CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (5-7-2) tied the game late but ultimately fell in overtime, 2-1, to the Topeka RoadRunners (8-8-0) on Saturday night at the American Bank Center on Pink In The Rink night. The IceRays earn three of a possible four points in the weekend.
Play remained calm through much of the first period, but the visiting side pushed ahead first. After a dump in to the IceRays defensive zone, Topeka forward Carlos Fornaris found a puck pop free in front of the net and back-handed a chance into the net to give the RoadRunners a 1-0 lead at 16:05. The IceRays would finish the period on a power play but could not convert on either side of the intermission.
Pace picked up in the second period, and the IceRays had four chances on the power play that went uncashed with more chances throughout the frame. After a scoreless period, the final goal of regulation came very late in the game and pushed things into overtime. With the netminder pulled and on a power play, IceRays forward Mason Krueger was fed a pass across the offensive zone by forward Brad Power for a one-time goal at 18:58 to even the score, 1-1. In overtime, Topeka took control and outpaced the IceRays in shots, and at 4:28 into the extra period, forward Marcus Russell saw a puck in the left circle and buried it to seal the 2-1 win for the RoadRunners. Topeka goaltender Vladimir Cibulka (2-4-0) earned the win, stopping 26 of 27 shots, while IceRays netminder Graham Hunt (2-4-1) picked up the loss, turning aside 32 of 34 shots.
The IceRays hit the road on Friday, Oct. 30 for the first of a two-game set 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) & FASTHockey.com.
The IceRays come home on Thursday, Nov. 19 to open the season series with the Lone Star Brahmas at 10:45 a.m. from the American Bank Center. 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).
