Killer Bees prove deadly

Published on February 8, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Corpus Christi, TX - Friday night the Corpus Christi Rayz saw how hard it is to come back from a deficit against a defensive minded Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees team. On Sunday night, the Rayz realized it once again. The Killer Bees jumped out to an early victory and controlled the game from then on as they beat the Rayz 5-2 Sunday night at the Dodge Arena.

Brad Wingfield and Ryan Shmyr fought right off the opening face-off of the game, setting the tone for a physical meeting. However, despite the boost for the Rayz with Wingfield's fight, they gave up the early lead.

Just two day removed from shutting out the Rayz 4-0 in Corpus Christi, the Bees jumped out to another early lead. Matic Kralj and Ryan Shmyr scored in a gap less than three minutes apart to open the scoring. After falling behind 2-0, the Rayz controlled the flow of the game, trying to get back into the game, however they were unable to get any clear cut scoring chances against Bees netminder Jeff Levy. The Bees added to their advantage when All-Star forward Bill Newson broke down the right side and blistered a slapshot over the glove of Rayz goaltender Greg Hewitt. Less than two minutes later, Shmyr got his second goal of the night on repeated rebound chances in front of Hewitt to make the score 4-0.

The Bees were first to strike in the second period as well when a three on one break for Rio Grande Valley found Justin Van Parys all alone in the slot to redirect a pass past Greg Hewitt. That made the score 5-0 and closed the books on Hewitt, who was pulled for Craig Hillier after the fifth Killer Bees goal.

The Rayz showed their character by never quitting and scoring the final two goals of the game, however once again, they had fallen behind by too large of a margin early on and could not make it up in the end. Jonathan St. Louis scored late in the second period and Clint Way added a power play goal in the third to make the game closer. Way scored his second goal in three games since coming over from Austin in a trade on the CHL trading deadline last Monday.

The Rayz slipped to 16-27-3 and 15 points behind Rio Grande Valley for the final playoff spot in the Southern Conference. The Rayz still have two games in hand over the Bees and will face them five more times this season. The Rayz remain 11 points behind Austin with the same two game advantage after Austin fell to Tulsa Sunday night. The Rayz will return home for their only home game of the week Wednesday night when the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs make their first visit of the year to the Memorial Coliseum. Good seats are still available. Call 814-PUCK for more information.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2004


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