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Rayz beat Bees 5-4 in Shootout

December 29, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Corpus Christi Rayz never led on Saturday Night in Rio Grande Valley, but came back time and time again before besting the Killer Bees 5-4 in a shootout. The win completed a two game sweep of the Killer Bees and increased their second place advantage over the bees to four points. Joe Blaznek had a season-high five points to help the Rayz win their third in a row and hand Rio Grande Valley their seventh defeat in a row. Corpus Christi is now 11-14-3 and inched within three points of fourth place New Mexico in the Southern Conference. The Rayz return to the American Bank Center on New Year's Eve when they host the Austin Ice Bats at 8:05pm. Individual Tickets are on sale now. Please call 814-PUCK for more information, or visit the Rayz online at www.ccrayz.com

The Killer Bees got the scoring started at 2:29 when Josh Bonar found a loose puck on a scramble outside of the crease and scored the first goal of the game. The Rayz answered at 6:57 when Derek Smith sprung Adam Powell on a breakaway and Powell snapped a wrist shot blocker side past David Lemanowicz to tie the score. Rio Grande reclaimed the lead on a power play late in the frame when Rob Voltera redirected a shot from the right point past Jason Tapp at 16:58. The Bees outshot the Rayz 18-12 in the first period and took a 2-1 lead into the second period.

Early in the second period the Rayz tied the score when Joe Blaznek found Niko Tuomi with pass on the doorstep and Tuomi redirected it into the net at 2:34 to make the score 2-2. However, the Bees came back with two quick goals to get the lead again. Jeremy Van Hoof scored on a power play at 4:17 to make it 3-2. At 6:27 Boner scored his second of the night after moving around Tapp and tucking in the puck inside the left post. The Rayz outshot the Bees 16-13 in the frame but trailed 4-2 heading into the third.

The Rayz climbed back yet again in the third. 1:03 into the period Joe Blaznek scored from the right circle on a power play. Then 13:53 Jon Jankus tied the game from just outside the crease.

After a scoreless overtime, Tapp stole the show in the shootout denying all five Rio Grande Valley shooters and Joe Blaznek's lone goal was enough to secure the third straight win for Corpus Christi.

Tapp made 39 saves on 43 shots and stopped all five he faced in a shootout to improve to 11-12-2. Lemanowicz made 43 saves on 47 shots and stopped three of four shooters falling to 4-8-2. The Rayz went 1-3 on the power play, and the Bees were 2-3. The Rayz outshot the Bees 48-43.

The Rayz are proud to be celebrating a decade of hockey in South Texas. Individual game tickets are currently available. Get your Rayz tickets today at www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet or the American Bank Center. Rayz group discounts are also available. For more information, please call the Rayz at 361.814.PUCK.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2007


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