Eight Is Enough as Tornado Beat up IceRays, 8-3
Published on October 24, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
Behind a hat-trick from Jackson Leef and three points from J.D. Howard and Josh Royston, the Texas Tornado moved into sole possession of 1st place in the NAHL's South Division with a 7-3 win in Corpus Christi over the IceRays on Sunday afternoon, completing the two-game weekend sweep and continuing their NAHL season-high eight game winning streak.
For the second time in this two-game series, the Tornado would start fast. On just the third shift of the game Marc Biggs continued his hot play, as he stole the puck along the sideboards, walked behind the and stuffed home a goal on a wrap-around underneath 'Rays goaltender Pheonix Copley for a 1-0 Tornado lead. The IceRays were denied minutes later by Tornado goaltender Jake Stafford on a shorthanded breakaway. Jackson Leef continued his hot play as late in the period he received a pass from Nate Sliwinski, walked out of the corner and wristed a shot in the top corner over the left shoulder of Copley to make it 2-0 for the Tornado, which ended a dominating 1st period for Texas in which they outshot Corpus Christi, 20-3.
After both teams traded chances to start the 2nd period, the IceRays would get on the board thanks to a 5 on 3 power play. Tornado goalie Jake Stafford made the original save, but could not cover the rebound as Josh Munford swept in a poked the loose puck under Stafford to make the score 2-1 Tornado. The Texas power play failed to capitalize in the middle of the period as the IceRays Jacob Diamond was whistled for a double minor and a game ejection for spearing. However, Jackson Leef would strike again with another helper to Nate Sliwinski, as Sliwinski found Leef for a one-timer in front to make it 3-1 Tornado. Just :18 seconds later, J.D. Howard would make it 4-1 right off the face-off with assists to Ralfs Freibergs and Jack Prince. Corpus Christi would make it 4-2 late in the period with a power play goal from the point off the stick of Ben Hughes, who fired a shot from the point past a screened Jake Stafford.
Early in the 3rd the Tornado almost increased the lead, but a shot by Tyler Rostenkowski rang off the post. Then Jack Prince would score his 6th goal of the season with a power play goal off a rebound drive from Donald Olivieri to make it 5-2 Tornado. :24 seconds later a breakaway by Michael Zagari was stopped by Copley, but Joseph Mottiqua stayed with the rebound and scored his first goal of the season and as a Tornado to make it 6-2 Texas. A Corpus Christi power play goal by IceRays Mike Benedict made the score 6-3 with 13 minutes remaining in the game. Any comeback by Corpus Christi was squashed thanks to their constant parade to the penalty box. Donald Olivieri lasered a patented slapshot home on a 5 on 3 power play to make it 7-3 Tornado. Frustrated with the score, the IceRays tried to exact some revenge by dropping the mitts on several occasions, which included a shot on Tornado goaltender Jake Stafford, but each time was met with the Tornado answering every challenge while Corpus kept hurting themselves with penalties. Jackson Leef completed his hat-trick on the extended power play to make the final 8-3. The eight goals marks the third time in the last three weekends the Tornado have scored eight goals in a game.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2010
- Stars Edged, 3-2 - Traverse City North Stars
- Eight Is Enough as Tornado Beat up IceRays, 8-3 - Texas Tornado
- Jr. Blues Fall to Chicago Hitmen in OT - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Corpus Christi Swept up by the Tornado, 2-1 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Wild Bests Monsters in Shootout - Wenatchee Wild
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
