Chayse Laurie and Justin Thibault Record Three Point Nights
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The Corpus Christi IceRays (7-2-0) forced a split with the El Paso Rhinos (2-7-2) on Sunday night with a bounce back 5-1 victory at the Hilliard Center. Chayse Laurie and Justin Thibault posted three point nights in the win.
“I thought our guys did a great job responding after the first game, said head coach Nick Skerlick. We played with more urgency, executed on special teams, and stayed committed to our game plan for all 60 minutes. It was great to see guys step up in key moments, and Yegor gave us some big saves when we needed them. This was a good team win, and now we need to build on it moving forward.”
The Corpus Christi IceRays looked to bounce back after dropping the series opener, and despite an early penalty putting their penalty kill to the test, Yegor Batsokin came up with two big saves in his home debut to keep the game scoreless.
The deadlock held until the midway point of the opening period, when Oliver Czaja found a cutting Chayse Laurie in front of the net. Laurie buried his second goal of the weekend to give Corpus Christi its first lead of the series. The advantage lasted just over a minute, however, as El Paso responded with a power-play goal from Alexi Gregoire to even the score.
Before the first intermission, the IceRays regained the lead on the power play. Anthony Pedalino sent a shot toward the net that was redirected by Michael Azzarone, beating Luke Brassil for Azzarone’s third goal of the season. The special-teams strike sent Corpus Christi into the break with a 2-1 advantage.
The second period featured a defensive battle, with scoring chances limited for both sides. It took more than 20 minutes of game action before the IceRays found the back of the net again. After El Paso took two penalties less than a minute apart, Corpus Christi was awarded an extended five-on-three power play. Thomas Duhamel tipped a shot toward the net, and after Brassil kicked out the rebound, Laurie pounced on the loose puck and buried his second goal of the night to extend the IceRays’ lead to 3-1 heading into the second intermission.
With a two-goal cushion, Corpus Christi continued to apply pressure in the final period, controlling play and outshooting El Paso 11-2. The sustained attack paid off as Dylan Chabrier and Duhamel each found the back of the net for their first goals of the season, pushing the lead to 5-1.
Behind a strong performance from Batsokin, timely special-teams scoring, and a dominant third period, the IceRays closed out the 5-1 victory to earn a split in the weekend series against the Rhinos.
NEXT SERIES
Corpus Christi heads on the road next weekend for a matchup with the top seeded Shreveport Mudbugs on Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17. Puck drop for both nights is scheduled for 7:14 p.m. CT. Catch the action next weekend and all season long by subscribing to NATV!
About Corpus Christi IceRays: The Corpus Christi IceRays, a member of the North American Hockey League playing out of the Hilliard Center in downtown Corpus Christi, TX. For more information or for all your ticketing needs, contact the IceRays Front Office at (361)-814-PUCK or visit www.GoIceRays.com . You can also follow the team through their social media platforms: Facebook @goicerays, Instagram @iceraysnahl, and Twitter @iceraysnahl
About North American Hockey League: Celebrating its 50th season in 2024-25, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 35 teams in 20 states from North American. For more information, visit the NAHL website at https://nahl.com/
About Hilliard Center
Hilliard Center is Corpus Christi’s premier entertainment and event complex, proudly owned by the City of Corpus Christi and managed by Oak View Group. Named in partnership with Hilliard Law, a firm dedicated to service and community, the waterfront venue features a state-of-the-art arena, the historic Selena Auditorium, and a versatile convention center overlooking the scenic Corpus Christi Bay. With adaptable spaces, complimentary Wi-Fi, and premium food and beverage offerings, Hilliard Center is designed to deliver exceptional experiences as South Texas’ home for live entertainment, conventions, and community gatherings.
Visit HilliardCenter.com and follow the Hilliard Center on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for the latest news and event updates.
About Oak View Group (OVG)
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
