WICHITA FALLS, TX – Corpus Christi trailed after 20 minutes of play, but rallied back to win their second consecutive game over the Wichita Falls Wildcats, 4-3, at the Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls on Wednesday night. With the win, the IceRays are now 13-15-2 (28 points) while the Wildcats drop to 15-12-3 (33 points). Corpus Christi is now 5-6-1 against the Wildcats this year. Their 12th and final meeting is on Friday at 7:05 PM in Wichita Falls.
Four different IceRays found the back of the net as three different lines scored for Corpus Christi.
For the third consecutive game in the series, Wichita Falls scored first as Ryan Frost (7) beat Pheonix Copley on a clean wrist shot from the slot at the 16:43 mark of the first period. Both teams went 0-1 on the power play and the IceRays outshot the Wildcats, 8-7.
Michael Benedict (17) scored his third goal in two games, 6:11 into the second period, as his snap shot from the right-wing circle beat Tyler Green to tie the game, 1-1. Corpus Christi pulled ahead, 2-1, when Joe Smereck (10) tallied his second IceRays goal after Colton Saucerman’s outlet pass sprung the Detroit, MI native into the Wildcats’ zone. The ensuing shot snuck through the five-hole of Green at the 13:15 mark of the second period. Wichita Falls responded 10 seconds later after Sean Keane (14) deflected a Mac Olson centering pass into the back of the net to tie the game, 2-2. The IceRays jumped in front for the second time on the evening as Petr Stloukal (1) banged home a rebound from a Michael Benedict shot to make the score 3-2 after forty minutes of play. The goal came at the 15:13 mark of the second period. Shots were even at 11 apiece.
The IceRays extended their lead to 4-2, just 2:40 into the third period as Joey Parizek (3) knocked a loose puck into the back of the net. Wichita Falls pulled back to within one at 4-3 on a Drew Allen (10) tally at the 10:56 mark. However, Corpus Christi received back-to-back power plays late in the third period to seal the victory, 4-3.
RYAN HOLT’S THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT:
- Joe Smereck (1-1-2)
- Michael Benedict (1-1-2)
- Joey Parizek (GWG)
The IceRays have a day off on Thursday, before battling Wichita Falls on Friday night at 7:05 PM. It is the final meeting between the two in the regular season. Fans can catch the pre-game show on the flagship home of the IceRays, News/Talk 1440 KEYS, www.1440KEYS.com, with the voice of the IceRays, Ryan Holt, beginning at 6:50 PM. The game will be available online through the league’s pay-per-view website, www.fasthockey.com. For more information call the Rays’ front office at 361.814.PUCK (7825) or crash the net at www.goicerays.com.
“THE NEW ICERAYS…TOMORROW’S STARS”