With only eight games remaining for Corpus Christ, the IceRays swept in New Mexico this past weekend for their first two-game win streak on the road all year.  The sweep couldn’t have come at a more crucial time of the season as the Odessa Jackalopes swept in Wichita Falls.  On Friday night, the IceRays came away with a 5-2 victory, while holding on for a 7-5 win on Saturday night.  

GAME #1 – 03-09-12: Corpus Christi 5-2 New Mexico – On Friday night, Corpus Christi went up 2-0 within the first seven minutes of the game.  Jonathan Grebosky back-handed the puck through the top of the crease right onto the stick of Beau Walker to tapped in his first of the night and 11th of the year.  Just 1:27 after walker gave the IceRays the lead, Payden Mielke recorded his first NAHL goal with a wrister from just inside the blue-line that beat goaltender Jake Stafford over the right shoulder and the Mustangs trailed 2-0.  Cody Walsh gave New Mexico life 9:43 into the first period and trailed 2-1 until Beau Walker scored his second of the period off a rebound in front of the net to give Corpus Christi a 3-1 advantage after 20 minutes of play.  Eric Purcell and Joe Smereck tacked on two more goals on route to a 5-2 victory.

GAME #2 – 03-10-12: Corpus Christi 7-5 New Mexico – The IceRays sought their first road two game win streak of the year on Saturday night and it was a wild first period from the Santa Ana Star Center.  The Mustangs scored just 1:40 into the game on a rebound in front of the net assisted by Jimmy Peplinski and Cody Walsh for a 1-0 lead.  Corpus Christi then tied up the contest while on the power-play.  Brandon Smith took a pass from AJ Jarosz and deked out Randy Graham between the pipes at the 8:41 mark of the first frame.  The back-and-forth period continued with a New Mexico strike from Jimmy Peplinski and the Mustangs regained their lead.  Corpus Christi then kicked off a three goal scoring streak on a two-on-one rush.  Joe Smereck fed Brandon Smith in the left wing circle, who then returned the puck back to Smereck for his second goal of the weekend and the game was once again tied, this time at three goals apiece.  Phil Pietroniro rocketed a shot from the point that went through a screen and found its’ way into the net to give the IceRays the first lead of the night.  Just 2:46 later the lead increased to two goals when Michael Dery hit Zach Holstrom with a pass for a tap-in goal and with 3:10 left in the first period, it was a 4-2 IceRays lead.  The scoring in the first period was not done, with just 1:12 left in the first; Ryan Dau notched an unassisted goal to pull New Mexico a goal away from the IceRays.  Joe Ginley broke in on a breakaway with 2:02 left in the middle period and beat Graham so regain a two goal lead.  However, with just five seconds left in the period, New Mexico returned the favor on the power-play and it was a 5-4 game heading into the third.  Two IceRays goals in the third from Brandon Smith and Frank Misuraca preserved a 7-5 victory and a sweep on the road.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:
FRIDAY, MARCH 23RD VS. TEXAS

           - Frosty Friday – Half off 20-ounce beer and 24-ounce soda!
           - Texas Skills Night presented by HEB – First 3,000 fans get a poster
              courtesy of the Caller Times.
SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH VS. TEXAS
           - Pack The House Night presented by CPL Retail Energy – Harley
              Davidson Jersey’s & Auction.
           - Caller Times Family Four Pack Night – Get four tickets for just $34.
          

AROUND THE SOUTH DIVISION:
           

CORPUS CHRISTI’S RECORDS AGAINST THE SOUTH:

AMARILLO: 2-4-0
NEW MEXICO: 7-2-1(Season Series Over)
TEXAS: 5-2-0
TOPEKA: 0-4-0 (Season Series Over)
WICHITA FALLS: 5-6-1 (Season Series Over)
ODESSA: 4-5-1 (Season Series Over)

ICERAYS LEADERS:

GOALS: Eric Purcell - 19
ASSISTS: Beau Walker - 28
POINTS: Beau Walker - 40\
PLUS/MINUS: Greg Chapman - +7
PENALTY MINUTES: Danny Fetzer – 89min
SHOTS: Beau Walker - 166
WINS: Anthony Stolarz - 22
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: Anthony Stolarz, 2.61
SAVE PERCENTAGE: Anthony Stolarz, .924

WALKER/SMITH DOUBLE UP… Beau Walkerand Brandon Smith each recorded a pair of goals this past weekend.  Walker score twice in Friday night’s 5-2 win, while Smith tallied his two on Saturday night’s 7-5 victory.

FIRST ROAD SWEEP…Corpus Christi tallied their first sweep on the road all season long by taking down the New Mexico Mustangs last Friday and Saturday night. 

TWO HOME GAMES LEFT… The IceRays only have two home games remaining.  The IceRays are out of town this weekend in Amarillo until returning to the American Bank Center on March 23th and 24th.

PLAYOFF TRACKER…The IceRays sit five points in front of the Odessa Jackalopes with only eight games remaining.   

 COMMITMENTS

 2011-2012
- Anthony Stolarz – University of Nebraska-Omaha
- Brandon Adams – Holy Cross
- Pheonix Copley – Michigan Tech
- Mychal Monteith – Mercyhurst College
- Colton Saucerman – Northeastern University
- Matthew Weis – Ohio State University

 ALUMNI REPORT

NCAA D-III…
           - Luc Neitenbach (Worcester State) – Luc had one goal and one assist  
              in 20 games as a Freshman.
           - Kevin Crowe (Wentworth College) – Kevin finished 5th on the team in
              points for Wentworth with twelve goals and eleven assists.
           - Derrek Shartz (Tufts University) - As a freshman, Derrek had three
             goals and two assists in 25 games.

NCAA D-I…
           - Michael Benedict (Niagara University) – Michael has two goals and
              four assists in 36 games for the Purple Eagles.

USHL…
           - Matthew Weis (Green Bay) – in 23 games, Weis has four goals and
             six assists.
           - Colton Saucerman (Lincoln) – Saucerman has recorded three goals
             and eleven assists for Lincoln in 24 games.
           - Pheonix Copley (Des-Moines) – After being traded to Des-Moines,
              Copley has a GAA of 2.66 and save percentage of .920.

WHAT’S ON TAP...  Corpus Christi hits the road once again this weekend as they battle Amarillo.  Fans can listen to all the action with the voice of the IceRays, Rob Lippolis, beginning 15 minutes prior to the games on the Rays flagship station, ESPN Radio 1440AM.  The game is available for free online at www.espncorpus.comor on the league’s pay-per-view website, www.fasthockey.com.  Be sure to get your tickets now by calling the IceRays front office at 361.814.PUCK (7825) or crash the net at www.goicerays.com.

 “THE NEW ICERAYS…TOMORROW’S STARS”