Icerays Win Second Consecutive Game In Showcase Tournament
Published on September 18, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release
BLAINE, Minn. - Very little had come easy for the IceRays entering Friday morning's game.
But after putting forth a complete performance, there was little to quibble over afterward.
Corpus Christi put together its most polished outing of the young North American Hockey League season, dismantling the Owatonna Express 5-1 at the Schwan Super Rink on the third day of the NAHL's Showcase Tournament.
The IceRays (2-1, 4 points) got opportunistic scoring, strong team defense and a 29-save outing from goalie Pheonix Copley in his junior A debut, leaving coach Brent Hughes quite pleased.
"It was leaps and bounds better than the first two hockey games," Hughes said. "I feel we've made strides. I thought we controlled the play most of the game. It was a great hockey game for our team. We did a lot of good things -- we put the puck in the net and kept it out of ours."
Beau Walker scored twice while Mike Benedict added a goal and two assists. After being shut out in two preseason games and their season opener, the IceRays have scored five times in each of their victories.
"The floodgates have opened," Walker said. "We're definitely working better together. Coach changed the lines up after the first game and it's been working out good.
"It's just shooting the puck more. It's definitely changing our perspective. We're shooting the puck more and scoring more goals."
Copley got his first start after Marco Wieser was in net the first two games. Copley was caught out of position on a wraparound on Owatonna's first goal, but was solid after that.
"I was a little bit (nervous), but I felt ready to go and was confident," Copley said. "Our defense was strong. They were doing a lot better job of covering guys in the (defensive) zone and keeping shots from the outside. That's what really helped me out there."
The IceRays started quickly. Jake Diamond, who scored the winner with 12.3 seconds left Thursday, knocked in a loose puck near the left post at 2:51.
Owatonna tied the score less than two minutes later, but Corpus Christi responded with a pair of goals 8:06 apart to seize control.
At 9:24, Walker, coming down right wing, snapped a wrist shot to the far side that nestled in under the crossbar.
Benedict then converted on the power play at 17:30, walking in from the left circle and put a shot on net that made its way through traffic and past goalie Tommy Burke.
Walker then struck again early in the second, finishing a back-door feed from Benedict at the left post at 4:54.
The IceRays added a crushing marker in the frame's final seconds. Corpus Christi won an offensive zone face-off and from the inner edge of the right circle, Kevin Crowe pumped a wrist shot under Burke's blocker with 6.1 seconds left.
"The guys aren't gripping their sticks near as hard as they were," Hughes said. "Usually at this level, the goals are more grinding and around the net. There were some pretty goals today that you don't normally see."
North American Hockey League Stories from September 18, 2010
- Solid Competition - Austin Bruins
- IceRays quell Rage in shootout - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Stars rush Alaska, 5-2 - Traverse City North Stars
- Closing Statement: Stars Rush Alaska, 5-2 - Traverse City North Stars
- Wild Wins 3-Of-4 at Tournament - Wenatchee Wild
- Bobcats Drop Showcase Finale 3-1 - Bismarck Bobcats
- Bulls Beat Bandits 5-3 - Amarillo Bulls
- Bulls win second beat Port Huron 4-1 - Amarillo Bulls
- Icerays Win Second Consecutive Game In Showcase Tournament - Corpus Christi IceRays
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