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Final Destination: Playoffs

February 24, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Victories against Austin and Tulsa this weekend gave the Rayz four out of a possible eight points, and thanks in part to a little help, the Rayz wake up this morning still maintaining their 2-point lead over the Lubbock Cotton Kings for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Southern Conference.

The Rayz began and ended the week with the Austin Ice Bats, and Wednesday the Bats got the better of the Rayz 2-1 in their final regular season visit to Memorial Coliseum. The Rayz did jump out to an early lead when John Sicinski (Mississauga, ONT) extended his goals streak to 5 games putting a wrist shot by Peter Brady at 3:08 of the 1st period on the power play for a 1-0 lead. However, it would be a short lived advantage as Gerald Tallaire fired a slap shot over Brent Belecki's (Calgary, ALB) left shoulder off a turnover at 7:03 of the 1st to tie the game at 1-1. The teams would go back and forth over the next 40 minutes exchanging opportunities, but each goaltender was up to the task every time. Finally, about midway through the 3rd period, Austin broke the tie when Kelly Smart's shot from the left point deflected off a Ray in front of the net and trickled by Belecki at 8:52 for the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner. Belecki stopped 43 shots in the tough-luck loss.

The Rayz quickly bounced back Friday defeating the first place Tulsa Oilers 3-1. For the second consecutive game, the Rayz opened the scoring at 18:09 of the 1st period when Russell Hogue (LaSalle, MB) found the loose puck at the top of the crease and slammed it home by Oilers goalie Matt Carmichael for a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room. Tulsa would come back in the 2nd to net the equalizer when Todd Marcellus streaking up the left wing boards found Justin Ossachuk crashing the net. Marcellus slid the puck right to Ossachuk's tape, and he stuffed it home along the left post at 13:00 to tie the game at 1-1. Yet the Rayz would counter and take the lead for good with another late period goal when Ryan Prentice (London, ONT) picked up Hogue's rebound in the slot and tipped it by Carmichael at 19:24 on the power play for a 2-1 advantage after two periods. In the 3rd period, the Oilers, despite picking up three power plays could not beat Belecki in net. John Sicinski then sealed the deal with an empty-net goal at 19:57 that gave the Rayz a victory and extended his goals streak to 6 games, tying a team-high. Belecki made 40 saves in the win.

The Rayz hoped to carry the momentum into Louisiana on Saturday, but were thwarted by the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 4-1. With both teams playing a very cautious 1st period with little offense, the Mudbugs finally got on the board at 17:12 when Dru Burgess deflected Jeff Glowa's point shot by Brent Belecki for a 1-0 lead. Bossier-Shreveport would extend their lead to two when David Oliver took a pass at the line from Jason Campbell who was behind the net, and fired a slap shot through traffic that managed to beat Belecki at 14:31 of the 2nd period to make the score 2-0. The Rayz, desperately seeking a spark, quickly countered just 1:04 seconds later when Mike Tilson (Pickering, ONT) collected his own rebound and stuffed it by Mudbugs goalie Jonathan Forest to get the Rayz on the board at 15:35 and cut the deficit in half at 2-1. However, third periods have been the Rayz Achilles heel all season, and in the final stanza the Bugs collected two goals :51 seconds apart from Chad Spurr and Forbes MacPherson to cruise to the win.

On Sunday though, the Rayz bounced back in improbable fashion with a convincing 4-1 win over Austin at the Travis County Expo Center. Four games in five nights didn't seem to create much fatigue as the Rayz scored the game's first goal for the third time this week when Kenny Goetz (Edgewater Park, NJ) found the puck in a mad scramble in front of Peter and slipped it by the Austin net-minder at 3:57 of the 1st period for a 1-0 lead. In the 2nd, the Rayz increased the lead when Ken Richardson (Peace Rivar, ALB) made a nifty pass across the slot to Mike Tilson charging in along the right boards. Tilson took the pass and fired a slap shot that Brady had no chance on at 4:34 to give the Rayz a 2-0 advantage. Then the league's best power play went to work. First, John Sicinski cycled the puck back to Tilson at the center blue line. Tilson checked his options, then teed up a shot on net that managed to beat Brady five-hole at 10:59 of the 2nd making the score 3-0. The Ice Bats would get one back when Dan Price tipped it off Brent Belecki and into the net at 12:35 of the 2nd, but the Rayz power play would answer the bell in the final period. Cosmo Dupaul (Pointe-Claire, PQ) collected the puck in the left corner and slid a pass to Richardson open at the top of Brady's crease. Richardson's first shot was saved, but Ken collected his own rebound and put it by an out of position Brady at 14:05 on the power play to cap the scoring and give the Rayz a huge 4-1 win. Brent Belecki made 35 saves, including 14 in the 3rd period for his 24th win of the year.

