RAYS’ REPORT #22: ICERAYS TAKE 3 OF 4 POINTS; ODESSA UPCOMING

Feb 20, 2012

The Corpus Christi IceRays scooped up three of four possible points this past weekend pulling away from the Odessa Jackalopes, who the IceRays face this upcoming Friday and Saturday night in two pivotal games.  Thursday night saw Corpus Christi shutout the Mustangs 3-0 for their third shutout of the year.  Friday night however, New Mexico completed a comeback win in a shootout to split the weekend series.   

GAME #1 – 02-16-12: Corpus Christi 3-0 New MexicoZach Holstrom would score his first goal on Friday night, however, he continued to impress on a great setup pass right onto the stick of Zachary Lindsay for a 1-0 IceRays lead just 2:04 into the game and Corpus Christi did not look back from there.  Brandon Smith notched his first marker of the night at the 9:04 point of period one.  After a pass from Zach Tatrn, Smith went upstairs on Mustangs goaltender Jake Stafford to put the IceRays ahead by two.  After no scoring in the second period, Brandon Smith forked up a rebound in in front of the net firing the rubber past the diving Jake Stafford for his second goal of the night and a 3-0 lead.  The IceRays held on for their third shutout of the year, second over New Mexico.  Anthony Stolarz denied all 36 chances he faced. 

GAME #2 – 02-17-12: Corpus Christi 2-3 New Mexico Zach Holstrom had a big weekend and scored his first goal as a member of the Corpus Christi IceRays off a centering pass by line-mate Zachary Lindsay 16:27 into the game to give Corpus a 1-0 advantage.  The Holstrom/Lindsay combo hooked up for the second goal for Corpus Christi as this time it was Holstrom who hit Lindsay with a pass for a 2-0 lead with 8:46 left to go in the middle stanza.  New Mexico started the comeback in the second period with a Marcus Nordland goal as 2:53 remained on the clock in the second.  Jayson Angus completed the comeback on a great shot from the right wing circle top shelf on Anthony Stolarz 8:14 into the final period to force overtime.  After no scoring in OT, Marcus Nordlund scored the game winner in the shootout for the extra point.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH VS. ODESSA

           Caller Time’s Family Four Pack Night – Get FOUR tickets for just $34!
           Grades For Blades Pres. By Grande Communications – Students
             with good attendance, grades, and participation get FREE tickets!
           – Boy Scout Night!
          
AROUND THE SOUTH DIVISION:
                       

 

Team

GP

W

L

OTL

PTS

WPCT

GF

GA

PIM

HOME

AWAY

xAmarillo

48

36

5

7

79

.823

208

114

1276

16-2-4

20-3-3

Topeka

48

32

14

2

66

.688

163

123

995

17-6-1

15-8-1

Texas

48

28

13

7

63

.656

171

129

971

17-5-4

11-8-3

Corpus Christi

47

22

21

4

48

.511

135

144

1008

16-7-3

6-14-1

Odessa

46

17

24

5

39

.424

108

145

886

11-12-1

6-12-4

Wichita Falls

48

17

27

4

38

.396

120

160

883

11-8-1

6-19-3

New Mexico

49

17

29

3

37

.378

141

211

842

11-13-2

6-16-1

CORPUS CHRISTI’S RECORDS AGAINST THE SOUTH:
AMARILLO: 2-3-0
NEW MEXICO: 5-2-1
TEXAS: 5-2-0
TOPEKA: 0-4-0 (Season Series Over)
WICHITA FALLS: 5-6-1 (Season Series Over)
ODESSA: 3-3-0

ICERAYS LEADERS:
GOALS: Eric Purcell – 16
ASSISTS: Beau Walker – 26
POINTS: Beau Walker – 36
PLUS/MINUS: Chris Taff – +8
PENALTY MINUTES: Ladislav Hruska – 96min
SHOTS: Beau Walker – 148
WINS: Anthony Stolarz – 19
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: Anthony Stolarz, 2.51
SAVE PERCENTAGE: Anthony Stolarz, .926

HOLSTROM STRIKES… Zach Holstrompicked up his first NAHL goal on Friday night to give the IceRays a 1-0 lead over New Mexico.  He then assisted Zachary Lindsay to take a 2-0 lead.   

PINK SUCCESS…Pink The Rink night was a success for the IceRays as they drew 5,026 fans for the game to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

PLAYOFF TRACKER…The IceRays sit nine points in front of the Jackalopes and ten points ahead of Wichita Falls. 

“Q” TO COACH NAHL SELECTS U18 TEAM…Corpus Christi IceRays coach Justin Quenneville has been selected to coach the 2012 NAHL Selects U18 team alongside Oliver David, the bench boss for Kenai River.

TOP PROSPECTS TOURNEY…Five IceRays have been honored by the NAHL with the opportunity to play in the Top Prospects Tournament.  Perry D’Arrisso, Anthony Stolarz, Brandon Smith, Frank Misuraca, and Beau Walker all were selected.

COMMITMENTS

 2011-2012
Anthony Stolarz – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Brandon Adams – Holy Cross
Pheonix Copley – Michigan Tech
Mychal Monteith – Mercyhurst College
Colton Saucerman – Northeastern University

ALUMNI REPORT

NCAA D-III…
           – Luc Neitenbach (Worcester State) – Luc has one goal and one assist  
              in 17 games as a Freshman.
           – Kevin Crowe (Wentworth College) – Kevin is 5th on the team in points
             for Wentworth with ten goals and eleven assists.
           – Derrek Shartz (Tufts University) – As a freshman, Derrek has three
             goals and two assists in 24 games.

NCAA D-I…
           – Michael Benedict (Niagara University) – Michael has two goals and
              four assists in 32 games for the Purple Eagles.

USHL…
           – Matthew Weis (Green Bay) – in 17 games, Weis has four goals and
             six assists.
           – Colton Saucerman (Lincoln) – Saucerman has recorded three goals
             and eleven assists for Lincoln in 24 games.
           – Pheonix Copley (Des-Moines) – After being traded to Des-Moines,
              Copley has a GAA of 2.31 and save percentage of .927.

WHAT’S ON TAP…  The IceRays hit the road Friday night to take on the Jackalopes.  Both teams come to Corpus Christi for a Saturday night game inside the American Bank Center.  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”