MIDDLETON STRIKES AS RAYS’ DROP OPENER 2-1 IN TOPEKA

Sep 12, 2013

TOPEKA, KANSAS – Danny Middleton scored his first goal as a member of the IceRays while his team put 33 shots on net but it wasn’t enough as the Topeka RoadRunners scored two unanswered goals to pick up a 2-1 victory inside Landon Arena.

Corpus Christi got on the board at 14:40 of the first period when Danny Middleton intercepted the puck and went in all alone on a breakaway wristing a shot over the left shoulder of Topeka goaltender Drew Vogler for a 1-0 lead, his first goal as an IceRay.

The Runners’ struck back minutes later.  Philip Middleton fired a breakaway pass to Tyler Poulson who deked IceRays netminder Forbes Ploszaj, sliding the puck through his legs at 16:26 of the opening frame to even the score at one goal apiece.

The IceRays came out flying in the second period and piled on the chances including a breakaway by Eric Purcell who was denied by Vogler in net to keep the score even at a goal.

The RoadRunners took the lead for the first time all game at 16:28 of the second period off a faceoff win by James Ring right to Jerad Tafoya who snapped the puck over the shoulder of Ploszaj to put Topeka ahead 2-1. 

In the third period the IceRays pulled Ploszaj late in regulation but Drew Vogler stood his ground in net stopping 32 of 33 while at the other end IceRays netminder Forbes Ploszaj put aside 12 of 14 shots in the loss.

The IceRays remain on the road tomorrow night as they take on the RoadRunners in the weekend finale.  Puck drops at 7:15PM, coverage begins at 7:00PM with the IceRays Pregame Show on 91.1FM KSGR, ksgr.org, ustream.com, and fasthockey.com. 

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)