Bucks squeak past Rayz 5-4

Published on November 9, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Nine different players tallied in a wild, back and forth affair on Friday Night at the Laredo Entertainment Center. The Laredo Bucks jumped out to an early lead and the Rayz continuously clawed back, but the Bucks held off the Rayz for a 5-4 win. The Rayz were unable to become the first team to knock off the unbeaten Bucks this season. The Rayz fell to 2-6-1 on the year and will continue their season-long, five-game road trip on Saturday in Odessa in their first meeting against the Jackalopes. Rayz individual games tickets are currently available. For more information, please call the Rayz at 361.814.PUCK.

The Bucks took control early in the first with two goals from their top two scorers. Jeff Bes scored his ninth goal of the season on a one timer from the bottom of the right circle at 6:35 while a delayed call was coming against the Rayz. Then just after a power play expired, the Bucks made it two nothing when Chris Korchinski scored on a rebound from the bottom of the slotat 11:05. The Rayz were down in an early hole, but two quick goals from a pair of rookies helped them climb back into the hockey game. Just 27 seconds after the Bucks second tally, Jon Jankus redirected a puck past Dustin Traylen for the Rayz first goal against the Bucks this season. Then at 15:16 Brent Howarth rolled a soft backhand on net from the right circle that found a hole through Traylen and into the net to tie the score 2-2. Later in the frame while the Bucks were on a four-on-three power play, Serge Dube tapped a shot pass home from right outside the crease and the Bucks took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. The Bucks outshot the Rayz 11-4 in the frame.

After a five-goal first period, there was just one goal in the second period. After Jankus tried an outlet pass from the Rayz zone, his stick broke in half and the puck rolled to Korchinski just outside of the Rayz zone. He rushed into the zone and found Rane Carnegie at the top of the slot who beat Kevin Couture high glove side with a shot. Carnegie's goal at 3:11 of the frame made it 4-2 Bucks and the score remained through the period. The Bucks outshot the Rayz 11-6 in the second period.

In the third period the Rayz kept it tight down the stretch. Joe Blaznek socred at 2:24 from just outside the crease to make it 4-3 Bucks. However, Laredo went up by a pair when James Hiebert scored on a one time snap shot from the bottom of the slot at 8:12. The Rayz pulled Couture and cut the lead back to when Jason Baird scored his first of the year at 19:10, but the Rayz would get no closer and Laredo held on for the victory.

Couture made 29 saves on 34 shots and fell to 0-2 taking the loss. Dustin Traylen improved to 6-0 with the win turning aside 13 of 17 shots. The Rayz went 0-3 on the power play and the Bucks were 1-4. The Bucks outshot the Rayz 34-17. With the win, the Bucks improved to 10-0 matching the 2002-03 Austin Ice Bats and the 1996-97 New Mexico Scorpions for the best start ever in the CHL or WPHL. No team has ever gone 11-0. The Bucks will look to become the first team on Saturday night when they host the Youngstown Steelhounds.

Corpus Christi will continue their season-long, five-game road trip on Saturday Night in Odessa with their first game against the Jackalopes. The game is at 7:00pm and can be heard in Corpus Christi on the Rayz flagship radio station ESPN 1230AM or online via the Rayz website at www.ccrayz.com. Fans can also view the game online for free via the CHL Network. For more information, please visit www.nifty-tv.com/chl.

The Rayz are proud to be celebrating a decade of hockey in South Texas. Individual game tickets are currently available. Get your Rayz tickets today at www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet or the American Bank Center. Rayz group discounts are also available. For more information, please call the Rayz at 361.814.PUCK.

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 9, 2007


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