CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), will play three preseason games against the Lone Star Brahmas and Shreveport Mudbugs on September 9-11 at the NYTEX Sports Centre and George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum, the team announced today.
The set of three games begins on Friday, Sep. 9 at 7:30 p.m. against the Brahmas from the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas followed by games against the Mudbugs on Saturday, Sep. 10 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Sep. 11 at 2:00 p.m. from Shreveport, La. All three games will help the IceRays coaching staff evaluate their players at the end of training camp just one weekend prior to the 2016-17 season opener.
The Brahmas finished the 2015-16 season with a 39-12-9 record with 87 points, placing them second in the South Division with a trip to the Robertson Cup Playoffs for the second-straight year despite falling in the South Division Semifinals to the Topeka RoadRunners in four games during the best-of-five series. The IceRays owned a 4-6-2 record against the Brahmas last season including a 1-4-1 record at the NYTEX Sports Centre. This is the second-straight year the IceRays and Brahmas will play one preseason game. In last year’s exhibition, the IceRays won 2-1 on the road.
The Mudbugs join the NAHL heading into the 2016-17 as the seventh member of the South Division and the sixth former member of the Central Hockey League (CHL) over the last seven seasons. The former Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs played 14 professional seasons between the CHL and the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL), amassing a 565-269-83 record (.616 win percentage) and four championships including in each of their last three seasons in the WPHL and their final season of CHL play in 2010-11. Their front office is led by former head coach Scott Muscutt, and their first NAHL Head Coach is Karlis Zirnis, who played in Shreveport from 2006-08. In 49 professional games, the IceRays own a 21-25-4 record against the Mudbugs. This will be the team’s first trip to the renovated Hirsch Coliseum since Mar. 14, 2010 in a 5-4 loss.
All three games are expected to be broadcast during the weekend on FASTHockey.com. Detailed information will be released at a later date. The “Voice of the IceRays,” Collin Schuck, returns for his third season with the organization and will have the call. Limited coverage will also be available on Twitter (@goicerays).
The IceRays open the 2016-17 home schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 against the Odessa Jackalopes at the American Bank Center. Purchase your 2016-17 season ticket membership ahead of opening night! Reserve yours by contacting the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
