 2016-17 season. Fans can purchase tickets for the final 14 games at the American Bank Center and receive a 15th game for free (this Thursday) plus all the benefits of being a full-season member including first round tickets to the 2017 Robertson Cup Playoffs. Plans begin at just $40.00 per month prior to down payment, and the offer ends on Friday, Jan. 13 at 3:00 p.m.

On Friday, the IceRays announced two new additions for the 2017-18 season in tenders Coltan Wilkie and Bud Winter. Wilkie, 16, is the son of NHL defenseman and Omaha AAA Lancers coach David Wilkie and leads the NAPHL 16U in assists (37) with 48 points, which ranks second in the league. Winter, 17, was first seen at the IceRays Pre-Draft Camp in St. Louis and owns 27 points through 21 games in T1EHL play with the St. Louis AAA Blues U18.

 

ICERAYS BITS…

The IceRays are coming off their fourth and final off-weekend for the rest of the season and have faired well in post-break games. The team has won the opening game following a free weekend in all three attempts this season, outscoring opponents 10-5 including one of two shutout wins this season. In total, the IceRays are 6-1-1-0 following a weekend away from the rink.

IceRays forward Brendan Miller carries a three-game scoring streak heading into January after picking a goal in each of his last three contests against Shreveport including the game-winner on December 28. This is the first three-game point streak for Miller this season and second of his NAHL career following a three-point stretch from Feb. 26, 2016 to Mar. 5, 2016 in a home-and-home set against Odessa. He is on pace to set career-highs in all three scoring categories.

#REDRISING