MUDBUGS DEFEAT ICERAYS IN HIGH-SCORING HOME OPENER

Sep 28, 2018

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Shreveport Mudbugs defeated the Corpus Christi IceRays, 7-4, in the IceRays’ Home Opener Friday night at American Bank Center. Josh Barraclough (2-1–3) and Dakota Concannon (1-2–3) each recorded three points for the Mudbugs.

The IceRays (2-5-0, 4 pts.) and Mudbugs (4-3-0, 8 pts.) will rematch Saturday night in Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi found itself in penalty trouble early in the game, including 10 consecutive minutes of penalties assessed to defenseman Yuri Davis-Martel following a scrap with Shreveport’s Andrew Jackson, a former teammate of his in the BCHL. The penalties occurred while the IceRays were already on the penalty kill, so the Mudbugs found themselves on a 5-on-3 advantage early in the 10 minutes against Davis-Martel. CJ McGee scored a 5-on-3 goal at 5:12 to open the scoring for the visitors, but that would be the only Shreveport goal during the 10-minute stretch. The IceRays also recorded a goal during that period—a shorthanded tally by Jake Stella, who jammed in a rebound of a breakaway chance by Kyle Moore at 6:59.

Barraclough notched the next two goals of the game, and Conor Witherspoon added one in the opening minute of the third period, as the Mudbugs built a 4-1 lead. The third period would see seven total goals, including three from the IceRays. Defenseman Tyler Love jammed in a goal at 3:18, Moore fired in a shot from the top of the crease at 6:37 and Blake Bennett scored from the back door on a quick play off a right-wing draw at 7:50. The play by Bennett got the IceRays back within a goal (5-4), but Shreveport recorded the game’s final two goals. Ethan Harrison scored on the power play at 12:56, and Justin Cmunt added an empty-net tally with 100 seconds remaining in the game.

Shreveport, the defending Robertson Cup Champions, improved to 3-0-0 this season against Corpus Christi. The IceRays outshot the Mudbugs by a 35-30 margin.

Saturday’s rematch is set for 7:05 PM. Doors will open at 6:00 PM and the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a 2018-19 IceRays magnet schedule courtesy of Janet’s Cakery. The game will mark the second of Corpus Christi’s season-long 13-game homestand at American Bank Center. The team will not play another road game until Thanksgiving Eve at Odessa.

Season seat memberships, group tickets and single game tickets for the 2018-19 IceRays season are on sale now. Call 361-814-PUCK for tickets or more information.

All IceRays games are carried on Sportsradio Corpus Christi (1230 AM/95.1 FM/96.1 FM/TuneIn app) and HockeyTV. Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays) and Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays).