Jacob Wingfield and Makar Kultuklu Both Score First Career NAHL Goal
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The Corpus Christi IceRays (8-4-0) bounced back in a big way Friday night, earning a convincing 5-1 victory over the Houston Bulls (3-6-1) at the Hilliard Center. Jacob Wingfield and Makar Kultuklu each recorded their first career North American Hockey League (NAHL) goals as the IceRays dominated their new rivals.
“We challenged our guys to come out with energy and play a full 60 minutes, and I thought we did a great job setting the tone early,” said Head Coach Nick Skerlick. It was great to see Wingfield and Kultuklu get their first NAHL goals, and our special teams came up big when we needed them. There’s still room for improvement, but this was a strong response from our group, and we want to build on it.”
Corpus Christi controlled the opening period, scoring three goals to establish an early advantage. After successfully killing a penalty just three minutes into the game, the IceRays took control and never looked back.
Wingfield opened the scoring at the 12:47 mark, capitalizing on Corpus Christi’s first power-play opportunity of the night. Nikita Konevych and Chayse Laurie earned assists on Wingfield’s first goal as an IceRay. Just 90 seconds later, Kultuklu found the back of the net for his first career NAHL goal, doubling the IceRays lead to 2-0.
Corpus Christi continued to apply pressure late in the period, drawing two consecutive Houston penalties to create a two-man advantage. The IceRays took advantage with just 13 seconds remaining, as Michael Sandruck buried a power-play goal to make it 3-0. Kultuklu and Oliver Czaja picked up assists on the tally, Sandruck’s first goal since opening night. The IceRays finished the night 2-for-7 on the man-advantage.
The IceRays carried their momentum into the second period, adding to their lead in the opening minutes. After sustaining offensive-zone pressure over consecutive shifts, Michael Azzarone scored his fourth goal of the season to push the advantage to 4-0. Anthony Pedalino started the play by holding the blue line before finding Chuck Norris III, who connected with Azzarone as he came fresh off the bench.
Houston began to find its footing midway through the game as Corpus Christi encountered penalty trouble. The Bulls capitalized on one of their opportunities to spoil the shutout. IceRays goaltender Yegor Batsokin misplayed the puck behind his net, allowing Houston forward Ivan Bercik to collect the loose puck and send a shot toward the crease. The puck bounced off Batsokin and into the net, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
Despite the goal, Corpus Christi maintained its three-goal cushion heading into the third period.
The final frame featured limited offensive action, with the IceRays protecting their lead and keeping Houston at bay. The Bulls managed five shots in the period, all turned aside by Batsokin, who finished the night with 21 saves to secure the victory.
Justin Thibault added an empty-net goal late in the game to put the finishing touch on the 5-1 win, giving the IceRays a convincing bounce-back performance on home ice.
NEXT GAME
Corpus Christi hits the road for their first ever visit to the Deep South Arena in the series finale against the Bulls on Saturday, October 24. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT. Catch the pregame show 15 minutes ahead of puck drop and all the action to follow 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.
