Kings hold on

Published on February 5, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Corpus Christi, TX - The Corpus Christi Rayz mounted a third period attack that saw three goals in a 2:02 span, but fell one shy of capping their improbable comeback in Thursday Night's 5-4 loss to the Lubbock Cotton Kings. For 55 minutes, the Cotton Kings felt secure about their lead. No one ever told them about the resiliency of the Rayz.

The team that has come back from two 3-0 deficits this season and does not know how to quit, never did on Thursday night, even when the odds seemed insurmountable. The Rayz fell behind early, giving up two first period goals to Mike Zeibaq and J.F. Labarre. In the second period, it was more of the same for Lubbock. Back and forth play without any clear cut scoring chances highlighted the period until another Kings power play proved deadly for Lubbock. Zeibaq got his second goal of the game from the left point to increase the Cotton Kings lead to 3-0.

In the early stages of the third period, the Cotton Kings continued their onslaught when Dave MacIntyre deflected a Russ Guzior pass to make the score 4-0 Lubbock. The game was seemingly over, but the never say die Rayz had other plans. On the power play, the newest Rayz acquisition Clint Way scored his first goal of the season in his first game for the Rayz. However, just 25 seconds later, the Cotton Kings recaptured the momentum on a Martin Adamsky breakaway goal. The score remained 5-1 for quite some time, until the Rayz began a comeback attempt that took everyone but themselves by surprise.

With under five minutes remaining in the game, Jonathan St. Louis, Brad Wingfield and Jay Woodcroft tallied within 2:02 of each other and sent the Coliseum crowd into a frenzy. The Rayz had scored four third period goals to move to within one of the Cotton Kings, but in the end, the Kings early advantage proved to be too much. Despite the valiant effort by the Rayz, the Cotton Kings held on for a 5-4 victory and snapped their seven game losing streak.

The Rayz (16-25-3) remained 11 points back from the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for the final playoff spot in the Southern Conference. They have a golden opportunity to make up some of that ground with their next two games coming against the Bees. The next game is Friday night at the Memorial Coliseum. Tickets are still available for the most important game of the season. For tickets, call 814-PUCK or come to Memorial Coliseum box office on game night.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 5, 2004


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