PLAYOFF UPDATE: The Rayz took 4 out of a possible 8 points this weekend, and thanks to some help, kept their 2-point lead over Lubbock for the final playoff spot for another week. The Cotton Kings managed to tie the Rayz twice this week thanks to wins over Fort Worth and El Paso, but were unable to overtake them. The biggest help came yesterday from Wichita as the Thunder rallied for five 3rd period goals, including Travis Clayton's breakaway game-winner with :09 seconds left in regulation, to stun Lubbock 6-5. Meanwhile, the New Mexico Scorpions are still hanging around as they took care of business beating Amarillo on the road Friday and coming home to defeat Wichita Saturday night to remain 3 points behind the Rayz and 1 point behind the Cotton Kings. With the Scorpions only playing twice this week, they picked up two games in hand over the Rayz. Lubbock still has one game in hand as well. This week the tables reverse as New Mexico plays 4 games while the Rayz and Cotton Kings only play 3. Lubbock is at home for two of those games as they host Odessa Thursday and Tulsa on Saturday. Friday they're on the road in Austin. The Cotton Kings have 11 games left (6 home, 5 away). Meanwhile New Mexico will play at El Paso tomorrow before hosting Amarillo on Thursday and Odessa Friday and Saturday. The Scorpions have 12 games left in the season (6 home, 6 away).

NOT SO MIGHTY BATS: Sunday's 4-1 win was the Rayz 4th this season against Austin, the most success any team has had against the Ice Bats in 2002-03 who have the best winning percentage in all of professional hockey, including the NHL. The Rayz are responsible for 30.7% of Austin's total losses this season, and also became the first team this year to beat the Ice Bats twice at the Travis County Expo Center.

BEST AGAINST THE BEST: It may be just a coincidence, but besides the Ice Bats, the Rayz have been very successful against the top teams in the CHL this season. Including Sunday's win, the Rayz are now a very respectable 10-8 this year against the division leaders. The Rayz are 4-6 against Austin, but 4-1 versus Odessa, 1-0 versus Tulsa, and 1-1 versus Memphis (Note: Memphis and Tulsa were in first place when they played the Rayz).

THE EXTERMINATOR IS IN THE HOUSE: Going back to 2/1/03 at Amarillo, the Rayz have killed off 23 consecutive power plays, their best stretch of the season. The Rayz are up to 12th in the CHL on the penalty kill at 257-318 (80.8%). This is much improved from the beginning couple of months of the season where the Rayz were a league-worst 74% on the penalty kill.

MORE THAN SIX DOESN'T MIX: Rayz forward John Sicinski saw his season and team high 6-game goal streak come to an end on Saturday in Bossier City. Sicinski tied Cosmo Dupaul's team-high streak when he tallied an empty-net goal Friday vs. Tulsa. Sicinski leads the team in goals scored with 28 and is second in points with 54.

BOURQUE OUT: Rayz defenseman David Bourque took a high-stick to the face on Friday, right above the right eye, and suffered a mild concussion. Bourque dressed and was in the lineup for both games Saturday and Sunday, but did not play leaving the Rayz with just four healthy defensemen. Bourque is the fourth Rayz player this season to suffer a concussion and his status for Friday's game is questionable.

MARTINIS ON MONDAY: "Rayz Monday" continues tonight from 5PM-6PM at the Martini Bar located at the corners of Everhart and Saratoga in Corpus Christi. The Voice of the Rayz Dan Weiss hosts the show every Monday along with Scott Howe on ESPN Radio 1230 KSIX and is joined by Head Coach Al Sims and several Rayz players.

UP NEXT: The Rayz continue their drive for the playoffs this week with 2 home games sandwiched around a visit to Austin on Saturday. Friday night the Rayz play host to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at Memorial Coliseum at 7:05PM. Saturday the Rayz will travel to Austin for the final time in the regular season to meet the Ice Bats at the Travis County Expo Center at 7:30PM. Sunday the Rayz are back at home for another matinee affair, this time against the San Angelo Saints. Game time at Memorial Coliseum will be 3:05PM. All games can be heard on 1045 The Octopus with Dan Weiss and Rick Dames, or on the Internet at www.sportsjuice.com. Broadcast time begins 30 minutes before face-off with the "American Tire and Wheel Pre-Game Show.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2003


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