Chayse Laurie Registers Eight Point of October in the Loss
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – The Corpus Christi IceRays (9-5-0) lost a heartbreaker late to the Lone Star Brahmas (11-2-1) by a final score of 3-2 Friday night at the Hilliard Center.
“I thought our guys competed hard tonight, said Head Coach Nick Skerlick.” It was a tight game from start to finish, and we had opportunities to put ourselves in a better position. Special teams played a big role, and ultimately, we have to find a way to get that final stop. There are plenty of positives to build on, but we’ll take the lessons from tonight and get ready for the next one.”
A skating game broke out in the opening 20 minutes as both sides established a fierce pace in the first meeting of the season. Very few whistles interrupted play during the first 10 minutes, which remained scoreless. A penalty against Corpus Christi just past the halfway point gave the dangerous Lone Star power play its first opportunity on special teams.
The Brahmas executed a perfect power-play sequence that ended with a rebound kicked out to the Brahmas’ leading goal scorer, Hugo Zetterlund, who had a wide-open net. Zetterlund buried the chance for his ninth goal of the season, giving Lone Star a 1-0 lead.
Despite surrendering the first goal, Corpus Christi flipped the score just as it did six nights ago before intermission. IceRays forward Justin Thibault opened the scoring for Corpus Christi with a sweet pass from Chayse Laurie behind the net to tie the game at 1-1. The IceRays went back to work minutes later as Anthony Pedalino sprung Oliver Czaja in transition, allowing him to pot his 10th goal of the season and give Corpus Christi a 2-1 lead. Czaja became the seventh NAHL player to reach double digits this season, accomplishing the feat in just 14 games.
Corpus Christi started the second frame strong, carrying momentum from the end of the first period. However, nothing came from the fast start, as the IceRays managed just three shots in the period.
The turning point came after offsetting bench minors, which were shortly followed by an IceRays penalty that put Lone Star back on the man advantage. The Brahmas capitalized when Sam Black swatted a rebound past Yegor Batsokin to tie the game at 2-2.
That was all the scoring in the second period, as Batsokin and Gabriel kept the game tied through 40 minutes. The Brahmas outshot the IceRays 17-11 in the frame.
An ultra-competitive third period unfolded, with neither side wanting to make a costly mistake in a tied game. The first key moment of the frame came after a fight between Jacob Wingfield and Hugo Zetterlund. Prior to the tilt, Wingfield committed a cross-checking major, putting the Brahmas on a five-minute power play.
The IceRays penalty kill dug in with multiple blocked shots and key saves from Batsokin as they survived the entire five minutes unscathed. However, Corpus Christi’s momentum following the kill was short-lived, as Niko Smilovic wired a wrist shot past Batsokin to give the Brahmas a 3-2 lead with under five minutes remaining.
Corpus Christi went down swinging, creating multiple scoring opportunities in the final minutes. The first came from Willem Kerr, whose shot with the extra attacker was pushed just wide. The IceRays final chance fell to Czaja with one second remaining. His spinning forehand was kicked out by Gabriel as the horn sounded.
The Brahmas held on for a 3-2 victory in Game 1 of the series.
NEXT SERIES
The series concludes on Saturday, October 31. Join the IceRays for Stick or Treat on Saturday where the IceRays will wear themed jerseys on Halloween night. Get your tickets today on TicketMaster or visit goicerays.com for more information. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. CT with doors opening for a pregame skate at 4:00 p.m. CT.
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.
