GOALTENDER SAM BEST DEPARTS FOR COLLEGE HOCKEY AT A.I.C.

Jan 16, 2019

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Corpus Christi IceRays are proud to announce that goaltender Sam Best has earned an NCAA Division I commitment with American International College (AIC) and will join the AIC Yellow Jackets hockey team (Atlantic Hockey) effective immediately.

Best, 20, departs the IceRays after posting a 13-9-0-0 record in 23 total appearances this season, including one shutout (Sept. 29), a 2.74 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. The Boston native stopped 43 shots in this past Saturday’s 3-2 overtime victory against the Shreveport Mudbugs. He was named NAHL/Bauer Hockey South Division Star of the Week on Dec. 24 while helping lead the team to a junior franchise record nine-game winning streak (Nov. 24-Dec. 28).

“I am very proud of Sam and all he has accomplished,” said IceRays head coach Ryan Cruthers, who also previously coached Best with the USPHL’s Charlotte Rush. “He is going to a great program with an incredible coaching staff and we wish him the best. Sam is a model citizen on and off the ice and he has been a pleasure to coach over the last two seasons. I can’t thank him enough for all he has done for this organization, his teammates, myself and the community.”

The IceRays are in the process of adding a goaltender to join Brian George, who posted a 40-save shutout in Friday’s win against Shreveport, for the team’s netminding tandem moving forward.

Corpus Christi returns to the road this weekend with a pair of games in North Richland Hills against the Lone Star Brahmas. Faceoff on Friday, Jan. 18 and Saturday, Jan. 19 is set for 7:30 PM CT. IceRays games are carried live on Sportsradio Corpus Christi (1230 AM/95.1 FM/96.1 FM), HockeyTV and Mixlr with the pre-game show starting 15 minutes prior to faceoff. For more information, visit goicerays.com/broadcast.

The next home games for the IceRays are a three-game set Jan. 25-27 against the Amarillo Bulls. Single game tickets, group tickets and suites for the remainder of the 2018-19 IceRays season are on sale now. Visit goicerays.com or call 361-814-PUCK (7825) for tickets or more information. Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays) and Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays).