ICERAYS TAKE DOWN AMARILLO IN SHOOTOUT

Jan 6, 2012

AMARILLO, TX – The Corpus Christi IceRays took down the top team in the NAHL in comeback fashion on Saturday night defeating Amarillo 3-2.

The IceRays got off to a much better start in this game putting up eleven shots in the first period and also taking the lead after 20 minutes of play.  Chris Taff took a pass from Joe Smereck in the high slot and fired it past Amarillo goaltender Gregg Gruehl on the blocker side to give Corpus Christi a 1-0 lead with just 2:48 left in the first period.

There was no scoring in the second period however both teams traded several scoring chances.

Amarillo came out flying in the third period and tied the game 6:35 into the final period off the stick of Karl Beckman.  He took a pass on the power-play scoring to tie the game 1-1.

Brooks Behling gave the Bulls the lead 0:34 seconds later as he went in taking a shot on net.  Anthony Stolarz made the original save however Behling picked up his own rebound and fired it into the net giving Amarillo the 2-1 lead.

The IceRays pressured late in the game and it paid off.  Travis Maxwell picked up a pass at the point and shot it through the screen beating Gregg Gruehl to tie the game with only 2:08 left in the game.

In overtime, no goals were scored and a shootout followed.

Danny Fetzer started with a goal in the five-round shootout to take a 1-0 lead.  There was no scoring until the fourth round when the Bulls tied it and forced a sudden death shootout.  Dmitry Ermakov gave the IceRays the lead in the eighth round, and Anthony Stolarz stopped the Bulls final attempt to give Corpus Christi the 3-2 win.

The IceRays are on home ice this Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.  Puck drops at 7:05PM on Thursday against Odessa, coverage begins at 6:50PM with the IceRays Pregame Show on ESPN Radio 1440AM. 

Stay current with the latest team news by visiting www.goicerays.com.  In addition stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/corpuschristiicerays), Twitter (@goicerays), and the team’s Youtube channel ICERAYS TV (@goicerays)

“THE NEW ICERAYS…TOMORROW’S STARS”