Corpus Christi, Texas – Close games have been the norm in the early going of the 2023-24 season.
Not securing a close victory is a trend the Corpus Christi IceRays would like to buck.
The IceRays dropped a tough 4-3 decision at the hands of the Minot Minotauros Friday at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.
It’s the second 4-3 loss for the IceRays (1-2), and another game encompassing the preseason and regular season that could have gone either way.
Another continuing trend was Corpus Christi controlling the first period, letting down in the second and accelerating again in the third as the IceRays outshot Minot 12-7 in the first and 11-6 in the third, but were outshot 17-8 in a three-goal second for the Minotauros (3-0).
“We competed all game and our PK did a solid job again tonight,” IceRays head coach Sylvain Cloutier said. “The kids battled hard and played them hard in the third period, and you know, a couple of bounces here and there. We didn’t bury our chances.”
Nicholas Sewecke netted what turned out to be the game winner at 14:47 of the second period.
Cody Kempf, Arvid Lunderg Broback and Nil Forselius lit the lamp for the IceRays.
Jack Gardner, Will Dawson and Chad Muller netted the goals for Minot.
Trailing 1-0, Cody Kempf tied the game at 14:19 of the first period off an assist from Wolfgang Govedaris.
Govedaris was injured in the second period hitting his head against the board after losing his helmet leading to an extended 30-minute delay.
“I think it’s just the same story as the rest of the week. We just can’t put together a full 60 minutes,” IceRays forward Dylan Jensen said. “There was more emotion with one of our guys going down and it was hard for us to keep out emotions in check and stay disciplined and focused.”
Less than two minutes later, Lundberg Broback collected his first goal of the game to give the IceRays a 2-1 lead after one period.
Dawson gave Minot the lead less than three minutes into the second period, but Forselius scored his second of the season from Ryan Hintz and Mathieu Bourgault to give the IceRays a 3-2 lead.
Muller scored the equalizer at 11:24 of the period before Sewecke’s game-winner.
“It was back and forth all game,” Cloutier said. “The arena was packed, the crowd was into it and it was a really exciting game.”
The IceRays will play their final game in four days at the grueling NAHL Showcase against the Maine Nordiques Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. CT.
Maine is 3-1 after a 6-2 win over the Springfield Jr. Blues Friday.
“We have to come out tomorrow and try to put a full 60-minute effort and get out of here with a 2-2 record that I would call a pretty good week,” Cloutier said. “If we don’t, obviously we’ll be disappointed, but we’ve got to focus on El Paso next weekend.”
You can watch Saturday’s game on NAHLTV.com.
Single game tickets for IceRays home games are on sale now on Ticketmaster.com.
Single Game tickets are $38 for Glass, $32 for Lower Bowl, and $26 for Upper Bowl.
Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are still on sale as well.
For information, please contact Michelle Evans at 361-814-7825, Ext. 104.
