11th Victory Past Regulation this Season Matches Organizational Best
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The Corpus Christi IceRays (26-19-5) returned home in style Friday night, earning a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over the Oklahoma Warriors (23-21-5) at the Hilliard Center. The win marks Corpus Christi’s 11th victory past regulation this season, matching an organizational best set during the 2014–15 campaign.
“We showed a lot of resilience tonight,” said IceRays Head Coach Kevin St. Jacques. “Oklahoma pushed hard and their goalie played an outstanding game, but our guys stuck with it. We kept generating chances, stayed composed in the shootout, and Xander gave us the saves we needed. Those are big points this time of year.”
As seen in the previous series between the two clubs, IceRays goaltender Xander Miceli and Warriors netminder Billy Stuski were both heavily tested early.
Corpus Christi generated the better chances in the opening period but could not solve Stuski, who kept the game scoreless. Oklahoma answered with a strong stretch of their own and earned a power play with under five minutes remaining. The Warriors capitalized quickly, as Trace Day buried Oklahoma’s eighth power-play goal of the season against the IceRays to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The IceRays responded quickly. Just over a minute later, Alexandr Skuratov raced past multiple Warriors defenders on a breakaway and lifted the puck over Stuski, with the puck carrying across the goal line for the equalizer. Andrej Paricka and Justin Thibault picked up the assists, sending the teams to the first intermission tied 1-1.
The second period began with the IceRays heading to the power play after an early Warriors penalty. Oklahoma flipped the momentum, however, stealing the puck and going the other way shorthanded. Mathias Kristiansen finished the rush to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead.
Corpus Christi wasted little time responding. Just 21 seconds later on the same power play, Skuratov found a streaking Thibault at the back door, and the forward buried his 10th goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2. Both Stuski and Miceli stood tall the rest of the period, keeping the contest even through 40 minutes.
After a relatively quiet first two periods offensively, the IceRays found another gear in the third while searching for their first lead of the night. Corpus Christi peppered Stuski with chance after chance, outshooting Oklahoma 13-3 in the frame and even ringing a shot off the post, but the Warriors’ goaltender remained spectacular to force overtime.
For the ninth time in their last 19 games, the IceRays needed extra time.
Overtime delivered end-to-end action, but neither team could find the winner. Miceli and Stuski combined to stop seven shots in the extra frame, with the best opportunity coming from Nick Sinani late in the period. The game would ultimately be decided in a shootout.
Neither team scored in the opening two rounds before Oklahoma’s Dominik Kiss found the net in the third round to give the Warriors the edge. Facing a must-score attempt, Colin Watson delivered for Corpus Christi, snapping a shot into the top corner to extend the shootout.
Miceli then denied Mack Blue on Oklahoma’s next attempt, setting the stage for Sinani.
The IceRays forward calmly glided into the slot and ripped a wrist shot past the blocker of Stuski to seal the 3-2 shootout victory for Corpus Christi. The goal marked Sinani’s third game-winning tally of the season.
Miceli finished the night with 27 saves on 29 shots, earning his fifth consecutive win between the pipes.
NEXT GAME
Corpus Christi and Oklahoma wrap up the series tomorrow night at the Hilliard Center with puck drop at 7:05 p.m. CT. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. CT. It’s STEM night at the arena where students wearing school spirit shirts get in FREE. A robotics exhibition and 1,000 fidget giveaways will also be available in the concourse.
GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW
Tickets start at just $5! Student and Active Military Tickets are available at the Hilliard Center Box Office with valid ID.
Grab yours now at www.goicerays.com, on Ticketmaster, or at the Hilliard Center box office
NEXT SERIES
The IceRays will host the Amarillo Wranglers at the Hilliard Center March 13 and 14. Puck drop is scheduled at 7:05 p.m. CT both nights. Tune in to the action on NAHLtv or listen on the Retro Radio CC App.
Saturday is OLD Time Hockey Night!
- Presented by Hillard Law
- Special Meet & Greet Autograph Session during 2nd Intermission
- Specialty Slapshot Themed Jerseys
- Post Game Skate with the IceRays & Steve Carlson presented by RTFC
- Jersey Auction on DASH
GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW
Tickets start at just $5! Student and Active Military Tickets are available at the Hilliard Center Box Office with valid ID.
Grab yours now at www.goicerays.com, on Ticketmaster, or at the Hilliard Center box office
About Corpus Christi IceRays: The Corpus Christi IceRays, a member of the North American Hockey League playing out of the Hilliard Center in downtown Corpus Christi, TX. For more information or for all your ticketing needs, contact the IceRays Front Office at (361)-814-PUCK or visit www.GoIceRays.com . You can also follow the team through their social media platforms: Facebook @goicerays, Instagram @iceraysnahl, and Twitter @iceraysnahl
About North American Hockey League: Celebrating its 50th season in 2024-25, the NAHL, the only USA Hockey sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 35 teams in 20 states from North American. For more information, visit the NAHL website at https://nahl.com/
About Hilliard Center
Hilliard Center is Corpus Christi’s premier entertainment and event complex, proudly owned by the City of Corpus Christi and managed by Oak View Group. Named in partnership with Hilliard Law, a firm dedicated to service and community, the waterfront venue features a state-of-the-art arena, the historic Selena Auditorium, and a versatile convention center overlooking the scenic Corpus Christi Bay. With adaptable spaces, complimentary Wi-Fi, and premium food and beverage offerings, Hilliard Center is designed to deliver exceptional experiences as South Texas’ home for live entertainment, conventions, and community gatherings.
Visit HilliardCenter.com and follow the Hilliard Center on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for the latest news and event updates.
About Oak View Group (OVG)
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
