Corpus Christi, Texas – The game plan has been simple for the Corpus Christi IceRays this season, play hard for 60 minutes and give yourself a chance to win.
The IceRays followed the game plan Friday night in their first meeting of the year against the Odessa Jackalopes.
There was a slight exception. They didn’t put the puck in the net enough to win.
Corpus Christi held tough before falling to Odessa 4-1 Friday night at the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa.
Although it’s not on the official scoresheet and stats at present time, Cody Kempf was credited with his fourth goal and eighth point of the season for Corpus Christi with Pierson Sobush, who was originally listed as the goal scorer, collecting his 14th assist and 22nd point of the season.
It was Kempf’s first goal in 11 games. He last scored against Lone Star on October 27.
Charlie Smith, James Richman, Kowin Belsterling and Michael Kadlecik all netted goals for Odessa.
The IceRays outshot the Jackalopes 41-32, including 15-10 in the third period, but it was the Jackalopes who would ultimately pull away.
“It was a tough loss,” IceRays head coach Sylvain Cloutier said. “To outshoot a team like we did today and get nothing out of it is really disappointing. Give them credit, they scored on their chances.”
Neither team was successful on the power play, going 0-2.
“Our power play let us down again,” Cloutier said. “But we need to get back up for tomorrow and go at it again.”
The IceRays are still in eighth place in the South Division at 9-15-1, 2 SOL for 21 points.
Odessa is one spot ahead in seventh at 11-10-2, 2 SOL for 25 points, five ahead of the IceRays.
Kempf put Corpus Christi on top with his fourth goal of the season at 14:40 of the first period. It was officially listed as Sobush in the game scoring.
But Smith came back with his first of the season at 18:35 and it was 1-1 after one period.
Richman put Odessa on top to stay with his fourth goal of the year at 4:09 of the second period and the Jackalopes enjoyed a 2-1 advantage heading into the final period.
Odessa put the game away with a pair of late goals in the third period.
Belsterling got his fourth of the year at 15:37 and Kadlecik added his seventh at 19:37.
The two teams will close out the weekend series Saturday night at 7:15 CST.
You can watch the game on NAHLTV.com.
For more info on the IceRays visit goicerays.com.
