Rayz announce 2006-07 season schedule

August 7, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Corpus Christi Rayz ninth professional hockey season will begin and end with home contests against their biggest rivals, the Laredo Bucks, the Rayz announced Monday afternoon. The announcement came as part of the 2006-2007 CHL regular season schedule release. The 64-game schedule (32 games in Corpus Christi and 32 games on the road) is highlighted by the fact that 28 of the Rayz 32 home games will be played on a weekend (Fri, Sat or Sun). During the season, the Rayz will host 13 out of 16 CHL opponents and travel throughout six states to 12 cities in the five-month long season. The Rayz begin their campaign on Opening Night, Saturday, October 21, 2006 at 7:05pm at the American Bank Center vs. the Bucks. They come full circle to conclude their season on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at the American Bank Center when they once again host Laredo on the 3rd Annual Pack the House for Charity Night.

The Rayz will open the season with three games against their Southeast Division foes, Laredo, Austin and Rio Grande Valley. The Rayz will host the Bucks in their lone game on the league's opening weekend. They then travel to play the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and host the Austin Ice Bats respectively, in the following week. The opening stretch provides a preview of what will be a heavy dosage of key divisional and conference games. The Rayz will play 53 of their 64 games against Southern Conference opponents. 35 of those games will come against the Southeast Division trio. The Rayz have 10 games (5 home, 5 away) versus the Ice Bats, 12 games (6 home, 6 away) against the Killer Bees and a season-high 13 games (7 home, 6 away) against the defending President's Cup Champion Bucks.

Rayz fans will get an up close look at the majority of the CHL this year as all but three teams will visit Corpus Christi at least once during the season. The exceptions are the Colorado Eagles, Oklahoma City Blazers and Wichita Thunder. The expansion Rocky Mountain Rage and the Tulsa Oilers will each make one visit to the American Bank Center, for the lone meeting of the season with the Rayz. The Rage visit Corpus Christi on January 19th for their first ever game versus the Rayz. The Oilers will make their first visit to the Sparkling City on February 16, 2007. It will mark their first trip to Corpus since February 2003.

"I've been in this business since the 1989-1990 hockey season", said Rayz General Manager Larry Linde. "And I can honestly say this is by far the best home schedule that I've ever been associated with." He added, "We've got the best dates and some of the best match-ups that any fan could ask for. It's going to be a battle this season against Laredo, Austin and Rio Grande Valley - and our fans will be right in the middle of it."

On Sunday, November 19, 2006 at the American Bank Center the Rayz will play their first ever game against the expansion Arizona Sundogs. The Rayz will play the Sundogs four total times this season, including two meetings in Corpus Christi. Other key dates in the upcoming season include the 3rd Annual Rayz New Year's Eve Celebration home game on December 31st, 2006. The game versus the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs will begin at 8:05 p.m. and feature a block party on Shoreline following the game and a fireworks display at midnight. On January 23rd the Rayz will play host to the Austin Ice Bats at 11:05a.m. in the 3rd Annual "Cool School Day Game", open to all 4th and 5th grade students. And the Rayz will wrap up the season with the 3rd Annual Pack the House for Charity Night on Saturday, March 24th. The previous two Pack the House Night events have raised thousands of dollars for local charities and led to single game attendance records for the team.

For the second straight year the Rayz will travel to Youngstown for a road trip set of games over Thanksgiving. The Rayz will battle the Hounds on November 22nd, 24th and 25th, accounting for three of the four meetings between the clubs this season. That will be the Rayz longest road trip, geographically. The longest road trip for games will be a five-game stretch from March 11-23 when the Rayz visit Laredo, New Mexico, Arizona twice and then Austin. Due to that stretch Corpus Christi will be on the road for five of their final six games of the season. The preceding week, however, Corpus Christi will host a season-high, four-game home stand from March 3-10. Over that time the Rayz will host Rio Grande Valley three times, and Laredo once.

The Rayz play at least one game on each day of the week this season except Monday. The majority of the games were scheduled for the weekends to accommodate fans. Of the Rayz 32 home games, they will play 13 Saturday night games, nine on Friday nights, six on Sunday afternoon and one on Sunday Night (New Year's Eve). The additional games consist of the "Cool School Day Game" and a Tuesday night as well as a pair of Thursday night games.

For the third straight year, the Rayz will play all home games at the American Bank Center in downtown Corpus Christi. Fans should note a change in game times from last season. Most Rayz home games Monday - Saturday will return their start time to 7:05pm this year, while Sunday afternoon start times will begin at 3:05pm. The exceptions to this will be the "Cool School Game" at 11:05am and New Year's Eve game which begins at 8:05pm. Several other games will begin at 8:05pm to allow the building to convert from basketball in the afternoon to Rayz hockey in the evening. Individual tickets to all Rayz home games will go on sale Monday, October 2nd. Tickets will be available at the American Bank Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, via phone and at www.ticketmaster.com

The Corpus Christi Rayz are currently in preparation for the 2006-2007 season. The Rayz return to the American Bank Center is only 75 days away. Corpus Christi will begin their season at home on October 21st vs. the Laredo Bucks at 7:05pm. Season ticket packages and corporate sponsorship opportunities are currently available. For more information please call the Rayz at (361) 814-PUCK or log on to www.ccrayz.com.

