ICERAYS ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN CODY LICHTENVOORT

Dec 18, 2015

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays have acquired defenseman Cody Lichtenvoort from the Springfield Jr. Blues of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) in exchange for a 2016 4th Round Draft Pick, the team announced today.

Lichtenvoort, 20, has appeared in 21 games between the Jr. Blues and the Janesville Jets this season, recording three assists with 30 penalty minutes and a +3 rating. The Algonquin, Ill., native is in his third NAHL season and now his fourth team, amassing 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points through 108 games with 188 penalty minutes and a -1 rating over his Tier II career. A majority of his time in the NAHL has been with the Michigan Warriors, spending two seasons there from 2013-15 and playing 87 games.

The 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman is also a product of the North American 3 Hockey League, playing 46 games with the Peoria Mustangs in 2012-13 while recording 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points with 113 penalty minutes and a +6 rating as the highest scoring defenseman on the team.

The move comes in the same week that IceRays defenseman Simon Butala was transferred to the injured reserve with a broken hand, missing an estimated two months.

“With the injury to Butala, we felt we needed to add some depth to our back end,” said IceRays head coach John Becanic. “Being so young on the blue line has hurt us a bit this year, and adding a three-year veteran will hopefully give us some much needed presence back there. I am excited for him to join our group as we continue to hunt down a playoff spot.”

Lichtenvoort will join the IceRays following the holiday break in time for the next home game on December 29 against the Odessa Jackalopes.

The IceRays travel to the Amarillo Civic Center for a two-game set with the Bulls on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7:05 p.m. The IceRays come back to the American Bank Center on Tuesday, Dec. 29 for the first of a two-game set against the Odessa Jackalopes. Contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK or go to www.goicerays.com for details on season tickets along with pricing and seating. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).