REGEN CAVANAGH NAMED TO NAHL SELECTS TEAM

Feb 9, 2016

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced the addition of Corpus Christi IceRays forward Regen Cavanagh to the NAHL Selects Team at the 2016 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament beginning on Monday in Plymouth, Mich., at USA Hockey Arena. Cavanagh becomes the fourth player in IceRays history to be named to the selects roster.

Cavanagh, 18, earns his place on the roster due to an injury to one of its original members. In 27 games this season, the Chesapeake, Va., native owns eight goals and eight assists for 16 points with 14 penalty minutes and a -8 rating. The 18-year-old rejoined the team following a pre-season injury keeping him out until October 22 and became an instant spark, scoring two goals in his first three games. In December, Cavanagh recorded four goals and seven assists for 11 points through eight games on his way to become the first forward and second player in IceRays history to earn NAHL Player of the Month. He currently sits tied for third on the team in goals and fifth in points.

“Regen has quietly become a big part of our offense,” said IceRays head coach John Becanic. “I am exited to see him perform with the league’s best players. It will be a good measuring stick for him moving forward. Well deserved!”

He joins a roster filled with NCAA Division I commitments and a few players on the National Hockey League (NHL) Central Scouting’s midterm rankings, including forwards Mikael Hakkarainen (Brookings) and Todd Burgess (Fairbanks) as well as goaltenders Jack LaFontaine (Janesville) and Tyler Johnson (Topeka). 13 of his 20 teammates are already committed to Division I programs with eight also members of South Division Teams: Austin Albrecht (Wichita Falls), Cameron Clarke (Lone Star), Adam Goodsir (Wichita Falls), Johnson, Dominic Lutz (Topeka), Joey Molinaro (Amarillo), Rourke Russell (Wichita Falls), and Johnny Walker (Topeka).

Cavanagh is also just the fourth IceRays player in junior franchise history to earn a spot on the NAHL Selects team. Forward Brandon Smith (‘11-’13) and goaltender Anthony Stolarz (‘11-’12) were both the first IceRays to earn that recognition during the 2011-12 season onto what was then the NAHL U18s squad. Smith and defenseman Jalen Schulz (‘12-’13) would join that roster the following season, and forward Jake Durflinger (‘13-’14) was the most recent player selected to that roster during the 2014 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament.

Three other IceRays will join him on the flight to Michigan and back between weekend sets. Forwards Brad LeLievre and Drake Lindsay and goaltender Graham Hunt were previously selected to represent the IceRays on Team South. The two-day showcase begins on Monday, Feb. 15 at 12:30 p.m. CT. For a full schedule of games, visit www.nahl.com/tpt. All games can be seen live on FASTHockey.com.

The IceRays return to the American Bank Center on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7:11 p.m. to begin a three-game set against the Lone Star Brahmas. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com, the American Bank Center Box Office, or the IceRays Front Office. Contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK or go to www.goicerays.com for details on season tickets along with pricing and seating. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).