IceRays deal Cafarelli to Oklahoma for Homer.
Photo from eliteproprospects.com
Corpus Christi, Texas – In the sporting world, change is commonplace for teams looking to get better both in the present, and in the future.
On Monday, the Corpus Christi IceRays finalized a deal with the Oklahoma Warriors to address the now as well as the future.
The IceRays sent their top scorer, forward Anthony Cafarelli to the Warriors for forward Zach Homer, 2024 Tender, and a 2024 second-round draft pick.
Parting ways with Cafarelli wasn’t easy for IceRays Head Coach Sylvain Cloutier.
“It was an emotional trade for sure,” Cloutier said. “Caf was with me since Day One. We had a conversation about his future, and we agreed together that it was best for him to move.
Cafarelli Scored 14 goals and added 17 assists in 39 games as the IceRays team captain this season.
In two seasons, Cafarelli collected 27 goals and 29 assists for 56 points in 95 games.
“He was a total professional for us,” Cloutier said. “He definitely will be missed, and we want to wish him nothing but the best.”
What the IceRays are getting in the deal is a younger player with a lot of upside.
Homer has played in 34 games this year with Oklahoma, scoring six goals and adding seven assists.
He appeared in two games last season with no points.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, the 6-foot-2, 188-pound Homer played in 43 games with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 18U AAA teams, scoring 23 goals and adding 29 assists for 52 points.
He played another 12 games with the Oklahoma Jr. Grizzlies 18U AAA team in the HPHL, notching eight goals with no assists for eight points and a goal and an assists in four games in the playoffs.
“We picked Zach up as an 05 forward,” Cloutier said. “The kid competes, is a great skater, and he will bring energy up front. We are really excited to have him on board.”
In two games against the IceRays this season, Homer collected an assists on October 6.
After splitting a pair of games with the Amarillo Wranglers over the weekend, the IceRays are 14-22-1, 3SOL for 32 points, in eighth place in the NAHL South Division, five points behind the Odessa Jackalopes for seventh, and 13 points behind Oklahoma and the New Mexico Ice Wolves for sixth.
The IceRays are in their bye week before returning home for a three-game series against the Shreveport Mudbugs Thursday night, February 8, Friday night, February 9 and Saturday night, February 10 at 7:05 p.m. CST at American Bank Center.
You can watch the games on NAHL TV and listen on Brewster Street Radio.
For more information, visit goicerays.com.
