ICERAYS SET RECORDS IN 7-6 OVERTIME LOSS

Oct 8, 2016

TOPEKA, KAN. – The Corpus Christi IceRays (4-3-1-2) battled through adversity and a heavily offensive game but fell 7-6 in overtime to the Topeka RoadRunners (5-7-0-0) on Saturday night at the Kansas Expocentre. The IceRays close the three-game weekend with five of a possible six points while setting two junior franchise records.

The IceRays controlled a majority of the first period despite giving up the game’s first goal. At 3:00, RoadRunners forward Jeff Makowski snuck a shot from the blue line through traffic on the power play to put Topeka ahead 1-0. On the IceRays’ first power play, forward David Thomson answered back with a jam in the crease to even the score, 1-1. The IceRays pulled ahead 2-1 at 10:34 when forward Andy McGlynn slipped a shot under the cross bar from in the slot followed by another power play goal, this time by forward Brendan Miller at 16:33 from an additional centering pass to jump to a 3-1 lead. The two teams came together at 19:31 in a full line brawl that sent IceRays defensemen Matthew Acciaioli and Tucker White as well as Topeka netminder Ryan Snowden out of the game.

On the ensuing major power play for Topeka in the second period, forward D.J. Busdeker capitalized at 2:19 to move back within one, 3-2. On the second IceRays power play, RoadRunners forward Marcus Russell earned possession and snapped a shorthanded goal at 6:28 to tie the game 3-3. During the same power play, Thomson cashed in again, this time with a sliding shot in the left circle for his second of the night at 7:13 and an IceRays 4-3 lead. Topeka took back momentum with two quick goals within the next two minutes. At 8:32, Busdeker notched his second followed by the first for forward Marshall Bowery at 9:00 to put the RoadRunners ahead, 5-4.

Scoring picked back up in the third period at 6:38 when IceRays forward Josh Tripp wristed a shot from the right circle on the power play to draw back even, 5-5. Topeka took back the lead, 6-5, at 9:24 on another power play, this time forward Alex Frye scoring from the right circle on a one-time shot. The IceRays sent the game into overtime thanks to forward Nathan Bryer, who scored in his fourth-straight game with a shot from the right side at 15:07, evening the score at 6-6.

In the overtime period, the IceRays dominated possession throughout the first four minutes. However, at 4:46 of overtime, RoadRunners defenseman Matthew Barnes slapped a shot from the left point top shelf to take victory, 7-6. The IceRays went 5-for-10 on the power play, tying a junior franchise-high set on Sep. 27, 2013 against the Lone Star Brahmas as well as a new junior franchise-high in shots with 61, overtaking the mark set the first game in junior franchise history on Sep. 16, 2010 against the Chicago Hitmen.

RoadRunners goaltender Mike Rockwell (3-3-0) picked up the win, halting 35 of 38 shots in 45:29 minutes of relief of Ryan Snowden, who halted 18 of 21 shots through 19:31 minutes. IceRays netminder Camden Burggrabe (0-0-1) grabbed the overtime loss in his NAHL debut, stopping 32 of 39 shots. The IceRays return home and open the 2016-17 home schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 at 7:05 p.m. against the Odessa Jackalopes at the American Bank Center. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, the American Bank Center Box Office, or the IceRays Front Office.

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), Snapchat (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).