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, October 22: Topeka RoadRunners 3, IceRays 4
Shots: RoadRunners 45, IceRays 20
PP: RoadRunners 1-for-5, IceRays 0-for-1
Three players earned their first NAHL goals as the Corpus Christi IceRays (5-7-1) held off the Topeka RoadRunners (7-8-0), 4-3, on Thursday night at the American Bank Center.
IceRays defenseman Colton Meekhof (15:57 1st) put up his first goal and the game’s first for a 1-0 lead. Forward Regen Cavanagh (2:21 2nd) doubled the IceRays lead, 2-0, on a re-direction play. Topeka forwards Marcus Russell (8:17 2nd) and Dominic Lutz (15:24 2nd) scored the first goals for the road side and tied the game, 2-2. The IceRays bounced back with a quick goal by forward Brad LeLievre (3:31 3rd) to take a 3-2 lead followed by the first of the year for forward Brad Power (10:18 3rd). RoadRunners defenseman John O’Connor (PP, EA, 19:44 3rd) tacked on a late goal with the goalie pulled, but the IceRays claimed the win.
IceRays goaltender Dryden McKay (3-3-1) saved a season-high 42 of 45 shots in the win, and RoadRunners netminder Tyler Johnson (6-4-0) stopped 16 of 20 shots in the loss.
Saturday, October 24: Topeka RoadRunners 2, IceRays 1 (OT)
Shots: RoadRunners 34, IceRays 27
PP: RoadRunners 0-for-3, IceRays 1-for-5
The Corpus Christi IceRays (5-7-2) scored late in the third period but fell 2-1 in overtime to the Topeka RoadRunners (5-7-2) on Saturday night at the American Bank Center on Pink In The Rink.
RoadRunners forward Carlos Fornaris (16:05 1st) put the road team up 1-0 with a loose puck coming right in front of the IceRays' net. With the netminder pulled and on a power play, IceRays forward Mason Krueger (PP, EA, 18:58 3rd) shoved a pass in on a back-door play coming from forward Brad Power to tie the game, 1-1, and send the game into overtime. However, Topeka forward Marcus Russell (4:28 OT) knocked in the game-winner and finalize the score, 2-1.
Topeka netminder Vladimir Cibulka (2-4-0) saved 26 of 27 shots in the win, and IceRays goaltender Graham Hunt (2-4-1) stopped 34 of 36 shots in the loss.
THIS WEEK…
Friday, October 30, 2015 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats – 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, October 31, 2015 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats – 7:05 p.m.
The Corpus Christi IceRays make their first trip of the season to the Texoma Region for a two-game weekend set against the Wichita Falls Wildcats from the Kay Yeager Coliseum. The IceRays were swept at home in their first meetings of the year in the beginning of October and move to 3-6-0 against the Wildcats over the past two seasons. Overall, the IceRays own a 17-25-6 record against the Wildcats including a 5-12-5 record from the Kay Yeager Coliseum over the past six seasons. Last year, the IceRays went 1-3-0 in their road half of the season series.
The Wichita Falls Wildcats earned three of a possible four points on the road last weekend against the Lone Star Brahmas, claiming a 2-1 overtime win on Friday and a 2-1 overtime loss on Saturday from the NYTEX SportsCentre in North Richland Hills, Texas. Goaltender Justin Kapelmaster was one of the stars to lead the way for the Wildcats in net, stopping 40 of 43 shots on the weekend in their overtime win and overtime loss. The other was forward Rourke Russell, who was the only player to register a multi-point weekend with a pair of goals including the game-winner on Friday night. Seven other players recorded points against the Brahmas.
South Division Recap:
The top of the South Division remains unchanged thanks to both the Wichita Falls Wildcats and Lone Star Brahmas claiming three of four points against each other in a weekend series, and it's worth noting that the Wildcats have now recorded points in each of their last 12 games. The Topeka RoadRunners keep their hold of a top-three spot with two points earned during the weekend with the Odessa Jackalopes decreasing the gap thanks to five of a possible six points in their three home games. The gap from the Corpus Christi IceRays does grow by a point despite the IceRays rebounding with three of four points at home against Topeka, and they're three points from a playoff spot. The Amarillo Bulls did salvage two points in a shootout against Odessa on Saturday, but their two previous losses prevents them from gaining any ground on the teams above them.
South Division Standings:
Wichita Falls Wildcats 10-1-2, 2 points
Lone Star Brahmas 7-1-3, 17 points
Topeka RoadRunners 8-8-0, 16 points
Odessa Jackalopes 7-5-1, 15 points
Corpus Christi IceRays 5-7-2, 12 points
Amarillo Bulls 4-9-2, 8 points
ICERAYS BITS…
Despite the loss on Saturday night, the IceRays earned three points against Topeka in a weekend series, the first time that has happened in junior franchise history. Over their last two seasons against the RoadRunners, the IceRays are 3-3-2 and have earned two wins in a single-season for the first time in the last six years. At the American Bank Center, the IceRays are now 2-1-1 in the last two years against the RoadRunners and are the only home wins of record against Topeka.
After dropping three-straight regulation games, the IceRays have recorded points in three-straight games and five of their last eight games, going 3-3-2 in that span. However, the IceRays have still been on the losing side in five of their last six games despite the points run while being outscored 23-10 including a 11-2 spread against the Wildcats in their two meetings. In addition, the team has been held to two goals or less in those five losses while only earning their first four-goal game on Thursday.
IceRays forward Brad Power has been heating up as of late after being paired with Carter Johnson and Brad LeLievre, recording four points (goal, three assists) over his last three games and factoring into the decision in all three games. Of the 18 points recorded over the last three games by IceRays players, the combination of Johnson, LeLievre and Power have notched eight points (44.44%) combined including three of the team's six goals. Power is the only player with an active three-game point streak.
IN THE COMMUNITY…
The IceRays would like to thank the volunteers and donators who helped to contribute to Pink In The Rink on Saturday night. In total, the IceRays received over 30 items in our silent auction and received numerous donations to the cause. Also, the IceRays want to thank the 3,000+ fans that braved the weather on Saturday night to join us for raising awareness to breast cancer. We truly appreciate your support and dedication!
– Defend The Bend –
