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NAHL Corpus Christi IceRays

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April 6, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


LAST WEEK...

Friday, April 3: Wenatchee Wild 3, IceRays 2 (OT)

Shots: Wild 39, IceRays 33

PP: Wild 0-for-1, IceRays 0-for-1

The Corpus Christi IceRays (0-0-1) forced the first overtime of the 2015 Robertson Cup Playoffs though falling 3-2 to the Wenatchee Wild (1-0-0) on Friday night from the American Bank Center. The Wild took a 1-0 series lead in the South Division Quarterfinals.

IceRays forward Frankie Melton (6:37 1st) recorded the series' first goal to give the home-side a 1-0 lead on a stuff-in attempt. Wild forward David Powlowski (17:31 1st) evened the scoreline with a flip into the net on a loose puck just shy of the crease. Wild forward Brendan Harris (15:27 2nd) gave the Wild their first lead of the series late in the second period, but IceRays forward Wes Michaud (17:50 2nd) tied the game, 2-2, with a great set-up from co-liners Connor Kelly and Tanner Lomsnes. After entering overtime, Wild forward August Von Ungern-Sternberg (2:13 OT) redirected a point shot from Dan Bailey to claim the 3-2 overtime win.

Wild goaltender Zach Quinn (1-0-0) earned the win, stopping 31 of 33 shots, while IceRays netminder Andrew Lindgren (0-0-1) grabbed the loss, saving 36 of 39 shots.

Saturday, April 4: Wenatchee Wild 3, IceRays 2

Shots: Wild 47, IceRays 26

PP: Wild 0-for-3, IceRays 1-for-2

The Corpus Christi IceRays (0-1-1) charged back in the final three minutes of the third period but could not pull off the full comeback, dropping 3-2 to the Wenatchee Wild (2-0-0) on Saturday night from the American Bank Center. Wenatchee claimed a 2-0 series win in their best-of-three series to move on to the South Division Semifinals.

Wenatchee came out of the first period with two-straight goals from forwards Colin Burston (5:00 1st) and Mike Coyne (13:18 1st) on second-chance plays to take a 2-0 lead heading into the second frame. After a scoreless period, Wild forward August Von Ungern-Sternberg (12:38 3rd) tripled the Wild lead before the IceRays could answer. They would late in the frame thanks to a put back goal from forward Tanner Lomsnes (EA, PP, 17:36) followed by a redirection goal from forward Connor Kelly (EA, 18:50 3rd) to draw within one, 3-2. A last gas effort came up short as the IceRays were eliminated from the 2015 Robertson Cup Playoffs.

Wild goaltender Michael Bullion (1-0-0) earned the win, stopping 24 of 26 shots, while IceRays netminder Andrew Lindgren (0-1-1) grabbed the loss, saving 44 of 47 shots.

THIS WEEK...

The Corpus Christi IceRays close out the 2014-15 season with their best record in junior franchise history, going 31-25-6 in 62 total games played including playoffs. While they did not come away with a playoff win or series win in the postseason, the IceRays set the stage for the 2015-16 season, which begins with the IceRays Pre-Draft Camp on May 29 to May 31 from the Taylor Sportsplex in Taylor, Mich., just before the 2015 NAHL Draft in June. Information on registration and schedules can be found on www.goicerays.com.

The Robertson Cup Playoffs continue on this weekend with the rest of the league entering their divisional semifinal rounds. The South Division will pit the Lone Star Brahmas against the Wenatchee Wild as well as the Topeka RoadRunners and the Wichita Falls Wildcats against one another for a chance at the divisional finals and a step closer to the Robertson Cup. The Brahmas and Wild each won two games in their season series, splitting their two-game set in North Richland Hills and their two-game matchup in Wenatchee. The Brahmas hold th slight edge with not only one more point in their series by virtue of an overtime loss but also having home-ice advantage in their best-of-five series beginning this weekend. The RoadRunners and Wildcats also split their season series, each winning four of eight games including each claiming three of four wins on home ice. The Wildcats just barely outscored the RoadRunners 26-25 but are also coming off a series sweep against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees last Thursday and Friday.

South Division Semifinals:

Lone Star Brahmas (1st) vs. Wenatchee Wild (5th)

Games 1 & 2: Friday & Saturday - 7:30 p.m. - NYTEX Sports Centre

Games 3, 4 & 5: TBD

Topeka RoadRunners (2nd) vs. Wichita Falls Wildcats (3rd)

Games 1 & 2: Friday & Saturday - 7:05 p.m. - Kansas ExpoCenter

Games 3 & 4: April 13 & 14 - 7:05 p.m. - Kay Yeager Coliseum

Game 5 (if necessary): April 18 - 7:05 p.m. - Kansas ExpoCenter

Final South Division Standings:

z-Lone Star Brahmas 40-12-8, 88 points

y-Topeka RoadRunners 39-15-6, 84 points

x-Wichita Falls Wildcats 39-16-5, 83 points

x-Corpus Christi IceRays 31-24-5, 67 points

x-Wenatchee Wild 27-25-8, 62 points

x- Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 25-25-10, 60 points

Amarillo Bulls 25-31-4, 54 points

Odessa Jackalopes 15-38-7, 37 points

z - South Division Title

y - First-Round Bye

x - Clinched Playoffs

ICERAYS BITS...

The IceRays exit their second attempt at the Robertson Cup in two games, falling to 1-4-1 overall in postseason games in junior franchise history. The franchise has never won a playoff series, including in 12 years as a professional organization, and have never advanced to the second round by winning a series. The 2007 Corpus Christi Rayz lost their first round series 4-3 to the Arizona Sun Dogs but advanced in the CHL Playoffs because the league needed another playoff team. They would lose 4-1 to the Laredo Bucks in that round.

IceRays goaltender Andrew Lindgren faced the highest weekend total of shots for a netminder in postseason franchise history, seeing 86 shots in two days and stopping 82 of them (.953). That total is the second-highest shot total a single goaltender has seen in back-to-back games this season with the only other time coming on Oct. 17 & 18 against the Topeka RoadRunners, during which Lindgren stopped 89 of 97 shots (.918). Both sets of games saw at least one contest go to overtime.

The IceRays will see seven players depart from the lineup heading into the off-season: six due to aging out and one with an early college commitment. Defensemen Anthony Cortese & Travis Howe and forwards Matt Colford, Nic LaBurn, Tanner Lomsnes, and Connor Kelly all completed their last season of junior eligibility on Saturday night with one already committed to play college next season (Lomsnes, Niagara University). Forward Wes Michaud committed to Colorado College for next season and will depart as the team's leading point-scorer this season and the franchise's record holder for single season goals, assists, and points. The IceRays lose four of their top-six scorers (Michaud, Lomsnes, Cortese, LaBurn) as well as four of their top-five players that ended the season on top line units (Michaud, Lomsnes, Kelly, Cortese).

IN THE COMMUNITY...

The IceRays will be holding camps throughout the off-season and special events leading into the 2015-16 season. Keep up-to-date with that and more including draft camps, the 2015 NAHL Draft, and special features on www.goicerays.com as well as on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), Instagram (/CorpusChristiIceRays), and Vine (@goicerays).

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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.

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