RAYZ 2006-2007 ROSTER

Jason Baird LW

Ryan Carter RW

Derrick McIver RW

Tim Vitek C

Kevin Watters LW

Corpus Christi Rayz

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2006-2007 Regular Season Schedule

Sat. Oct. 21 vs. Laredo Bucks 7:05pm

Fri. Oct. 27 @ Rio Grande Valley 7:35pm

Sat. Oct. 28 vs. Austin Ice Bats 7:05pm

Tues. Oct. 31 @ Laredo Bucks 7:00pm

Fri. Nov. 3 @ Amarillo Gorillas 7:00pm

Sat. Nov. 4 @ Austin Ice Bats 7:30pm

Sun. Nov. 5 vs. Odessa Jackalopes 3:05pm

Thur. Nov. 9 vs. Austin Ice Bats 7:05pm

Fri. Nov. 10 @ Odessa Jackalopes 7:00pm

Sat. Nov. 11 vs. Memphis RiverKings 8:05pm

Thur. Nov. 16 @ Austin Ice Bats 7:30pm

Sat. Nov. 18 vs. New Mexico 7:05pm

Sun. Nov. 19 vs. Arizona Sundogs 3:05pm

Wed. Nov. 22 @ Youngstown 7:05pm

Fri. Nov. 24 @ Youngstown 7:05pm

Sat. Nov. 25 @ Youngstown 7:05pm

Tue. Nov. 28 vs. Amarillo 7:05pm

Fri. Dec. 1 @ Rio Grande Valley 7:35pm

Sat. Dec. 2 vs. Rio Grande Valley 7:05pm

Sun. Dec. 3 vs. Laredo Bucks 3:05pm

Wed. Dec. 6 @ Laredo Bucks 11:00am

Fri. Dec. 8 @ Rio Grande Valley 7:35pm

Sat. Dec. 9 @ Austin Ice Bats 7:30pm

Fri. Dec. 15 vs. Lubbock 7 :05pm

Sun. Dec. 17 @ Rio Grande Valley 4 :05pm

Fri. Dec. 22 @ Laredo Bucks 7:30pm

Sat. Dec. 23 vs. Odessa Jackalopes 7:05pm

Fri. Dec. 29 @ Lubbock 7:05pm

Sat. Dec. 30 @ Odessa Jackalopes 7:00pm

Sun. Dec. 31 vs. Bossier-Shreveport 8:05pm

Fri. Jan. 5 vs. Rio Grande Valley 7:05pm

Sat. Jan. 6 @ Bossier-Shreveport 7:05pm

Sun. Jan. 7 @ Memphis RiverKings 5:05pm

Fri. Jan. 12 vs. Youngstown 7:05pm

Sat. Jan. 13 vs. Arizona Sundogs 8:05pm

Fri. Jan. 19 vs. Rocky Mountain Rage 7:05pm

Sat. Jan. 20 @ Austin Ice Bats 7:30pm

Tues. Jan. 23 vs. Austin Ice Bats 11:05am

Fri. Jan. 26 @ Lubbock 7:05pm

Sat. Jan. 27 vs. Laredo Bucks 8:05pm

Sun. Jan. 28 vs. Laredo Bucks 3:05pm

Thur. Feb. 1 @ Rio Grande Valley 7:35pm

Fri. Feb. 2 vs. Rio Grande Valley 7:05pm

Sat. Feb. 3 @ Rio Grande Valley 7:35pm

Fri. Feb. 9 vs. Odessa Jackalopes 7:05pm

Sat. Feb. 10 vs. Odessa Jackalopes 8:05pm

Sun. Feb. 11 @ Laredo Bucks 4:00pm

Wed. Feb. 14 @ Laredo Bucks 7:00pm

Fri. Feb. 16 vs. Tulsa Oilers 7:05pm

Sun. Feb. 18 vs. Austin Ice Bats 3:05pm

Tues. Feb. 20 @ Bossier-Shreveport 7:05pm

Fri. Feb. 23 vs. Austin Ice Bats 7:05pm

Sat. Feb. 24 vs. Laredo Bucks 7:05pm

Fri. Mar. 2 @ Odessa Jackalopes 7:00pm

Sat. Mar. 3 vs. Rio Grande Valley 7 :05pm

Sun. Mar. 4 vs. Laredo Bucks 3:05pm

Fri. Mar. 9 vs. Rio Grande Valley 7 :05pm

Sat. Mar. 10 vs. Rio Grande Valley 7 :05pm

Sun. Mar 11 @ Laredo Bucks 4:00pm

Wed. Mar. 14 @ New Mexico 7:35pm

Fri. Mar. 16 @ Arizona Sundogs 7:00pm

Sat. Mar. 17 @ Arizona Sundogs 7:00pm

Fri. Mar. 23 @ Austin Ice Bats 7 :30pm

Sat. Mar. 24 vs. Laredo Bucks 7:05pm



Central Hockey League Stories from August 7, 2006


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