TOPEKA, KS – Jason Souva scored twice and the Corpus Christi IceRays scored three power-play goals, but they could not overcome the Topeka RoadRunners’ third period comeback and fell, 5-3, at the Landon Arena on Thursday night. Michael Hill scored a conventional hat trick in the victory. With the win, Topeka is now 29-8-3 (61 points) while the IceRays fall to 17-24-2 (36 points) with the loss.
Beau Walker had a three-point night with a goal and two assists in the losing effort.
Michael Hill, who did not play in any of the teams’ three previous meetings, made up for lost time by putting the ‘Runners ahead, 1-0 in the first period. At the 13:51 mark, Hill (25) was left all alone at the top of Pheonix Copley’s crease and beat the netminder clean for the first goal of the game. Corpus Christi took advantage of a five-on-three power play late in the period, when Jason Souva (4) deflected Colton Saucerman’s shot past Rasmus Tirronen, tying the game 1-1, with just 38.7 seconds remaining in the period. The IceRays outshot the RoadRunners, 13-12.
Corpus Christi continued their strong play on the man advantage in the second period with two power-play goals to extend their lead to 3-1. First, after Mychal Monteith’s shot was kicked out by Tirronen, Beau Walker (15) patiently waited at the side of the net and snuck his shot past Tirrnon to give the IceRays their first lead of the season against Topeka. The goal came 3:45 into the period. Souva (5) doubled the lead when his wrist shot from the blue line found its way through a maze of bodies and past Tirronen at the 9:54 mark. Topeka pulled to within one before the period ended, when Bob Marx (3) slap shot beat Copley under the crossbar, 16:21 into the period, to cut the lead to 3-2 into the second intermission. Corpus Christi outshot Topeka, 15-5.
The third period belonged to the ‘Runners as they tallied three power-play goals to overpower the IceRays. Marx (4, :49) knotted the game at 3-3 early in the period, before Hill added two more goals (26, 13:12) and (27, 16:54) on the power play to collect a conventional hat trick and give the ‘Runners a 5-3 victory. Corpus Christi outshot Topeka 34-28. The IceRays were 3-9 on the power play while Topeka went 4-11.
RYAN HOLT’S THREE STARS OF THE GAME:
- Michael Hill (3-0-3)
- Bob Marx (2-0-2)
- Jason Souva (2-0-2)
Corpus Christi continues their three-game set in Topeka against the RoadRunners with a 7:05 PM start on Friday February 4th. Fans can catch the pre-game show on the flagship home of the IceRays, News/Talk 1440 KEYS, www.1440KEYS.com, with the voice of the IceRays, Ryan Holt, beginning at 6:50 PM. The game will be available online through the league’s pay-per-view website, www.fasthockey.com. For more information call the Rays’ front office at 361.814.PUCK (7825) or crash the net at www.goicerays.com.
“THE NEW ICERAYS…TOMORROW’S STARS”
