Rayz blank Austin 3-0

December 9, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Ron Vogel and Brent Zelenewich combined to keep the Austin Ice Bats off the board and Steve Pelletier scored his first two-goal game with the Rayz as the Corpus Christi Rayz shutout the Austin Ice Bats 3-0 Saturday night. Corpus Christi capped off a great week of hockey picking up five of a possible six points in a key road trip to each of their Southeast Division opponents. The Rayz won the back two games of the weekend and remained in second place in the division, just two point back from Laredo. Corpus Christi will return home on Thursday night to host the Austin Ice Bats on Texas Lottery Night on College Night, presented by U.S. Army and Hot Z-95FM.

Justin Quenneville got the only goal of the first period with a late deflection that beat Miguel Beaudry. At 18:14 Quenneville redirected a Chris Mei shot to give Corpus Christi a 1-0 lead after win. The Rayz 1-0 lead after one period marked the fourth straight game that Corpus Christi got the only goal of the opening frame. After the Rayz goal, Austin was given a two man advantage on back to back Rayz penalties that carried over into the second period. Austin outshot Corpus Christi 12-7 in the first stanza.

The Rayz came out with a strong penalty killing effort to begin the period and kept Austin off the board. However, after the penalty expired, Ron Vogel was relieved by Brent Zelenewich. Zelenewich came in to the game cold, but played like he was red hot, turning aside all 13 second period shots he faced. At the other end of the ice, the Rayz added to their advantage. At 11:57 of the frame Steve Pelletier sailed a shot from the right point just over the left shoulder of Beaudry and into the net to give the Rayz a two-goal lead. Pelletier's third goal of the season made the score 2-0 and that's how the second period ended. The Bats outshot the Rayz 14-6 in the second period.

In the third period, the Rayz held the Austin attack at bay and kept them off the scoreboard. Brent Zelenewich capped the brilliant goaltending performance with 12 third period saves and Corpus Christi sealed the game with an empty net goal from Pelletier at 19:14. The Rayz earned their second shutout of the year and held on for the 3-0 final.

The Rayz win was their second in a row and upped their record to 10-9-4 on the year. The win also gave Corpus Christi five of a possible six points on the three-game division road trip. The Bats fell for the second straight night after a five-game winning streak. Vogel earned the shutout win for his part of the shared net protection. He improved his record to 8-6-3 and got his first shutout with the Rayz. Beaudry played well in defeat making 20 saves on 22 shots and falling to 5-4-4. The Rayz were outshot 40-23. Corpus Christi and Austin both went 0-7 on the power play.

Corpus Christi will return home versus the Austin Ice Bats on Thursday, December 14th at 7:05pm on Texas Lottery Night, on College Night, presented by U.S. Army and Hot Z-95.5FM. Fans in attendance will have their chance to win a Texas Lottery scratch-off ticket and college students can get discounted tickets beginning at just $6. For more information, please call the Rayz a (361) 814-PUCK.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2006


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