Corpus Christi Takes Six of Eight Meetings Against Shreveport
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The Corpus Christi IceRays (25-19-5, 4th) saw their five-game winning streak come to an end Saturday night with a 4-1 loss to the Shreveport Mudbugs (21-18-8, 6th) at George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum. Despite the setback, Corpus Christi claimed the season series, winning six of the eight meetings between the two clubs.
IceRays Head Coach Kevin St. Jacques reflected on the loss afterward.
“We had a good start and generated some quality looks early, but we didn’t sustain that pressure for a full 60 minutes,” he said. “Against a team like Shreveport, if you let momentum swing, they’ll make you pay. I liked our compete level in stretches, especially on the penalty kill, but we need to be more consistent and sharper with the puck.”
Corpus Christi came out strong in the opening period, testing Mudbugs goaltender Ethan Phillips with a flurry of shots in the first five minutes. Phillips stood tall, turning aside all 10 IceRays shots he faced in the period. Shreveport weathered the early pressure and shifted momentum midway through the frame, breaking through with the game’s first goal.
Following an errant IceRays pass, Ryan Baert capitalized on a feed from Evan Adams and slipped a shot through the five-hole of Corpus Christi netminder Gavin Melcher to give the Mudbugs a 1-0 lead. Shreveport continued to gain momentum and earned a four-minute power play late in the period after drawing a high-sticking double minor. The IceRays penalty kill held firm, limiting the damage and keeping the deficit at one heading into the intermission.
Offensive opportunities were harder to come by for Corpus Christi in the second period as Shreveport defended aggressively in front of Phillips. Still trailing midway through the game, the IceRays found a spark thanks to strong defensive play from Colin Watson, which ignited an odd-man rush. Alexandr Skuratov led the charge and dropped the puck to Nick Evans, whose shot deflected off Phillips pad and landed on the stick of Cooper Anderson. Anderson buried the rebound for his first career NAHL goal, tying the game at 1-1.
The tie was short-lived. Just 29 seconds later, Liam Wolf-Taulbee responded for Shreveport to restore the Mudbugs’ lead at 2-1. Corpus Christi had a power-play opportunity soon after but was unable to convert. Shreveport’s top line struck again before the break when Jeremiah Roberts cleaned up a rebound and fired it past Melcher, sending the Mudbugs into the second intermission with a 3-1 advantage.
Shreveport continued to clamp down defensively in the third period, limiting Corpus Christi to just three shots in the first 10 minutes. Frustration led to a handful of IceRays penalties, but the penalty kill remained perfect on the night, finishing a combined 8-for-8 across the weekend series.
Phillips proved unbeatable the rest of the way, finishing with 28 saves. Corpus Christi pulled Melcher late in regulation in a final push, but Remy Pusateri sealed the win for Shreveport with an empty-net goal to make it 4-1.
IceRays head coach reflected on the loss afterward.
“We had a good start and generated some quality looks early, but we didn’t sustain that pressure for a full 60 minutes,” he said. “Against a team like Shreveport, if you let momentum swing, they’ll make you pay. I liked our compete level in stretches, especially on the penalty kill, but we need to be more consistent and sharper with the puck.”
The IceRays will look to regroup as they continue their push toward the postseason.
NEXT SERIES
- Win a Truck Promo – March 6th Game
- Presented by AutoNation Chevrolet South Corpus Christi
- Fans who purchase a ticket to the game by March 4th are automatically entered to be selected to win
- Season Tickets Holders are automatically entered
- Select Participants will be randomly selected and notified on March 5th
- Must be 18 years of Age to qualify
- STEM Night – March 7th Game
- Presented by Gulf Coast Growth Ventures
- Students wearing school spirit shirts get in FREE
- 1000 Fidget Giveaway Items
- Robotics Exhibition on the concourse
- Hands-On STEM Table
GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW
Tickets start at just $5! Student and Active Military Tickets are available at the Hilliard Center Box Office with valid ID.
Grab yours now at www.goicerays.com, on Ticketmaster, or at the Hilliard Center box office
About Corpus Christi IceRays: The Corpus Christi IceRays, a member of the North American Hockey League playing out of the Hilliard Center in downtown Corpus Christi, TX. For more information or for all your ticketing needs, contact the IceRays Front Office at (361)-814-PUCK or visit www.GoIceRays.com . You can also follow the team through their social media platforms: Facebook @goicerays, Instagram @iceraysnahl, and Twitter @iceraysnahl
About North American Hockey League: Celebrating its 50th season in 2024-25, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 35 teams in 20 states from North American. For more information, visit the NAHL website at https://nahl.com/
About Hilliard Center
Hilliard Center is Corpus Christi’s premier entertainment and event complex, proudly owned by the City of Corpus Christi and managed by Oak View Group. Named in partnership with Hilliard Law, a firm dedicated to service and community, the waterfront venue features a state-of-the-art arena, the historic Selena Auditorium, and a versatile convention center overlooking the scenic Corpus Christi Bay. With adaptable spaces, complimentary Wi-Fi, and premium food and beverage offerings, Hilliard Center is designed to deliver exceptional experiences as South Texas’ home for live entertainment, conventions, and community gatherings.
Visit HilliardCenter.com and follow the Hilliard Center on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for the latest news and event updates.
About Oak View Group (OVG)
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
