RAYS REPORT WEEK #6: BYE 2010, HELLO 2011!

Dec 28, 2010

 

In this edition of the Rays Report, we’ll take a look back at the unofficial first half of the season (2010) and prepare for the IceRays’ return to the American Bank Center in 2011.

LAST TIME OUT:  Corpus Christi started a three-game road trip in fine fashion, but lost their last two games to finish 1-2-0 on the trip.

Game #1, W, Corpus Christi 4-3 Wichita Falls– Corpus Christi trailed after 20 minutes of play, but rallied back to win their second consecutive game over the Wichita Falls Wildcats, 4-3, at the Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls on Wednesday night. Four different IceRays found the back of the net as three different lines scored for Corpus Christi.

Game #2, L, Corpus Christi 2-3 Wichita Falls– Mac Olson scored with just 40.5 seconds remaining in the third period as the Corpus Christi IceRays fell to the Wichita Falls Wildcats, 3-2, at the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Friday night. Colton Saucerman and Sam Cheraso tallied for Corpus Christi in the defeat.

Game #3, L, Corpus Christi 3-4 Texas– A shorthanded goal scored by David Rigatti in the final two minutes of the third period gave the Texas Tornado a 4-3 victory over the Corpus Christi IceRays at the Dr Pepper Arena on Saturday night. Mychal Monteith tallied his first two goals in an IceRays uniform for Corpus Christi.

AROUND THE SOUTH DIVISION: Corpus Christi currently sits fifth in the South Division with a record of 13-17-2 (28 points).

 

CORPUS CHRISTI’S RECORDS AGAINST THE SOUTH:

 

AMARILLO: 0-3-0 (9 games remaining, 4 at home, 5 on road)

NEW MEXICO: 4-1-1 (6 games remaining, 4 at home, 2 on road)

TEXAS: 1-6-0 (5 games remaining, 4 at home, 1 on road)

TOPEKA: 0-0-0 (6 games remaining, 3 at home, 3 on road)

WICHITA FALLS: 5-6-1 (series complete)

 

ICERAYS “FIRST HALF” LEADERS:

 

GOALS: Michael Benedict, 17

ASSISTS: Beau Walker, 24

POINTS: Beau Walker, 33

PLUS/MINUS: Mychal Monteith, +14 (-1 w/ Corpus Christi)

PENALTY MINUTES: Brandon Marshall, 134

SHOTS: Michael Benedict, 102

WINS: Pheonix Copley, 8

GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: Pheonix Copley, 3.60

SAVE PERCENTAGE: Pheonix Copley, .895

 

RYAN HOLT’S TOP THREE GAMES OF 2010:

  1. 11/28/10: Corpus Christi 3-2 Texas (OT)– Michael Benedict scored an overtime, power-play goal as the IceRays defeated the Tornado for the first time this season.
  2. 10/01/10: Corpus Christi 4-3 Wichita Falls (SO)– The first-ever NAHL game at the American Bank Center was a good one for the home side as they erased a three-period deficit and eventually won the game in a shootout.
  3. 10/09/10: Corpus Christi 3-2 New Mexico (SO)– 227 penalty minutes, a second period line brawl, and the IceRays winning in shootout fashion.

 

ONE GOAL IS THE DIFFERENCE: The IceRays have had exactly half (16) of their 32 games decided by one goal.  In those games, the team is 9-5-2 (20 points).  The nine victories are tied with Fresno for the most in the North American Hockey League.

 

HOME ICE FOR SECOND HALF:  Corpus Christi will need a strong second half of the season to propel themselves into the playoffs.  They will be helped by the schedule as 15 of the team’s final 26 games are at the American Bank Center.

 

NEW FACES:  A total of 40 players have played in a game for Corpus Christi this season.  The only player on the current roster who has yet to see the ice is goaltender Anton Olsson.

 

NAHL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH:  Goalie Pheonix Copley was named the NAHL Goaltender of the Month for the month of November.  In the month, Copley went 4-3-0 with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.  He became the first Corpus Christi player to win a monthly award.

 

THREE TOP PROSPECTS:  Corpus Christi was well represented at the 2010 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in Boston held on Dec. 5-7.  Michael Benedict assisted in Team Rafalski’s first game while Kyle Hughes was a plus-2 (+2).  In the second game, Beau Walker scored a second period goal to help the team to victory.  Overall, the team was 2-1-0.

 

I’LL BE GONE TILL NOVEMBER:  Corpus Christi was on the road for the majority of November on a seven-game road trip.  It was the longest road trip of the season.  The Rays went 4-3-0 on the road trip and was 5-4-0 for the entire month.

 

A STRONG SHOWING AT THE SHOWCASE:  Corpus Christi announced their arrival into the NAHL with a 3-1-0 record at the NAHL Showcase held in Blaine, MN on Sept. 15-18, 2010. 

 

LARGEST SINGLE-GAME CROWD IN THE NAHL:  On Saturday October 23, 2010, Corpus Christi set the benchmark for attendance in the NAHL with a crowd of 5,912 watching the team battle the Texas Tornado.  It was Military Appreciation Night at the American Bank Center which honored various law enforcement and military personnel and their families at the game.

 

WHAT’S ON TAP?Corpus Christi returns to the American Bank Center for three games against the Topeka RoadRunners on January 6th, 7th and 8th.  The games are the only meetings of the season between the two sides in Corpus Christi. Fans can listen to all the action with the voice of the IceRays, Ryan Holt, beginning 15 minutes prior to the games on the Rays flagship station, News/Talk 1440 AM KEYS.  The game is available for free online at www.1440KEYS.com or 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”