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Rayz 'Dunn' Losing

November 20, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Corpus Christi, TX - It took the Corpus Christi Rayz 65 minutes of play, 13 shooters in an overtime shootout and four unanswered goals to get their newest Head Coach Pat Dunn a win, but it was well worth the wait.

The Rayz came back from a 3-0 deficit and scored two third period goals to beat the Austin Ice Bats 4-3 in a shootout Thursday night in a game that couldn't have been scripted any better than it played out. The Rayz had a new look as they took the ice with a new superstar on skates and a new Head Coach behind the bench.

Cosmo Dupaul made his return to the Rayz lineup Thursday night after missing the first 13 games of the season while rehabilitating a knee injury suffered in the off season. Interim Head Coach Pat Dunn made his return to the bench after Al Sims was released earlier in the week. Dupaul hadn't played in a game in over eight months. Dunn hadn't coached in almost a calendar year. Neither one of them showed any rest.

Dupaul had a goal and an assist, plus a goal in the overtime shootout and Dunn rallied his troops down from 3-0 to Rally the Rayz over the Bats.

The Rayz fell behind early after giving up three goals in the first period and a half, including two on the powerplay to the league's worst powerplay unit. They never lost their composure, however, and slowly crawled back into the game with powerplay goals of their own.

"It's positivity," said Dunn. "We were positive the whole time. We were down 3-1, but I told them ‘3-1 is a bad lead to have'. Then we got (the next goal) at it was a totally different team on my bench. They were all looking at me, and they all wanted to play. It was just fun."

Dan Shermerhorn got the Rayz on the board with 4:29 remaining in the second period with his third goal of the season on a five on three skating situation. Shermerhorn batted a pass out of mid air and past Bats goaltender Jonathan Forest (37 shots, 34 saves). The Rayz would keep their momentum in the beginning of the third when Ed McGrane got a goal 51 seconds into the period on the powerplay. McGrane's goal was his team leading tenth of the year and extended his goal scoring streak to four games.

That set the stage for Dupaul's heroics as he tied the game at three with a blistering slapshot at 11:14 of the third period. Immediately after the puck sailed past Forest, Dupaul jumped into the air, elated as his teammates mobbed him.

"It's just nice to be a part of something like this," said Dupaul. "It's nice to be part of the team and the guys winning. It's a good atmosphere and I really enjoyed myself tonight."

The teams would remain scoreless through the remainder of regulations and into overtime. A shootout would turn into a marathon as after five shooters both teams were tied at one goal a piece. Seven more shooters for each team would take the ice and get denied as Brent Belecki (35 shots, 32 saves) and Forest traded saves on after another. Rayz defenseman Trent Brandvold would be called on with a chance to win the game as the 13th shooter for the Rayz. He took the puck in on Forest and beat the Ice Bats netminder right between the pads with a quick wrist shot to send the Memorial Coliseum crowd into a frenzy and the Rayz home with a win. Brandvold's first goal of the season would be the game winner.

The Rayz improved to an even 6-6-2 record and moved to within two points of Rio Grande Valley for second place in the Southeastern Division and the final playoff spot. The Rayz have a chance to tie the Killer Bees tomorrow as they travel to Rio Grande Valley. The Ice Bats dropped to a 5-7-2 record and remain in the cellar of the Southwest Division.

Notes: Brent Belecki is now tied for the league lead with three shootout wins...McGrane's four game goal scoring streak is the Rayz second longest of the season. Nick Udovicic has the longest streak at five games...The Rayz won for the first time in six games...Austin has now won only two games in their last 11...Thursday night was the first game the Rayz won where their opponent scored first...The Bats had only scored one powerplay goal on the road coming into Thursday night's game. They scored two against the Rayz...The Rayz went 0 for 8 on the powerplay...The Bats went 0 for 6.

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