CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has named Corpus Christi IceRays forward Brad Power the NAHL South Division Star of the Week, presented by Bauer, for the week ending Feb. 19, 2017, the league announced today.
“It’s pretty cool to earn the recognition,” said Power on the award. “I just tried to play my best this past weekend and help the team keep the streak going. To be named NAHL South Division Star of the Week is an honor.”
“I am very excited for Brad winning player of the week honors,” said IceRays head coach Brad Flynn. “Having a big six-point weekend for our team in a playoff push is a big accomplishment. Brad was selected to Top Prospects and because of weekends like this past one. It shows that he is a legitimate NCAA Division I prospect with his outside speed and offensive ability to only score, but he can be a playmaker as well.”
Power, 20, had one of the best weekends over the last few seasons in a big statement weekend for the organization. It kicked off on Thursday night with a five-point night (goal, four assists) in a 6-2 win over Topeka at home, cashing in on the team’s first four goals of the evening including scoring the first of the night. The five-point night was the first since Feb. 7, 2014 in a 7-6 overtime home loss to Topeka, when Jake Durflinger earned a three-goal, two-assist night. He followed that up with the first (and game-winning) goal in Friday’s 2-0 shutout win of the RoadRunners, helping to make history with the team’s seventh-straight win.
Over his recent run, the St. John’s, N.F. product continues to stay hot, recording eight points over his last three games and over the team’s seven-game win streak owns ten points with four as goals. Power is second on the team in scoring, owning 16 goals and 22 assists for 38 points with a +13 rating through 41 games. The award comes just ahead of his appearance at the 2017 NAHL Top Prospect Tournament at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., and while that does help his overall status, Power’s focus has been on the stretch run and keeping the team’s streak going.
“I’ve just tried to stay more focused,” said Power. “You know, it’s getting down to the end of the season, and things are starting to really come together for us. Just staying into each game and keeping focused is the main thing. We’ve had some really good shifts, have had some lucky bounces when throwing pucks to the net, and it’s paid off. This definitely helps leading into next week. You want to go into that event ready to play your best and on a streak. I just hope to keep this going into our upcoming weekend against Lone Star and into the Top Prospect Tournament.”
Power is the fifth player to be recognized by the league this season, joining forwards Nathan Bryer and Andy McGlynn, who were named Bauer Hockey South Division Star and 2nd Star of the Week, respectively, on October 10, as well as forward Mason Krueger, who gained the league’s top weekly honor on November 7, and goaltender Tomáš Vomáčka, who was honored at the outset of January. In seven seasons, the IceRays have now earned 14 top weekly honors as well as 15 top league-wide honors.
The IceRays continue their four-week home stand on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:05 p.m. from the American Bank Center when they open the weekend against the Lone Star Brahmas. Season memberships for the 2016-17 season are still available with full and partial season plans. Reserve yours by contacting the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Snapchat (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
