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 2015-16 season.
THIS WEEK…
Friday, September 9, 2016 @ Lone Star Brahmas – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 10, 2016 @ Shreveport Mudbugs – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 11, 2016 @ Shreveport Mudbugs – 2:00 p.m.
The Corpus Christi IceRays will take part in three preseason games to prepare for the 2016-17 campaign this weekend against the Lone Star Brahmas on Friday night followed by back-to-back games against the Shreveport Mudbugs. All three games will help the IceRays coaching staff evaluate their players at the end of training camp just one weekend prior to the 2016-17 season opener.
The Lone Star Brahmas finished the 2015-16 season with a 39-12-9 record with 87 points, placing them second in the South Division with a trip to the Robertson Cup Playoffs for the second-straight year despite falling in the South Division Semifinals to the Topeka RoadRunners in four games during the best-of-five series. The IceRays owned a 4-6-2 record against the Brahmas last season including a 1-4-1 record at the NYTEX Sports Centre. This is the second-straight year the IceRays and Brahmas will play one preseason game. In last year’s exhibition, the IceRays won 2-1 on the road.
The Shreveport Mudbugs join the NAHL heading into the 2016-17 as the seventh member of the South Division and the sixth former member of the Central Hockey League (CHL) over the last seven seasons. The former Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs played 14 professional seasons between the CHL and the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL), amassing a 565-269-83 record (.616 win percentage) and four championships including in each of their last three seasons in the WPHL and their final season of CHL play in 2010-11. Their front office is led by former head coach Scott Muscutt, and their first NAHL Head Coach is Karlis Zirnis, who played in Shreveport from 2006-08. In 49 professional games, the IceRays own a 21-25-4 record against the Mudbugs. This will be the team’s first trip to the renovated Hirsch Coliseum since Mar. 14, 2010 in a 5-4 loss.
South Division Preview:
The 2016-17 NAHL season begins this weekend with three teams from the South Division and five throughout the NAHL competing. The Amarillo Bulls, who finished 6th in the South Division last season, start the season on the road against the 2016 South Division Champion and Robertson Cup Runner-Up Wichita Falls Wildcats at the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Friday night followed by a home meeting at the Amarillo Civic Center on Saturday with the Odessa Jackalopes, another playoff team from the 2015-16 season despite their exit by the Wildcats.
IN THE COMMUNITY…
IceRays players Cole Filler and Christian Stevens will be Celebrity Scoopers at Rita’s Italian Ice on Wednesday, Sep. 7 from 7:30–8:30 p.m. at their location off Alameda St. The two new IceRays will delve out scoops of italian ice, gelatis, and all of Rita’s treats to help raise money for the Corpus Christi Literacy Council. Many local figures, including District Attorney candidate Mark Gonzalez, will be attending throughout the evening for International Literacy Day.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE…
Tuesday, Sep. 6 – 2:00 p.m. (American Bank Center)
• Media Availability – 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Sep. 7 – 10:00 a.m. – (American Bank Center)
Thursday, Sep. 8 – 2:00 p.m. – (American Bank Center)
• Media Availability – 3:45 p.m.
