CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (5-7-1) snapped a four-game losing skid with a 4-3 win over the Topeka RoadRunners (7-8-0) on Thursday night at the American Bank Center.
The IceRays scored the first goal of the game late in the first period at 15:57 when defenseman Colton Meekhof juked by a RoadRunners player for an open shot in the slot for his first of the year and a 1-0 lead. The goal is his first of his North American Hockey League (NAHL) career. Topeka outpaced the IceRays 13-6 in the frame and kept ahead from that point.
However, the lead doubled, 2-0, at 2:21 of the second period when defenseman Michael Bevilacqua ripped a shot from the blue line that touched off the stick of forward Regen Cavanagh, who made his first appearance off the injured reserve list for his first NAHL goal. The RoadRunners answered back as the period progressed. Forward Marcus Russell found a large rebound in the left circle and slotted the puck into the top-right corner at 8:17 to cut the lead in half, 2-1. Topeka forward Dominic Lutz also took advantage of a rebound, this one after his own initial shot at 15:24 to tie the game, 2-2.
Early in the third period at 3:31, the IceRays found a connection with two first names: forward Brad LeLievre jammed home a chance in the crease created by Brad Power to push the IceRays ahead, 3-2. Just past midway through the period at 10:18, Power benefitted from a pass by LeLievre to set up his first NAHL goal and a 4-2 lead. After a late penalty on the IceRays and with the netminder pulled, Topeka defenseman John O’Connor slotted a puck just under the crossbar at 19:44 to draw within one, 4-3, but the IceRays held on to claim the win.
IceRays goaltender Dryden McKay (3-3-1) earned the win, stopping 42 of 45 shots, while Topeka netminder Tyler Johnson (6-4-0) grabbed the loss, saving 16 of 20 shots. The IceRays close out their weekend set against the Topeka RoadRunners on Saturday, October 24 at 7:05 p.m. on Pink In The Rink night, presented by AutoNation, Drive Pink, Radiology & Imaging, and South Texas Surgical.. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com, the American Bank Center Box Office, or by calling 361-814-PUCK.
Contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK or go to www.goicerays.com for details on season tickets along with pricing and seating. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
