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 2016-17 season.
LAST WEEK…
Friday, March 3: Wichita Falls Wildcats 4, IceRays 3 (OT)
Shots: Wildcats 33, IceRays 37
PP: Wildcats 0-for-2, IceRays 0-for-1
The Corpus Christi IceRays (25-15-3-3) saw a two goal lead evaporate in the third period leading to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Wichita Falls Wildcats (27-15-3-2) on Friday night from the American Bank Center.
Despite conceding an early power play, IceRays forward Brad Power (SH, 4:55 1st) opened the scoring with a breakaway goal to take an early advantage before Wildcats forward Nick Rosa (6:53 1st) tied the game, 1-1, on a rebound chance. IceRays centers David Thomson (14:28 1st) and Mason Krueger (19:24 1st) broke back open the lead to 3-1 with two chances down low. After a scoreless second period, the Wildcats made their push starting with a wrist shot from forward C.J. Regula (8:35 3rd) to draw within one and followed by another from Rosa (EA, 18:49 3rd) to send the game into overtime tied at 3-3. In the extra period, Wildcats forward C.J. Walker (2:41 OT) sealed the comeback with a wraparound goal in the back half.
Wildcats goaltender Jared Dempsey (13-5-1) stopped 34 of 37 shots in the win, while IceRays netminder Camden Burggrabe (9-4-2) halted 29 of 33 shots in the overtime loss.
Saturday, March 4: Wichita Falls Wildcats 2, IceRays 7
Shots: Wildcats 30, IceRays 34
PP: Wildcats 0-for-3, IceRays 0-for-6
The Corpus Christi IceRays (26-15-3-3) scored a season-high seven goals en route to a 7-2 victory over the Wichita Falls Wildcats (27-16-3-2) on Saturday night from the American Bank Center.
IceRays defenseman Cody Fleckenstein (2:10 1st) started the scoring with a floater from the right point to take a 1-0 lead. IceRays forward Garrett Hallford (4:36 2nd) converted on a 2-on-1 rush to double the lead, 2-0, before Wildcats forwards Jeff Skinner (7:30 2nd) and Ryan Burnett (9:20 2nd) rallied to knot the game at 2-2. Just over one minute later, IceRays forward Nathan Bryer (10:32 2nd) tucked in a rebound chance to take the 3-2 edge into the third period. From there, IceRays forwards David Baskerville (7:32 3rd), Jayson DiMizio (10:11 3rd), David Thomson (14:22 3rd) and Bryer (18:53 3rd) poured on the finishing blows in the 7-2 win.
IceRays netminder Tomáš Vomáčka (15-11-3) halted 28 of 30 shots in the win, while Wildcats goaltender Jared Dempsey (13-6-1) stopped 27 of 34 shots in the loss.
THIS WEEK…
Thursday, March 9 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats – 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 10 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats – 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 11 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats – 7:05 p.m.
The Corpus Christi IceRays continue their five-game stretch against the Wichita Falls Wildcats in their final trip to the Kay Yeager Coliseum this season. The IceRays broke a five-game losing skid against the Wildcats dating back to their other win on September 15, however the Wildcats still have an opportunity to claim at least a share of the season series with a win in their last five meetings. The IceRays are 2-4-1-0 this season against the Wildcats but hold a 22-35-7 record all-time as well as a 6-20-5 record at the Kay Yeager Coliseum.
South Division Outlook:
The Lone Star Brahmas earned wins in two of three home games against the Amarillo Bulls to inch closer to clinching the South Division title, now sitting seven points away. The team just below them, the Shreveport Mudbugs, took possession of second place with a two-game sweep of the Odessa Jackalopes to finish a home-and-home series. The Corpus Christi IceRays now sit one point back of third place with three of four points against the team above them, the Wichita Falls Wildcats. The Topeka RoadRunners split their non-divisional meeting with the Springfield Jr. Blues, but in the process have been eliminated from playoff contention.
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | PCT | L10 |
| x-LONE STAR BRAHMAS | 53 | 39 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 79 | .745 | 5-5-0-0 |
| SHREVEPORT MUDBUGS | 47 | 28 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 60 | .638 | 6-3-1-1 |
| WICHITA FALLS WILDCATS | 48 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 59 | .615 | 4-5-0-1 |
| CORPUS CHRISTI ICERAYS | 47 | 26 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 58 | .617 | 8-0-2-0 |
| ODESSA JACKALOPES | 48 | 18 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 42 | .438 | 3-5-1-1 |
| AMARILLO BULLS | 48 | 16 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 40 | .417 | 3-7-0-0 |
| TOPEKA ROADRUNNERS | 50 | 16 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 37 | .370 | 3-5-2-0 |
ICERAYS BITS…
The IceRays closed their eight-game home stand with a strong showing, earning points in all eight games with a 6-0-2-0 record. With that stretch, the IceRays have not only boosted above .500 at home and 11 games above .500 on the season but also extend their point run to a season-best 11 games beginning on January 28. On top of that, the IceRays have earned points in 19 of their last 21 games since December 10 and wins in 16 of those contests.
The seven goals scored by the IceRays on Saturday night is a season-best for this season, eclipsing the previous high of six goals set four different times this season, most recently on February 16. Their last seven-goal output came on Jan. 30, 2015 against Odessa in a 7-3 victory, and in that season the IceRays scored seven or more goals three times. The IceRays have scored seven or more goals now 16 times in junior franchise history with the first being the highest total on record: Mar. 20, 2011 in Amarillo (10-3 W).
IceRays forward Brendan Miller had a career game on Saturday night, slotting four assists in the team’s 7-2 win. That’s the highest single-game total of his career and just his third multi-point game of his NAHL career. It’s also the third time in three weeks that an IceRays player earned a four-point game, joining forwards Brad Power (1+4=5) and Mason Krueger (1+3=4) on February 16 against Topeka. Miller is now three points away from tying his career-high point total.
