Rayz complete perfect week

November 21, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Five different Rayz players scored goals and Brent Zelenewich made 34 saves to lead the Corpus Christi Rayz over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Sunday Night at the American Bank Center 5-3. With the win, the Rayz swept a series of four games in five days and increased their record to 7-4-2 on the season.

The Rayz, who began the week of hockey with a 6-4 win Wednesday morning over the Memphis RiverKings, never trailed in the weekend set of three games in three nights. They beat the Austin Ice Bats 4-3 on Friday, then beat Rio Grande Valley 4-3 in OT on Saturday before controlling the game from start to finish for the 5-2 win Sunday Night.

Frank Werner got the goal scoring started 2:44 into the game with his second goal of the season. Ken McKay and Doug Scatchard got the assists. The Bees then tied the game up at 10:09 of the opening period when the Rayz turned the puck over in their defensive zone and Troy Linna beat Zelenwich from the left circle. The Rayz would regain their advantage just 1:45 later when Jason Baird converted a Bernie John pass for his team- leading tenth goal of the year. The teams thought they had skated off the ice after twenty minutes with the Rayz leading 2-1. However, when they returned from the locker room, referee Tudor Floru had ruled that a Matci Kralj shot with 28 seconds remaining in the period had gone through a hole in the Rayz net and credited the Bees with a goal. The teams skated the remaining 28 seconds of the first period and the frame officially came to a close tied at two.

It wouldn't take the Rayz long in the second period to recapture their lead. Just 19 seconds into the period, Baird fed a pass through the slot to Bullock who was waiting at the bottom of the right circle. Bullock fired a shot past Jacques Vezina for his ninth goal and 22nd point of the year. Corpus Christi increased their advantage to two for the first time when Ryan Carter set up in front of Vezina on the power play and redirect John's shot for the Rayz fourth goal at 15:52. The Rayz continued their second period onslaught with a late goal when Carter broke a pass through the Bees defense and hit McKay, who moved in and snapped a shot through the legs of Vezina. The Rayz ended the period ahead by three with a 5-2 advantage.

In the third period, the Killer Bees were unable to penetrate deep into Rayz territory for most of the frame, but finally got on the board again when Daymen Bencharski knocked home a puck on the doorstep and got the Bees within two. It was Bencharski's second goal in as many nights and came assisted from Blaz Emersic. However, Rio Grande Valley would get no closer as time expired giving the Rayz their fourth straight win of the season. The Bees outshot the Rayz for the second consecutive game 37-29, however the Rayz won back to back games against the Bees. The Rayz were 1 for 3 on the power play and the Killer Bees were 0 for 4.

The Rayz scored 19 goals in the four games this weekend and now lead Austin by three points, Laredo by five and Rio Grande Valley by nine. The Rayz will next take the ice Wednesday night when they host the San Angelo Saints at 7:05 pm at the American Bank Center. It will be college night and every college student with a valid ID will receive specially discounted tickets starting at $6. For more information, please contact the Rayz at (361)814-PUCK or log on to the Rayz website at www.ccrayz.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central