Six IceRays Alumni Make 2022 NCAA Tournament

Mar 26, 2022

The IceRays organization is always proud to see alumni go on to succeed at the next level.  Six former IceRays have found their way into this year’s NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament playing for three different teams.

American International College was the most represented team by former IceRays with four in the field.  The former IceRays representing the Yellow Jackets this season with the years spent in Corpus in parentheses are Blake Bennett(’18-’19), Santeri Hartikainen(’18-’19), Jake Stella(’18-’19), and Alexander Tertyshny(’19-’20).

AIC faced off against the #1 Michigan Wolverines on Friday.  Michigan was able to come away with a 5-3 victory defeating the Yellow Jackets in the round of 16.  Blake Bennett tallied a goal and an assist in the loss.

Also in the tournament representing Corpus Christi is Brady Bjork.  Bjork is a member of the Notre Dame hockey team.  Bjork spent time with the IceRays during the 2018-19 season.  Bjork’s Irish completed the upset in round one over North Dakota and faces off against Minnesota State for a chance to go to the Frozen Four.

Last, but not least, former IceRays backstop, Dryden McKay, leads the way for Minnesota State in the tournament.  McKay spent the 2015-16 season with Corpus Christi.  McKay, a top three finalist for the Richter Award this season, stopped 19 of 22 shots that came his way in the opening round of the tournament, as he and the Mavericks face off against Notre Dame in hopes of a second straight Frozen Four appearance.