WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (1-2-0-0) slipped in the third period in a very physical 5-2 loss to the Wichita Falls Wildcats (2-0-2-0) on Saturday night at the Kay Yeager Coliseum.
After a physical and penalty-marred first period, the IceRays struck first in the second frame on a two-on-one rush created by forward Josh Tripp, sending forward Brad Power, who converted with a wrist shot from the left circle, ahead for the break at 4:36 to take a 1-0 lead. On a late power play in the frame at 16:21, Wildcats forward Ryan Burnett stripped an IceRays defenseman of the puck behind the net and slipped a shot through from above the crease to tie the game, 1-1. Less than three minutes later, Wildcats forward Aleksi Poikola cashed in on a back door play at 18:44 to take the 2-1 lead.
The IceRays wouldn’t go quietly, and at 8:34 on their own power play, forward David Thomson was set up in the left circle for a one-time shot to beat by the Wildcats netminder and tie the game, 2-2. The Wildcats would come back and take back the night starting at 13:27 with a shot by defenseman Domantas Cypas from the right wall to take a 3-2 lead. At 16:02, defenseman Jonathan Waring cashed in for his first of the season from the blue line to double the lead, 4-2. With the IceRays net empty, Waring converted again, this time from center ice at 16:37 to bring the score to its resting point, 5-2. The IceRays finished 1-for-6 on the power play and 8-for-9 on the penalty kill.
Wildcats netminder Evan Moyse (2-0-2) earned the win, stopping 24 of 26 shots, while IceRays netminder Tomáš Vomáčka (1-2-0) picked up the loss, halting 29 of 33 shots. The IceRays begin the 2016 NAHL Showcase from Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn., on Wednesday, Sep. 21 at 2:15 p.m. against the Aberdeen Wings. Follow the NAHL Showcase all week long exclusively on FASTHockey.com.
The IceRays open the 2016-17 home schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 against the Odessa Jackalopes at the American Bank Center. Purchase your 2016-17 season ticket membership ahead of opening night! Reserve yours by contacting the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).