SHREVEPORT, LA. – The Corpus Christi IceRays (1-2-0) closed the 2016 Preseason with a 4-2 loss to the Shreveport Mudbugs (3-1-0) on Sunday afternoon at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum.
The opening period of play continued the physicality stemming from the previous night’s meeting with numerous hits, scrums and words exchanged. However, the Mudbugs gained the early edge on a slap shot from the blue line by defenseman Croix Evingson to push ahead 1-0 at 5:18.
Tempers continued into the second period, and discipline by the Mudbugs gave them two separate 5-on-3 power plays. The home side converted twice on the first of those two starting at 2:47 when defenseman Alex Spencer found the lamp with numerous players crowding the IceRays crease to double the lead, 2-0. In the ensuing 5-on-4 power play at 3:55, forward Cam Cook snapped a shot from the slot to triple the lead, 3-0. After killing off another 5-on-3, the IceRays found an answer on their own power play at 18:45 thanks to forward David Thomson, who slipped into the right circle and snapped home a shot to cut the Mudbugs lead down to 3-1.
The IceRays earned the first power play of the third period and made it count to draw within one. At 8:57, forward Mason Krueger teed up a one-time shot from the left circle into an open net to cut the lead to one, 3-2. Play stayed clean throughout the rest of the contest, and with the IceRays netminder pulled, Mudbugs forward Brendan Van Sweden sealed the game, 4-2, at 19:45 of the final frame, closing the IceRays preseason schedule.
IceRays netminder Cullen Barber (0-1-0) served in net while taking the loss. The IceRays open the 2016-17 regular season on Thursday, Sep. 15 at 7:05 p.m. against the Wichita Falls Wildcats from the Kay Yeager Coliseum. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on SportsRadio Corpus Christi (KSIX 1230AM) and FASTHockey.com.
The IceRays open the 2016-17 home schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 against the Odessa Jackalopes at the American Bank Center. Purchase your 2016-17 season ticket membership ahead of opening night! Reserve yours by contacting the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
