ICERAYS WEEKLY

Dec 7, 2015

The IceRays Weekly is a weekly recap and preview of IceRays news, games, and more. The IceRays Weekly will be released every Monday during the 2015-16 season.

LAST WEEK…

Thursday, December 3: IceRays 3, Odessa Jackalopes 2
Shots: IceRays 29, Jackalopes 31
PP: IceRays 0-for-5, Jackalopes 0-for-4

The Corpus Christi IceRays (7-12-3) held off a late pursuit by the Odessa Jackalopes (10-9-3) to claim a 3-2 win on Thursday night at the Ector County Coliseum.

Jackalopes forward Jon Russell (6:46 1st) earned his first Odessa goal and put the home side up 1-0 before two-straight goals from IceRays forwards: Nathan Bryer (10:43 1st) and Mason Krueger (13:20 1st), who both helped to hand the IceRays a 2-1 lead. Just after the end of an IceRays power play, Jackalopes forward Hampus Sjodahl (15:42 1st) knotted the game up, 2-2, with an unassisted goal. IceRays defenseman Colton Meekhof (2:24 2nd) slotted the eventual game-winner fro the blue line, and the IceRays would hold the Jackalopes at bay to win 3-2.

IceRays goaltender Dryden McKay (4-6-1) saved 29 of 31 shots in the win, while Jackalopes netminder Dean Shatzer (4-6-2) halted 26 of 29 shots in the loss.

Friday, December 4: IceRays 5, Odessa Jackalopes 4 (OT)
Shots: IceRays 35, Jackalopes 35
PP: IceRays 1-for-4, Jackalopes 1-for-3

The Corpus Christi IceRays (8-12-3) found their second-straight overtime winner to overtake the Odessa Jackalopes (10-9-3) 5-4 on Friday night at the Ector County Coliseum.

Jackalopes forward Brandon Tucker (2:54 1st) put the home side up first for the second-straight night, but the IceRays pushed back in the period with three unanswered goals thanks to forward Andy McGlynn (3:36 1st; 11:52 1st), who sandwiched a power play tally by forward Brad Power (PP, 9:15 1st) to make it a 3-1 IceRays lead. Jackalopes defenseman Connor Stuart (17:31 1st) brought the game back within one, 3-2, just before the end of the first. Odessa tied the game thanks to forward Eric Carreras (PP, 9:35 2nd) before IceRays forward Regen Cavanagh (17:51 2nd) took back the lead, 4-3. Jackalopes forward Oliver Celec (6:27 3rd) shot a bullet to tie the game and force overtime, however IceRays forward Toby Kircher (3:09 OT) sealed the 5-4 win and the sweep with a backhanded flip down low.

IceRays netminder Graham Hunt (4-6-2) saved 31 of 35 shots in the win. Odessa goalie Gunnar Rivers (6-3-1) was the player of record, saving 25 of 27 shots in 51:17 minutes of relief, while Dean Shatzer stopped five of eight shots in 11:52 played to open the game.

 

 

THIS WEEK…

Friday, December 11 vs. Amarillo Bulls – 7:11 p.m.
Saturday, December 12 vs.
Amarillo Bulls – 7:11 p.m.

The Corpus Christi IceRays return home to the American Bank Center for the first time in December to host a two-game set against the Amarillo Bulls. This weekend begins back-to-back weekend sets against Amarillo trading venues. The IceRays and Bulls have split their four-games so far, each earning a 2-1-1 record and sweeping their two home games. The Bulls own the franchise series, putting the IceRays to a 17-36-1 record as well as a 9-16-1 home record. Over the last two seasons, the IceRays have gone 6-4-2 against Amarillo.
PROMOTIONS: The IceRays host their first of two Grades For Blades Nights, presented by 7-Eleven, on Friday evening. Students from local elementary schools were awarded tickets from their respective schools for good academic leadership, positive impacts on the community, or being a student leader. In addition, the game is a Frosty Friday with one-dollar beer and soda all evening long. Saturday night is City/County Night, presented by Citgo. Legislators and workers for the City of Corpus Christi and Nueces County are invited to the game with complimentary tickets, courtesy of Citgo. The game is also a Corpus Christi Caller-Times Family 4-Pack Night, and fans can purchase four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for just $46.

