James Chase Scores Twice in the Loss for Corpus Christi
BLAINE, MN — In a back-and-forth battle Friday morning at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, the Corpus Christi IceRays (2-3-0) closed out the event with a 6-4 loss to the Danbury Hat Tricks (3-3-0). The IceRays leave the Super Rink without earning a point from the week’s action.
An early bench minor for too many men gave Danbury a power play, but Corpus Christi managed to escape unscathed. The Hat Tricks set the tone early peppering IceRays goaltender Xander Miceli with nine shots in the opening 10 minutes. Danbury eventually broke through when defenseman Joshua Williams found the back of the net, giving the Hat Tricks a 1-0 lead after at the intermission. However, a spearing major against Danbury’s Austin Michaud at the buzzer handed Corpus Christi a five-minute power play to open the second.
The IceRays capitalized early on the man advantage, as James Chase knocked in a loose puck in front to tie the game 1-1. It was Chase’s second power-play goal and third overall this season. The momentum continued for Corpus Christi, and just after the power play expired, Jack Mackenzie jammed home his second goal of the week during a net-front scramble to give the IceRays their first lead. But Danbury responded quickly. Just over a minute later, Matthew Shpungin fired a seeing-eye wrist shot through traffic to tie the game at 2-2 heading into a wild third period.
Corpus Christi regained the lead early in the final frame when Nick Evans buried his second goal of the week, following up a shot off the post from Grayson Gerhard to make it 3-2. Following the go-ahead-goal, back-to-back penalties against the IceRays proved costly allowing Danbury to score twice on the ensuing power play. Shpungin ripped home his second of the game and Ryan Lukko added the other giving the Hat Tricks a 4-3 lead.
That lead doubled moments later when Parker Deschene converted on a breakaway, putting Danbury ahead 5-3. Corpus Christi foight to get within one after Chase deflected home his second of the game but it was too little too late after a Danbury empty netter sealed a 6-4 victory for the Hat Tricks.
UP NEXT AT HOME
The IceRays return to the Hilliard Center to host the Odessa Jackalopes on October 3rd and 4th. Both games start at 7:05 PM CT and can either be watched on NAHLTV or listened to on Retro Radio CC.
Tickets start at just $5 and are available now at goicerays.com or via Ticketmaster.
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 51st season in 2024-25, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 34 teams in 19 states from North American. For more information, visit the NAHL website at https://nahl.com/
About Hilliard Center: Hilliard Center is an entertainment complex owned by the city of Corpus Christi and managed by Oak View Group with OVG Hospitality. The complex is in downtown Corpus Christi, Texas and consists of an arena, auditorium, and convention center. The facility hosts numerous conventions, trade shows, exhibitions, live performances, and sporting events. Located directly on the beautiful Corpus Christi Bay downtown, Hilliard Center is flexible for any group offering complimentary Wi-Fi and premium food and beverage options
About Oak View Group (OVG)
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
