Goaltender Xander Miceli Looks to Extend Hot Streak
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The Corpus Christi IceRays (25-19-5, 4th) return home to the Coastal Bend for the first time in over a month following a road trip where they won five of six to close February. This weekend marks the final 10 game stretch of the regular season as the IceRays battle for home ice-advantage in the first round of the Robertson Cup Playoffs. The IceRays host the Oklahoma Warriors (23-21-4, 5th) for the final time this season at the Hilliard Center in a two-game weekend series.
BROADCAST / GAME INFORMATION
The IceRays and Warriors kick off the series on Friday, March 6, and wrap up the weekend on Saturday, Mach 7. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT both nights. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Friday features Shoot the Puck, Win A Truck Night presented by Auto Nation Chevrolet South Corpus Christi. Two lucky fans will have a chance to win a 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 4×4 during the second intermission.
Saturday is STEM Night presented by Gulf Coast Growth Ventures where students get in FREE if they wear their school spirit shirt. A hands-on STEM table will be located in the concourse along with a robotics exhibition with the help of Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. There will also be 1,000 fidget giveaways.
Fans can watch the games on NATV or listen live on Retro Radio Corpus Christi by downloading the Retro Radio Corpus Christi app. Join the “Voice of the IceRays,” Joey Erickson, all weekend long. Pregame coverage on both NATV and Retro Radio Corpus Christi begins 15 minutes prior to puck drop.
SPRING CLEANING
Corpus Christi finished February with a 5-2-1 record despite dropping the first two games at home against New Mexico. The IceRays rattled off a second five game winning streak this season during a crucial road trip that saw them sweep Odessa and Oklahoma creating a five-point cushion with 10 games remaining.
Including this weekend, the IceRays and Warriors have four head-to-head games before the season wraps. Oklahoma currently sits in a tie with Shreveport in 5th place with both teams accumulating 50 points through 48 games. In order to host playoff games in April, the IceRays will need to finish ahead of Oklahoma and Shreveport. The top six teams in the division make the postseason.
Corpus Christi aims for a second straight playoff berth for the first time since 2018 and 2019.
X MARKS THE SPOT
IceRays net-minder Xander Miceli won four of his six starts in February including four straights to bring his overall record to 13-13-3. His impressive play has been a catalyst for the IceRays strong push to the postseason.
The Brentwood, Tennessee, native has been used heavily the second half of the season which has led his best stretch of play in his first season with Corpus Christi. Miceli has recorded 30 or more saves in five of his last six starts while holding his opponents to two or fewer goals in five of them.
Three of his wins last month came via the shootout where he stopped a combined 11 of 13 shooters in the skills competition helping the IceRays to a 6-1 record in shootouts this season.
POWER UP
The usually reliable power play for Corpus Christi has faded despite a strong stretch of play in February. The IceRays last power play goal was late in regulation in a 5-2 victory of the Warriors in a game that was already in the hands of Corpus Christi. A man-advantage clicking over 20% most of the season has gone a measly 1-for-19 over the last four games.
Corpus Christi will look to flip the script against a Warriors team which has held them to one power play goal in 21 opportunities in the season series. Meanwhile, the Warriors have torched the IceRays with seven goals on the power play.
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 50th season in 2024-25, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 35 teams in 20 states from North American. For more information, visit the NAHL website at https://nahl.com/
About Hilliard Center
Hilliard Center is Corpus Christi’s premier entertainment and event complex, proudly owned by the City of Corpus Christi and managed by Oak View Group. Named in partnership with Hilliard Law, a firm dedicated to service and community, the waterfront venue features a state-of-the-art arena, the historic Selena Auditorium, and a versatile convention center overlooking the scenic Corpus Christi Bay. With adaptable spaces, complimentary Wi-Fi, and premium food and beverage offerings, Hilliard Center is designed to deliver exceptional experiences as South Texas’ home for live entertainment, conventions, and community gatherings.
Visit HilliardCenter.com and follow the Hilliard Center on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for the latest news and event updates.
About Oak View Group (OVG)
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