The Amarillo Bulls played two teams in three games this week, dropping two contests to the Topeka RoadRunners (4-1 on Wednesday and 5-2 on Friday) at the Kansas ExpoCentre and taking down the Lone Star Brahmas 2-1 on Saturday at home from the Amarillo Civic Center. Bulls defenseman Jake Houston led the way with three assists including two in Thursday's loss, while forward Michael Forman was the only Bull to also claim a multi-point week with an assist on Wednesday and a goal on Saturday. In total, eight Bulls put up points in a 1-2-0 week. Anton Martinsson went 1-1-0 while stopping 70 of 75 shots faced, and Jacob Weatherly earned a loss in his lone star while going 41 of 46 in two games against Topeka.

South Division Recap:
The South Division had an odd set of schedules, and the division-leading Wichita Falls Wildcats only played one game this week, a 4-1 victory over the Lone Star Brahmas, who had a struggling week of their own in dropping that contest as well as their Saturday evening game 2-1. The Topeka RoadRunners have now won seven-straight games dating back to November 14 and with their surge have climbed to a share of second place with the Brahmas in the division standings. The Corpus Christi IceRays went on the road and swept the Odessa Jackalopes to even their season series and draw within four of the fourth and final playoff spot a few games before the mid-point of the season. The Amarillo Bulls claimed two points of a possible six thanks to their home win over the Brahmas, snapping a nine-game winless streak.

South Division Standings:
Wichita Falls Wildcats                    21-3-2, 44 points
Topeka RoadRunners                    17-11-0, 34 points

Lone Star Brahmas                        15-4-4, 34 points
Odessa Jackalopes                        10-9-3, 23 points
Corpus Christi IceRays                8-12-3, 19 points
Amarillo Bulls                                6-19-3, 15 points

 

 

IN THE NEWS…

The IceRays announced the signing of forward Trevor St. Jean to a tender contract for the 2016-17 season on Tuesday morning. The 18-year-old appeared in 16 games with the Ohio Blue Jackets of the T1EHL, recording seven goals and eight assists for 15 points with 24 penalty minutes, good for third on the team in scoring. St. Jean was drafted 157th overall (9th Round) by the Minnesota Magicians in the 2015 NAHL Draft and is the son of former professional player and coach Dan St. Jean. He becomes the third player to tender with the IceRays this season, joining forwards Griffin Loughran and Adam Tretowicz of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres U18 of the T1EHL.

 

 

ICERAYS BITS…

The IceRays swept the opposition for just the second time this season and the first since October 2-3 against Amarillo. They scored three or more goals in each of their two games for the first time this year and was also the second time the IceRays also won consecutive games since their home opening weekend. The wins break a seven-game road drought dating back to the NAHL Showcase on Sep. 26 (5-1 L @ Minot). In that span, the IceRays went 0-5-2 in road contests after starting the season 2-1-0. Now, the IceRays are 4-6-2 away from the American Bank Center.

IceRays forwards Regen CavanaghMason Krueger and Andy McGlynn led a resurgent forward core in their sweep over the Jackalopes and powered ahead with points. That line combination earned 10 of the 19 points (52.63%) created this weekend including eight of 12 points just on Friday night alone. Cavanagh led the way with four points (goal, three assists) and factored in to all four regulation goals scored on Saturday. Following a nine-game point drought, McGlynn picked up three points (goal, two assists) and at least one in each games including two goals in the first period on Friday. Krueger also earned three points (goal, two assists) with two assists on Friday night and now has four points in five games.

After a long struggle, the power play is now starting to click at the same point the offense is. The IceRays have scored power play goals in two of their last three games, going 2-for-12 (16.67%) since November 21 and creating numerous chances. This comes following a six-game goal drought and a 19-game goalless streak. The IceRays also broke a goalless drought on Friday against Odessa, earning their first goal on the man-advantage since Jan. 31, 2015 (six games) and going 0-for-13 before Friday night.

 

 

IN THE COMMUNITY…

The IceRays and Stinger Ray will be taking part in the Parade of Lights, sponsored by the City of Portland and Kiwanis Club of Portland, tonight in Portland starting at 6:00 p.m. The IceRays will be walking alongside the IceRays Hummer, which will have Stinger Ray and be decorated in Christmas lights, and handing out tickets for this weekend's games at the American Bank Center. The event is free and open to the public and will begin at the Portland Community Center.

– Defend The Bend –