ICERAYS SUFFER FIRST SHOOTOUT LOSS OF SEASON

Mar 16, 2019

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Lone Star Brahmas punched their ticket to the 2019 NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 win via shootout against the Corpus Christi IceRays Saturday night at American Bank Center. The loss marked the IceRays’ first in three shootout games this season.

Corpus Christi’s Blake Bennett and Lone Star’s Frank Trazzera each scored on the power play in regulation. The Brahmas (28-19-3-4, 63 pts.) scored in both rounds of the shootout while the IceRays (25-25-2-1, 53 pts.) were kept scoreless in two attempts on Lone Star goaltender Seth Eisele.

IceRays netminder Samuel Vyletelka finished with 38 saves.

Bennett’s goal game at the 12:02 mark of the first period. Kyle Moore tossed the puck into the left-wing corner, where Bennett retrieved the puck and fired it toward the crease. The puck bounced off the inside of Eisele’s left skate and into the net, marking Bennett’s team-leading 55th point of the season.

Trazzera tied the game at 3:48 of the second period by deflecting a shot from Joey Baez.

The game remained notched, 1-1, through overtime, with shots on goal also tied at 39 each.

Lone Star defensemen Scott Persson and Blake Evennou each found the back of the net in the shootout, while Corpus Christi forwards Nicholas Seitz and Bennett were held off the board.

Seven games remain in the regular season for the fourth-place IceRays, including the next five contests on the road. Corpus Christi visits the Shreveport Mudbugs for a pair of games next weekend (March 22-23) before heading to Amarillo to face the Bulls in a three-in-three (March 29-31). 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.

The IceRays close out the regular season at home on Pack the House Weekend April 5-6 against the Topeka Pilots. Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays) and Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays). 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.