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, November 11: IceRays 1, Lone Star Brahmas 3
Shots: IceRays 28, Brahmas 30
PP: IceRays 0-for-2, Brahmas 1-for-5
The Corpus Christi IceRays (8-7-1-2) ran into penalty trouble in the third period, quelling a comeback during their 3-1 loss to the Lone Star Brahmas (15-3-1-0) on Friday night from the NYTEX Sports Centre.
Brahmas forward Austin O’Rourke (8:14 1st) opened the scoring for the home side from the high slot to take a 1-0 lead. The IceRays answered back later in the frame with the first NAHL goal by forward Cole Gammer (13:58 1st) to tie the game, 1-1. Before the end of the frame, Brahmas forward Carson Kelley (18:41 1st) edged the home team ahead 2-1 with a re-direction in front of the net. After a tight second period and penalties setting back the IceRays in the third period, Brahmas forward Drake Glover (PP, 12:20 3rd) added insurance to their eventual 3-1 win.
Brahmas netminder Alec Calvaruso (7-1-0) halted 27 of 28 shots in the win, while IceRays goaltender Tomáš Vomáčka (4-7-1) stopped 27 of 30 shots in the loss.
Friday, November 11: IceRays 1, Lone Star Brahmas 2
Shots: IceRays 21, Brahmas 31
PP: IceRays 1-for-6, Brahmas 1-for-6
The Corpus Christi IceRays (8-8-1-2) held strong with the Lone Star Brahmas (16-3-1-0) but came up just short in a 2-1 loss on Saturday night at the NYTEX Sports Centre.
After a physical, gritty first period, scoring picked up in the second frame thanks to Brahmas defenseman Blake Evennou (PP, 15:08 2nd) on a shot at the blue line to take a 1-0 lead. Brahmas forward Justin Addamo (4:05 3rd) doubled the lead, 2-0, with a second chance shot before the IceRays were able to make a mark, eventually coming from forward Josh Tripp (PP, 7:38 3rd) to cut the lead to 2-1. The Brahmas were turned away on a penalty shot by Carson Kelley (10:51 3rd) but kept their lead and the win.
Brahmas goaltender Erik Gordon (9-0-0) stopped 20 of 21 shots in the win, while IceRays netminder Camden Burggrabe (3-1-1) halted 29 of 31 shots in the loss.
THIS WEEK…
Friday, November 18 vs. Lone Star Brahmas – 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, November 19 vs. Lone Star Brahmas – 7:05 p.m.
The Corpus Christi IceRays and Lone Star Brahmas continue their four-game stretch at the American Bank Center for their first meetings in the Coastal Bend this season. The Brahmas have the first two games of the 11-game series, just outpacing the IceRays 5-2 in goals. Though the IceRays remain 12-14-4 in their fourth season of the franchise series, their home record is stronger than their road side, going 9-4-1 despite owning a 2-3-1 record last season.
Promotions:
FRIDAY: The IceRays welcome local elementary and middle schools to help promote healthy living and prevent tobacco use with the Great American Smokeout Game, presented by the Tobacco Prevention & Control Coalition (TPCC). The game is also a Tride Rideshare Frosty Friday with $1 beer and soda during the game. Fans can receive $5 off the Tride Passenger app by using promo code “icerays” for a safe fare to and/or from the arena.
SATURDAY: The IceRays honor local military and first responders with the 9th annual Stars & Stripes Night, presented by Whataburger and First Title Company. The IceRays will wear special military-themed jerseys for the weekend set which will be auctioned off to the public in the Eddie Jackson, New York Life Post-Game Jersey Auction. All members of the military will gain free entrance to the game with the presentation of a military I.D. at the American Bank Center Box Office.
South Division Outlook:
While the South Division remains tightly contested throughout the standings, the Lone Star Brahmas broadened their lead to 12 points last weekend with a two-game sweep of the Corpus Christi IceRays on home ice. The Wichita Falls Wildcats leaped to third place last weekend with back-to-back overtime wins over the Amarillo Bulls, who now remain winless in nine-straight games. The Odessa Jackalopes took three of a possible four points last weekend at home over the Shreveport Mudbugs with an overtime loss and regulation win. The Topeka RoadRunners slipped to seventh in an idle weekend.
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | PCT | L10 |
| LONE STAR BRAHMAS | 20 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33 | .825 | 9-1-0-0 |
| SHREVEPORT MUDBUGS | 17 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 21 | .618 | 7-3-0-0 |
| WICHITA FALLS WILDCATS | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 20 | .625 | 7-3-0-0 |
| CORPUS CHRISTI ICERAYS | 19 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 19 | .500 | 4-5-1-0 |
| AMARILLO BULLS | 20 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 18 | .450 | 1-4-5-0 |
| ODESSA JACKALOPES | 18 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 17 | .472 | 3-6-1-0 |
| TOPEKA ROADRUNNERS | 19 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .421 | 3-5-1-1 |
ICERAYS BITS…
Saturday night’s game against the Brahmas ended a four-game scoreless streak on the power play with a goal in the third period. It’s the first time since October 28 that the team scored on the man-advantage, breaking a 0-for-10 stretch including the first two periods of Saturday’s game. The IceRays are scoreless on the power play in six of their last eight games with an opportunity, going 4-for-26 (15.38%) in that span.
Defense and goaltending has been a strong suit for the IceRays running toward the middle portion of the season. Since returning to the American Bank Center on October 14, the IceRays have kept opponents to three or fewer goals in eight of their last nine games including in five-straight games, conceding an average of 1.89 goals per game. However, the team has conceded 30+ shots in seven of their last nine games while only doing it themselves four times and just outpacing in goals with 2.22 per game.
