BLAINE, Minn. – The Corpus Christi IceRays picked up their first win of the season Thursday with a 7-3 thumping of the Johnstown Tomahawks at the NAHL Showcase at the Schwan Super Rink in suburban Minneapolis. IceRays forward Jordan Randall recorded his first career NAHL hat trick.
The IceRays (1-3-0, 2 pts.) handed the East Division’s Tomahawks (3-1-0, 6 pts.) their first loss of the season. Corpus Christi outshot the Tomahawks by a 36-35 margin, including 18-11 in a second period which saw five IceRays goals. Sam Best was victorious between the pipes in his NAHL debut, making 32 saves.
Santeri Hartikainen started the scoring at the 12:12 mark of the first period, tallying his second goal in as many days. Krystof Stuchlik picked up this assist.
In the second period, Randall recorded his first of the night on a backhanded shot on the power play at 2:17. Kyle Moore then added a backhand of his own to pick up his third goal of the season at 11:30, scored during 4-on-4 action. Blake Bennett, Anthony Firriolo and Randall (PP) added goals as the IceRays carried a 6-3 lead into the second intermission.
Randall’s hat trick tally was the lone goal of the third period, coming from the top of the crease with just 53 seconds remaining in the game on a jammed-in rebound of Mason Kohn’s shot.
10 total Corpus Christi players found their way onto the scoresheet, including assists from Stuchlik, Kohn, Gordon Whalen, Brian Kramer, Brady Bjork and Jake Stella. The win marked the first as an NAHL head coach for Corpus Christi bench boss Ryan Cruthers.
Next up for the IceRays in their four-in-four stretch at the NAHL Showcase is a 10:30 a.m. CT game Friday against the Minot Minotauros. All IceRays games are carried on Sportsradio Corpus Christi (1230 AM/95.1 FM/96.1 FM/TuneIn app) and HockeyTV.
Season seat memberships, group tickets and single game tickets for the 2018-19 IceRays season are on sale now, including for the Home Opener on Friday, Sept. 28 against the Shreveport Mudbugs. Call 361-814-PUCK for tickets and more information. Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays) and Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays).
