Chayse Laurie Matches Career High Four Point Weekend
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The Corpus Christi IceRays (7-2-0, 14 PTS) returned from a bye week with a weekend split against El Paso, winning five of their first six meetings against the Rhinos. IceRays forward Chayse Laurie recorded three goals and four points in the two games, matching a career high he set last season in two games against Odessa.
Saturday night came down to mistakes and execution, as the Rhinos edged out the IceRays 2-1, with both goals coming on special teams. A power-play goal from El Paso opened the scoring in the first period before Laurie scored his first goal of the weekend on a setup from defenseman Liam McGuern. The IceRays rearguard has collected five points in his first nine games this season, putting him on pace to surpass the career-high eight points he recorded last year.
With the game hanging in the balance in the final period, a mistake by Corpus Christi on the power play resulted in a shorthanded goal for the Rhinos. The IceRays made a late push but suffered their second consecutive loss by a score of 2-1.
Corpus Christi was determined to finish the weekend strong on Sunday at the Hilliard Center, looking for a bounce-back victory. Las Vegas native Laurie led the charge with a pair of goals in the IceRays 5-1 win. His linemate, Justin Thibault, assisted on both goals, matching Laurie’s three-point performance on the night. After failing to convert on three opportunities the previous night, the IceRays scored two power-play goals, courtesy of Laurie and Michael Azzarone.
The IceRays entered the final frame with a 3-1 lead and completely shut down the Rhinos attack, holding them to just two shots over the final 20 minutes. IceRays forward Thomas Duhamel and defenseman Dylan Chabrier each scored their first goal of the season in the third period to put an exclamation point on the evening.
Corpus Christi finds itself in sole possession of third place in the South Division with 14 points, one month into the season. The IceRays next opponent, the Shreveport Mudbugs, has separated itself from the pack with 19 points to lead the division. Lone Star follows with 15 points after splitting its series with New Mexico. Odessa sits in fourth place with 12 points, followed by Oklahoma, El Paso, Amarillo, and New Mexico, each with six points. The Houston Bulls round out the division with four points but have played just seven games so far.
The IceRays head to George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum for the first time this season for a weekend series against the Mudbugs. Game one is set for Friday, October 16, with the series finale scheduled for Saturday, October 17. Puck drop is set for 7:11 p.m. CT both nights. Catch all the action on NAHLTV.
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.
