The IceRays Weekly is a weekly recap and preview of IceRays news, games and more. The IceRays Weekly will be released every Monday during the 2016-17 season.
LAST WEEK…
Friday, April 14: IceRays 2, Shreveport Mudbugs 0
Shots: IceRays 18, Mudbugs 21
PP: IceRays 0-for-3, Mudbugs 0-for-3
The Corpus Christi IceRays (1-0-0) shut down the Shreveport Mudbugs (0-1-0) in a goaltending battle, winning 2-0 on Friday night from George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum.
Despite being outshot 12-5 in the first period, IceRays forward Griffin Loughran (9:21 1st) opened the scoring during a 2-on-1, bouncing a pass off a defenseman and into the net for a 1-0 lead. Both sides had three opportunities to cash in on power plays including a 5-on-3 advantage for the Mudbugs, but neither side could convert. Each goaltender made dazzling saves throughout the night, and it wasn’t until late in the game when IceRays forward Brad Power (EN, 18:23 3rd) sealed the 2-0 victory with an empty net goal.
IceRays goaltender Tomáš Vomáčka (1-0-0) halted all 21 shots faced for the win, while Mudbugs netminder Dylan Lubbesmeyer (0-1-0) stopped 16 of 17 shots in the loss.
Saturday, April 15: IceRays 5, Shreveport Mudbugs 3
Shots: IceRays 29, Mudbugs 48
PP: IceRays 1-for-2, Mudbugs 1-for-4
The Corpus Christi IceRays (2-0-0) poured on four goals in the second period en route to a 5-3 win over the Shreveport Mudbugs (0-2-0) on Saturday night from George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum.
Mudbugs forward Jack Jaunich (11:54 1st) opened the scoring with a deflection for their first goal of the series and a 1-0 lead. In the second period, the IceRays charged ahead starting with a tap-in by forward David Baskerville (3:56 2nd) followed by two goals from forward Nathan Bryer (PP, 4:31 2nd; 7:45 2nd) to jump out to a 3-1 lead. Mudbugs defenseman Kristaps Jakobsons (10:08 2nd) ended the run with a rebound goal and draw within one, 3-2. IceRays forward Larry Jungwirth (12:41 2nd) was opened in the right circle to double the lead again, 4-2. One more came across thanks to IceRays center David Thomson (2:35 3rd) and his takeaway before Mudbugs defenseman Croix Evingson (8:34 3rd) answered again to the final scoreline, 5-3.
IceRays goaltender Tomáš Vomáčka (2-0-0) halted 45 of 48 shots in the win. Mudbugs netminder Dylan Lubbesmeyer (0-2-0) stopped 16 of 20 shots in 32:41 of the loss, and John Roberts turned aside eight of nine shots in 27:19 of relief.
THIS WEEK…
Wednesday, April 19 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs – 7:05 p.m.
*Thursday, April 20 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs – 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
The Corpus Christi IceRays return home to the American Bank Center with a chance to clinch the South Division Semifinals series against the Shreveport Mudbugs. The IceRays have won three-straight games against the Mudbugs dating back to April 1 and overall 11 of their 14 meetings through the regular season and postseason. The IceRays need just one win over their next three possible games to take their first junior franchise series win and head to the South Division Finals. Overall, the IceRays are 11-2-0-1 against the Mudbugs in the junior series while also 32-27-6 including the professional meetings.
South Division Semifinals (Best-of-Five):
#1 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #4 Wichita Falls Wildcats
Brahmas Lead Series 2-0
Game 1: Wildcats @ Brahmas – LSB wins 3-0
Game 2: Wildcats @ Brahmas – LSB wins 3-0
Game 3: Brahmas @ Wildcats – Friday, Apr. 21
**Game 4: Brahmas @ Wildcats – Saturday, Apr. 22
**Game 5: Wildcats @ Brahmas – Monday, Apr. 24
**if necessary
#2 Shreveport Mudbugs vs. #3 Corpus Christi IceRays
IceRays Lead Series 2-0
Game 1: IceRays @ Mudbugs – COR wins 2-0
Game 2: IceRays @ Mudbugs – COR wins 5-3
Game 3: Mudbugs @ IceRays – Wednesday, Apr. 19
**Game 4: Mudbugs @ IceRays – Thursday, Apr. 20
**Game 5: IceRays @ Mudbugs – Tuesday, Apr. 25
**if necessary
The Lone Star Brahmas opened their South Division Semifinals series against the Wichita Falls Wildcats last weekend at the NYTEX Sports Center with back-to-back wins of 3-0 and 7-3 on Friday and Saturday night to take a 2-0 series lead. As the series heads to Wichita Falls, the Brahmas need just one win over their final three potential games to return to the South Division Finals for the second time in three years. The Wildcats need to win out to upset the top-seed despite losing now 10-straight games to the Brahmas during the season.
ICERAYS BITS…
For the first time in franchise history, the IceRays won consecutive games in a playoff series to take a 2-0 series lead. The two wins thus far joins the 2000 WPHL Playoff roster and the 2007 CHL Playoff roster as the only three postseasons where the team has won multiple games in a playoff series. With a win this week, the IceRays can become the second team in franchise history to advance to the second round of the playoffs with a series win, also joining the 2000 WPHL Playoff team that won 2-1 over the El Paso Buzzards. The IceRays have never swept a playoff series but were swept twice: 2010 CHL Playoffs (2-0 vs. Texas Brahmas) and 2015 NAHL Playoffs (2-0 vs. Wenatchee Wild).
IceRays forward Nathan Bryer joined exclusive company on Saturday night with his two-goal effort against the Mudbugs. He’s now just the third player in junior franchise history to record a multi-goal game, joining A.J. Jarosz (Apr. 6, 2013 @ Amarillo, 6-3 L) and Rudy Sulmonte (Apr. 9, 2013 vs. Amarillo, 5-3 L) as the only players to perform that feat. In addition, the multi-point games by Bryer and forwards Larry Jungwirth, Brendan Miller and David Thomson give the IceRays nine total players in three playoff runs with multi-point efforts. It’s the most two-point players in a single playoff game in junior franchise history, and Miller’s two assists joins four other players with a two-helper night.