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Rayz beat Killer Bees 4-1

October 13, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Corpus Christi Rayz scored four straight goals from four different players on Saturday Night to beat the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 4-1 in the Caller-Times Best-of-the-Best exhibition game, presented by the City of Corpus Christi and the American Bank Center/SMG. The Rayz win was their first of the exhibition season and improved their record to 1-1 in the pre-season. The two clubs will round out the exhibition portion of the year on Monday night in Rio Grande Valley. The Rayz and Bees then open up the regular season with a home and home set on October 19th and 20th. Tickets for the Rayz home opener on Saturday, October 20th are available at all Ticketmaster locations or the American Bank Center Box Office. For more information, please call the Rayz at (361) 814-PUCK.

The Killer Bees struck first when rookie Jared Silver beat Jason Tapp from the inside edge of the right circle 10:15 into the hockey game to open the scoring. The Rayz responded six minutes later when Jason Baird scored a power play goal on a one-timer from the right circle, set up on a cross-ice pass from Nick Lindberg. The clubs went to the locker room in the first intermission tied at one. Rio Grande Valley outshot Corpus Christi 14-11 in the opening frame.

The Rayz took control in the second period when they tallied twice in 62 seconds to take their first lead of the night. The Rayz made it 2-1 at 5:16 of the period when Derek Smith scored on a rebound off a J.R. Bria shot. Just over a minute later, the Rayz opened up a two-goal advantage when new Rayz addition Joe Blaznek finished off a beautiful series of passing by the Rayz top line. Jason Baird got the play started from the left circle and found Justin Quenneville at the high slot who fed Blaznek at the right circle. Blaznek then snapped a shot past Jeff Van Nynatten at 6:18. The Rayz outshot the Bees 15-13 in the frame and took a 3-1 lead into the third period.

In the third, the Rayz capped the scoring on a power play when rookie Jon Jankus redirected a Nick Lindberg shot with the heel of his stick, beating replacement netminder Matthew Spezza at 3:56 of the period. The Rayz held on for the 4-1 win. Tapp earned the win for Corpus Christi playing the opening two periods and turning aside all but one of the 27 Killer Bees shots. Kevin Couture came on in relief for the Rayz and tended a perfect third period stopping all 13 shots he faced. Van Nynatten took the loss, surrendering three goals on 26 shots. Spezza played the third period and gave up one goal on six shots. The Bees outshot the Rayz 40-32. Corpus Christi went 2-6 on the power play while Rio Grande Valley was 0-3.

The Corpus Christi Rayz will begin their 10th Anniversary season on October 19th and return to the American Bank Center for their home opener on Saturday, October 20th at 7:05pm vs. Rio Grande Valley. The Rayz are proud to be celebrating a decade along the Gulf Coast and invite all of South Texas to join in the fun of the 2007-2008 campaign. Season tickets and corporate packages are currently available through the Rayz office. For more information, please call the Rayz at (361) 814-PUCK.

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