NAHL Corpus Christi IceRays

Goaltender Sam Best Departs for College Hockey at A.I.C.

Published on January 16, 2019 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Corpus Christi IceRays are proud to announce that goaltender Sam Best has earned an NCAA Division I commitment with American International College (AIC) and will join the AIC Yellow Jackets hockey team (Atlantic Hockey) effective immediately.

Best, 20, departs the IceRays after posting a 13-9-0-0 record in 23 total appearances this season, including one shutout (Sept. 29), a 2.74 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. The Boston native stopped 43 shots in this past Saturday's 3-2 overtime victory against the Shreveport Mudbugs. He was named NAHL/Bauer Hockey South Division Star of the Week on Dec. 24 while helping lead the team to a junior franchise record nine-game winning streak (Nov. 24-Dec. 28).

"I am very proud of Sam and all he has accomplished," said IceRays head coach Ryan Cruthers, who also previously coached Best with the USPHL's Charlotte Rush. "He is going to a great program with an incredible coaching staff and we wish him the best. Sam is a model citizen on and off the ice and he has been a pleasure to coach over the last two seasons. I can't thank him enough for all he has done for this organization, his teammates, myself and the community."

The IceRays are in the process of adding a goaltender to join Brian George, who posted a 40-save shutout in Friday's win against Shreveport, for the team's netminding tandem moving forward.

Corpus Christi returns to the road this weekend with a pair of games in North Richland Hills against the Lone Star Brahmas. Faceoff on Friday, Jan. 18 and Saturday, Jan. 19 is set for 7:30 PM CT. IceRays games are carried live on Sportsradio Corpus Christi (1230 AM/95.1 FM/96.1 FM), HockeyTV and Mixlr with the pre-game show starting 15 minutes prior to faceoff. For more information, visit goicerays.com/broadcast.

The next home games for the IceRays are a three-game set Jan. 25-27 against the Amarillo Bulls. Single game tickets, group tickets and suites for the remainder of the 2018-19 IceRays season are on sale now. Visit goicerays.com or call 361-814-PUCK (7825) for tickets or more information. Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays) and Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays).

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