Corpus Christi, Texas – The Corpus Christi IceRays will close out the preseason schedule against the defending Robertson Cup champion Oklahoma Warriors Friday night at 6:30 at the Blazers Ice Centre in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The IceRays are 0-2 in the preseason, falling to the Shreveport Mudbugs on the road 7-2 on September 1, and 5-3 on September 2 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Heading into the season opener against Aberdeen, the IceRays, who finished eighth in the NAHL South Division at 11-42-6, 1SOL, and 29 points, showed some fire before falling in the second game.
It’s that type of fire that IceRays head coach Sylvain Cloutier is looking for to jump-start the season.
“We’re just try some combinations and see who’s connecting and just have one last look here before we go to Blaine,” Cloutier said. “We’re going to see if (Stepan) Kuznetsov can get in. I hope he’s over his injury and get him in there. We’re hoping we can dress most of our lineup tomorrow night and see what we look like and how we play together and go from there.”
Kuznetsov was injured in the first period of the IceRays’ 7-2 loss in the preseason opener in Shreveport.
Oklahoma comes off a season where they finished first in the NAHL South Division (44-14-1, 1SOL, 90 points) and are hoping to repeat their feat this season.
“We’re not worried about the wins and losses right now, but, it would be nice to get that win on the road and going into Blaine.” Cloutier said. “We know that the Oklahoma, obviously they lost some players, but they are the defending champs and you know he’s (Warriors Head Coach and General Manager Garrett Roth) recruited well again. So it should be a good a good hockey game. And hopefully we can sneak one out here there in Oklahoma tomorrow.”
As the pieces to the puzzle locked together during training camp and the preseason games so far, IceRays defenseman Wolfgang Govedaris is optimistic about the season’s future.
“We still haven’t played our real team yet and most of those are returning guys,” Govedaris said after the Game 2 loss in Shreveport. “So, once we get everyone situated on the team and get them going, I think it’s going to be a much different season.”
Corpus Christi will continue its road trip as the team heads to Blaine, Minnesota to open up the regular season at the NAHL Showcase, Wednesday, September 13 against Aberdeen at 4:30 p.m.
Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale now.
For information, please contact Michelle Evans at 361-814-7825, Ext. 104.
