ICERAYS TRADE SIMON BUTALA TO COULEE REGION

Feb 1, 2016

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) have traded defenseman Simon Butala to the Coulee Region Chill for a 2015-16 tender, the team announced Monday afternoon. The move comes the week leading up to the NAHL trade deadline next Monday.

“It’s a difficult situation with Simon being on the Injured Reserve,” said IceRays head coach John Becanic. “We don’t have an open roster spot with the addition of Cody Lichtenvoort, and he needs to be off the IR by Monday. We wanted to make sure he’s in the best place possible where he can play, and he’s now a lot closer to Cedar Rapids where his USHL rights are. It’s an unfortunate situation that we’re trying to make the best out of for the team.”

Butala, 17, appeared in 14 games with the IceRays this season, recording five assists with 22 penalty minutes and a -6 rating. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman was drafted 182nd overall (11th Round) in the 2015 NAHL Entry Draft. The Downingtown, Penn., native joined the IceRays in October after starting the season in the United States Hockey League (USHL), appearing in two games with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders before being reassigned to the IceRays.

The IceRays return to the American Bank Center on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7:11 p.m. to begin a three-game set against the Lone Star Brahmas. 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).