ICERAYS START SHOWCASE WITH SHOOTOUT WIN AGAINST ST. CLOUD

Sep 18, 2019

BLAINE, Minn. – In their third game of the NAHL season, the Corpus Christi IceRays finished regulation tied 3-3 for a third time. Wednesday night at Super Rink, the IceRays defeated the St. Cloud Blizzard, 4-3, via shootout. Cameron Knowlton scored the lone goal of the four-round shootout, while IceRays goaltender Jeremy Forman denied all four attempts from St. Cloud.

Ryan Coughlin, Knowlton, and Artur Turansky scored in regulation for Corpus Christi (2-0-0-1, 5 pts.).

Coughlin registered the only goal of the first period, scoring off Erik Bargholtz’s rebound at 9:18.

Ben Ward tied the game for the Blizzard with a shorthanded goal at 5:14 of the second period, then former IceRay Brady Bjork gave St. Cloud its first lead of the game about six minutes later.

Knowlton notched a power-play goal from near the goal line at 13:03 of the 2nd period, sending the game into the second intermission tied, 2-2.

Ward picked up his second of the night at 8:39 of the third period, but Corpus Christi’s Artur Turansky scored the team’s second power-play goal of the night with just over five minutes remaining.

After a delay in the action due to an injury suffered by St. Cloud’s Alex Kupka, the IceRays killed off a five-minute major penalty to Turansky which carried over into the early stages of overtime.

Neither team scored in overtime, or through the first three rounds of the shootout, until Knowlton notched the game-winner on the opening shot of round four. Forman denied Ryan Green’s chance to seal the victory.

Now it’s a quick turnaround for the IceRays after Wednesday’s NAHL Showcase opener finished at 10:45 PM CT. Thursday’s game is a 1:30 PM CT matinee against the Chippewa Steel. Tune in at 1:15 PM CT on Sportsradio Corpus Christi (1230 AM – 95.1 FM – 96.1 FM), HockeyTV and Mixlr. Corpus Christi’s NAHL Showcase four-in-four then continues with games Friday night against the Minnesota Wilderness, and Saturday afternoon against the Springfield Jr. Blues.

The IceRays’ Home Opener is set for Thursday, Oct. 10 against the Odessa Jackalopes. Puck drop at American Bank Center is at 7:05 PM CT. For tickets or more information, call 361-814-PUCK (7825). Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays) and goicerays.com.