CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (5-5-1-2) earned their first shutout of the season with a 3-0 blanking of the Shreveport Mudbugs (8-4-0-1) on Thursday morning at the American Bank Center in front of 6,046 students from the Corpus Christi area.
After the first half of the period was spent going back and forth in the neutral zone, the IceRays took control and scratched across the game’s first goal, which would go on to be the game-winner. At 10:26, IceRays forward David Thomson swiped the puck away in the offensive end and found forward Josh Tripp on the back door for a one-time shot to push ahead, 1-0. Later on in the frame at 14:32, IceRays defenseman Cody Fleckenstein stole a pass behind the Mudbugs net and tucked home a wraparound shot to double the lead, 2-0. The IceRays outshot the Mudbugs 16-4 in the opening frame.
The second period stayed quiet, but after an initial push back by the Mudbugs, the IceRays once again took control, tacking on 14 more to Shreveport’s nine. The Mudbugs started to pick up a bit more offensively in the third period with two power plays and more time through the neutral zone. A late man-advantage allowed the Mudbugs to pull their netminder, but despite being shorthanded 6-on-4, IceRays forward Brad Power sealed the win with a clear from his own blue line for the second-straight game with a team power play goal and the 3-0 final score.
IceRays goaltender Camden Burggrabe (1-0-1) earned the first shutout of the season, stopping all 20 shots faced, while Mudbugs goalie John Roberts (4-2-0) halted 32 of 34 shots. The IceRays and Mudbugs resume their three-game set on Friday, Oct. 28 at 7:05 p.m. on Tride Rideshare Frosty Friday. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com and the American Bank Center Box Office.
The 9th Annual Pink In The Rink game is on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7:05 p.m. against the Shreveport Mudbugs. Season memberships for the 2016-17 season are still available with full and partial season plans. 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), Snapchat (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).