CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has named Corpus Christi IceRays goaltender Tomáš Vomáčka the NAHL South Division Star of the Week, presented by Bauer, for the week ending Mar. 12, 2017, the league announced late yesterday evening.
“Tomáš played very well over a very tough road trip in Wichita Falls,” said IceRays head coach Brad Flynn to NAHL.com. “Tomáš is an extremely well liked guy in our room and has done a tremendous job transitioning from European to North American hockey. This week, like many others, Tomáš did a good job of making the saves he should and making a few he shouldn’t have to, which gives us a chance to win each night.”
Vomáčka, 17, appeared in all three games during the team’s three-game road trip in Wichita Falls with two as the starting netminder. The Trutnov, Czech Republic native recorded a 71-save performance over the week on 74 shots, which included a 31-for-33 save performance in Thursday night’s 3-2 shootout loss as well as an additional four saves in the shootout, a perfect seven save showing in relief on Friday, and another 36 saves as part of Saturday’s 2-1 victory. As a whole, Vomáčka earned a 1-0-1 record over the week with a 1.20 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage.
As a whole, Vomáčka has been a consistent presence in net since the IceRays began their uptick toward a playoff berth. The 6-foot-3, 172-pound netminder has held opponents to two goals or less in seven-straight games as well as allowed three goals or less in his last 18 games dating back to Dec. 4, 2016 while owning a 11-2-3 record in that span with a 1.80 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage with his first shutout of the season on February 17. Vomáčka now stands fourth in the NAHL in save percentage and sixth in both goals-against average and minutes played, hosting a 16-11-4 record through 34 games with a 2.29 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.
This is the second top weekly honor that Vomáčka has earned this season, making him the first player this season with two top weekly honors, as well as the third honor overall. His last weekly honor came for the week of January 2 after a 61-for-64 performance in the team’s sweep of the Shreveport Mudbugs prior to the end of the 2016 calendar year.
In total, the IceRays have earned four top weekly honors this season and seven total honors. Vomáčka joins forwards Andy McGlynn and Mason Krueger, who each earned the top weekly honor on October 10 and November 7, respectively, as well as the team’s last weekly award winner, Brad Power, who took top honors on February 20. Vomáčka and Krueger are the only two players this season to earn both a top weekly honor as well as a second star designation.
The IceRays return to the American Bank Center on Wednesday, Mar. 15 for a single-game meeting with the Shreveport Mudbugs. Join the IceRays in their push for the 2017 Robertson Cup Playoffs and pick up seats for the final games of the 2016-17 season by calling 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).
