RAYS REPORT #17: ICERAYS TAKE ALL SIX POINTS

Jan 17, 2012

The Corpus Christi IceRays come off arguably their best weekend of the season so far sweeping the Odessa Jackalopes Thursday and Friday night.  Then on Sunday afternoon, the Tornado came into town and the IceRays beat them as well 4-1 in front of a big crowd inside the American Bank Center.  Corpus Christi took all six possible points this weekend as they ride a four game winning streak heading into this weekend against Wichita Falls.      

GAME #1 – 01-12-12: Corpus Christi 2-1 (SO) Odessa – Coming into these two games against the Odessa Jackalopes it was known that it would most likely be a low scoring goaltending battle and that theory proved correct in the first game on Thursday night.  After no scoring through 20 minutes of play the IceRays forced a turnover and a 3-on-1 rush.  Brandon Smith picked up the rebound and beat Connor Hellebuyck for a 1-0 lead.  Then 5:24 later, Josh Obregon tied the game scoring his first goal in the American Bank Center after being traded to Odessa.  In the shootout, Zachary Lindsay scored in the fourth round and Dmitry Ermakov capped off a shootout win beating Hellebuyck for a 2-1 final. 

 

GAME #2 – 01-13-12: Corpus Christi 3-0 Odessa In the final game of the series Corpus Christi scooped up their second shutout win of the year sweeping the Jackalopes with a 3-0 victory on Friday night.  Like the night before, there was no goals scored in the first period, however Beau Walker scored a power-play goal 10:53 into the second period for a 1-0 lead.   Zachary Lindsay scored his first of two goals just 0:44 seconds into period three increasing the lead to two goals.  Lindsay’s second goal came with 5:43 left in the game for a 3-0 win.  Anthony Stolarz was brilliant between the pipes stopping all 40 shots he faced. 

 

GAME #3 – 01-15-12: Corpus Christi 4-1 TexasThe IceRays played their third game in four days this time against the Texas Tornado who Corpus Christi beat handily 6-1 last Thursday night in Frisco, Texas.  The IceRays got off to another hot start off the stick of Joe Ginley 10:13 into the game to take a 1-0 advantage over the Tornado.  Texas tied the game however on the power-play as Jordan Lovick beat Anthony Stolarz for an unassisted goal 4:39 into the middle period.  The IceRays got a power-play strike of their own just 2:10 after Lovick scored.  Beau Walker took a shot from the point; Perry D’Arrisso fired it past Joakim Jutras taking the lead for good.  Michael Dery scored on a wrap-around to start the third period for a 3-1 lead and then Zachary Lindsay fed Joe Smereck with a pass on a 2-on-1 to lead 4-1 with 12:44 to go in the game.  On the next face-off a line brawl occurred resulting in 77 penalty minutes.  Stolarz stopped 33 of 34 shots in the win that was the IceRays fourth in a row.

 

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:
Thursday January 26th

            Buy One Get One Free – Buy one ticket, get another for free!

Friday January 27th

            – Frosty Friday – Half off 20-ounce domestic beer and 24-ounce soda. 

AROUND THE SOUTH DIVISION:
                       

 

Team

GP

W

L

OTL

PTS

WPCT

GF

GA

PIM

HOME

AWAY

Amarillo

40

30

3

7

67

.838

174

94

938

13-1-4

17-2-3

Texas

40

24

10

6

54

.675

143

108

872

14-4-3

10-6-3

Topeka

38

25

11

2

52

.684

127

98

808

12-5-1

13-6-1

Corpus Christi

36

18

16

2

38

.528

107

107

813

12-6-2

6-10-0

Odessa

35

12

18

5

29

.414

71

107

681

9-10-1

3-8-4

Wichita Falls

38

12

23

3

27

.355

94

129

706

7-8-1

5-15-2

New Mexico

37

12

23

2

26

.351

106

168

693

8-11-1

4-12-1

CORPUS CHRISTI’S RECORDS AGAINST THE SOUTH:

AMARILLO: 2-3-0
NEW MEXICO: 4-2-0
TEXAS: 5-2-0
TOPEKA: 0-2-0
WICHITA FALLS: 2-4-0
ODESSA: 3-2-0

 

ICERAYS LEADERS:

GOALS: Eric Purcell – 13
ASSISTS: Beau Walker – 19
POINTS: Beau Walker – 26
PLUS/MINUS: Travis Maxwell – +6
PENALTY MINUTES: Ladislav Hruska – 94min
SHOTS: Beau Walker – 118
WINS: Anthony Stolarz – 15
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: Anthony Stolarz, 2.38
SAVE PERCENTAGE: Anthony Stolarz, .929

WINNING STREAK…With the 4-1 win over Texas on Sunday afternoon, the IceRays have now won four straight games, including three this past weekend. 

HONORED…With the big weekend in net, Anthony Stolarz was honored by the NAHL with the Combat Hockey three stars of the week for the second time this year.  Stolarz picked up the second star. 

PULLING AWAY…After sweeping the Jackalopes, Corpus Christi is now nine points in front of fifth place Odessa for the final playoff spot in the South Division.

ANOTHER TENDER SIGNED…The IceRays signed goaltender William Christopoulos to a tender deal for next weekend.  Christopoulos plays for the Chicago Young Americans U18. 

ON THE ROAD…Corpus Christi takes to the road again this weekend as they take on the Wichita Falls Wildcats Friday and Saturday night.

WHAT’S ON TAP…  Corpus Christi visits Wichita Falls this upcoming weekend to battle the Wildcats at 7:05PM.  The IceRays return home next weekend to take the ice with the Wildcats on Thursday and Friday night.  Fans can listen to all the action with the voice of the IceRays, Rob Lippolis, beginning 15 minutes prior to the games on the Rays flagship station, ESPN Radio 1440AM.  The game is available for free online at www.espncorpus.comor on the league’s pay-per-view website, www.fasthockey.com.  Be sure to get your tickets now by calling the IceRays front office at 361.814.PUCK (7825) or crash the net at www.goicerays.com.

                               “THE NEW ICERAYS…TOMORROW’S STARS”