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…
Tuesday, May 2: Lone Star Brahmas 1, IceRays 4
Shots: Brahmas 35, IceRays 24
PP: Brahmas 0-for-1, IceRays 0-for-0
The Corpus Christi IceRays (5-0-1) held strong defensively to a tight lead, adding insurance late to claim a 4-1 win over the Lone Star Brahmas (4-2-0) on Tuesday night at Dr. Pepper StarCenter.
Despite being outshot 13-4 in the first period, IceRays forward Griffin Loughran (2:46 2nd) took a slap shot from the neutral zone that knuckled under the netminder for the opening goal. Loughran (2:25 3rd) doubled the lead, 2-0, with a steal and wraparound from the Brahmas goaltender. Brahmas forward Troy York (8:03 3rd) broke the goal drought with a one-time shot from the left circle to cut the lead in half, 2-1. With the opposing goaltender pulled, IceRays center Mason Krueger (EN, 18:59 3rd) and forward Cole Gammer (EN, 19:46 3rd) added insurance goals late to earn the 4-1 win.
IceRays netminder Tomáš Vomáčka (5-0-1) stopped 34 of 35 shots in the win. Brahmas goaltender Alec Calvaruso turned away eight of nine shots in 26:45 minutes, but Max Prawdzik (4-2-0) picked up the loss in relief, halting 12 of 13 shots in 32:57 minutes.
Wednesday, May 3: Lone Star Brahmas 3, IceRays 2 (OT)
Shots: Brahmas 33, IceRays 26
PP: Brahmas 0-for-2, IceRays 1-for-1
The Corpus Christi IceRays (5-0-2) lost another third period lead and fell 3-2 in overtime to the Lone Star Brahmas (5-2-0) in Game 4 of the South Division Final on Wednesday at Dr. Pepper StarCenter.
Brahmas forward Pete Kessel (7:08 2nd) broke through after a scoreless first period to take a 1-0 lead. IceRays center Mason Krueger (7:58 2nd; PP, 10:40 2nd) answered back with a rebound off a faceoff draw as well as a re-direction on a point shot on the powerplay to take the 2-1 lead. Brahmas forward Carson Kelley (6:00 3rd) found the game-tying goal in the final frame to send the game to overtime, 2-2. Less than one minute in, Brahmas forward Drake Glover (0:32 OT) found a fortunate bounce off a teammate’s stick into an open net to force Game 5 thanks to a 3-2 overtime win.
Brahmas goaltender Max Prawdzik (5-2-0) halted 24 of 26 shots in the win, while IceRays netminder Tomáš Vomáčka (5-0-2) stopped 30 of 33 shots in the overtime loss.
Saturday, May 6: IceRays 0, Lone Star Brahmas 1 (OT)
Shots: IceRays 15, Brahmas 35
PP: IceRays 0-for-0, Brahmas 0-for-1
The Corpus Christi IceRays (5-0-3) went to the wire in a true goaltending battle but lost 1-0 in overtime to the Lone Star Brahmas (6-2-0) on Saturday night from the NYTEX Sports Centre for Game 5 of the South Division Final, eliminating them from the playoffs.
Despite the intensity and weight of the game, both sides proved strong defensively throughout the contest and had 46 combined shots in regulation turned away, including 31 shots by the Brahmas. The IceRays nearly had one early in the third period but was called back due to an offside call. In overtime, Brahmas forward Troy York (4:50 OT) snapped a shot from the left circle that crossed the line for the 1-0 result and the end of the series.
Brahmas goaltender Max Prawdzik (6-2-0) halted all 15 shots faced in the win, while IceRays netminder Tomáš Vomáčka (5-0-3) stopped 34 of 35 shots in the overtime loss.
THIS WEEK…
The Corpus Christi IceRays close the book on the 2016-17 season with exit interviews, a final banquet and player departure. However, the organization now begins its preparation for the 2017-18 season, turning its attention to the upcoming 2017 IceRays Pre-Draft Camps and the 2017 NAHL Draft. More information on the banquet will be released later today. Information on camps are available at goicerays.com/pre-draft-camps.
South Division Finals (Best-of-Five):
#1 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #3 Corpus Christi IceRays
Brahmas Won Series 3-2
Game 1: IceRays @ Brahmas – LSB wins 4-3 (OT)
Game 2:IceRays @ Brahmas – COR wins 3-0
Game 3: Brahmas @ IceRays – COR wins 4-1
Game 4: Brahmas @ IceRays – LSB wins 3-2 (OT)
Game 5: IceRays @ Brahmas – LSB wins 1-0 (OT)
South Division Semifinals (Best-of-Five):
#1 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #4 Wichita Falls Wildcats
Brahmas Won Series 3-0
Game 1: Wildcats @ Brahmas – LSB wins 3-0
Game 2: Wildcats @ Brahmas – LSB wins 3-0
Game 3: Brahmas @ Wildcats – LSB wins 4-3 (OT)
#2 Shreveport Mudbugs vs. #3 Corpus Christi IceRays
IceRays Won Series 3-0
Game 1: IceRays @ Mudbugs – COR wins 2-0
Game 2: IceRays @ Mudbugs – COR wins 5-3
Game 3: Mudbugs @ IceRays – COR wins 2-1 (OT)
The Robertson Cup Finals will take place this weekend in Duluth, Minn., and the Lone Star Brahmas will enter the tournament as the South Division representative and the 3-seed in the best-of-three Robertson Cup Semifinals against the 2-seed Janesville Jets from the Midwest Division. The top-seed Aston Rebels will play either the Minnesota Wilderness or Aberdeen Wings in the semifinals. The winner of those two will meet on Sunday for the one-game final to determine the Robertson Cup Champion.
ICERAYS NEWS…
The IceRays will be hosting their annual Year-End Season Ticket Holder Banquet tomorrow night at a time and location to be named later. The IceRays will be releasing that information this afternoon in advance of the event.
ICERAYS BITS…
The IceRays closed the book on the most successful season overall in franchise history. Starting with the regular season, the team’s 32-19-4-5 record was the best in junior franchise history for wins, points (73) and win percentage (.608). The win percentage is also the second-best in 19 years of the franchise, only behind the 1998-99 inaugural season (.623). In the playoffs, the IceRays became the first team in junior franchise history to win a series and more than one game. For the entire franchise, the IceRays earned the best record (5-0-3, .813), most wins and highest win percentage. The team surpassed their previous win total and record (4-5-3, .458) set in the 2007 CHL Playoffs. They were the second team to earn a first-round win and first to push an opponent to the brink of elimination in the second-round in franchise history.
