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Rayz open New Year with win

January 4, 2005 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Season Record: 15-10-3 (33 points) Home Record: 7-3-1 (15 points) Away Record: 8-7-2 (18 points)

Week in Review: The Corpus Christi Rayz ushered in a new year over the weekend, however, they kept the same winning style they had grown accustomed to in 2004. The Rayz book ended a three game set with road victories to improve their point total to 33 on the season and remain in first place in the CHL's Southeast Division. They are currently tied atop their division with the Laredo Bucks as they head into the final weekend of the first half of the season. The Rayz will play home games this Friday and Saturday Night leading them into the All-Star break. The Rayz began last weekend with their fourth win of the year at the Dodge Arena against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees with a 6-2 victory. The game was highlighted by a quick Rayz 4-0 lead and then a line brawl in the second period. Corpus Christi earned a season high 46 penalty minutes in the game while staying unbeaten in regulation this year against the Bees.

The Rayz then returned home for their final home game of 2004 and a special New Years Eve celebration, however they had their party spoiled by the Austin Ice Bats. The Bats handed the Rayz just their third loss of the season at home. John McNabb had two shorthanded goals and a hat trick to lead Austin to the victory. The Rayz went back on the road immediately to face-off against the Odessa Jackalopes on the first day of the new year. Dominic Periard and Josh Blackburn led the way as the Rayz beat the Jacks 3-1 and improved their road record to over .500 and remained in first place in the division. Periard had his first two goal game of the year in his first weekend back after missing three games due to injury, and Blackburn made 36 saves for his fourth straight win. The first place Rayz will now begin a three-game home-stand for the first time in American Bank Center history.

This Week's Schedule: Friday, January 7 vs. Rio Grande Valley 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 8 vs. Odessa 7:00 p.m.

Last Week's Results: Thursday, December 30th @ Rio Grande Valley 6-2 W

Friday, December 31st vs. Austin 4-1 L

Saturday, January 1st @ Odessa 3-1 W

All Rayz home games are played at the American Bank Center. All games will be broadcast live on the flagship station of the Corpus Christi Rayz - 103.7 FM KOUL and online at the Rayz website - www.ccrayz.com. All home games, along with select road games, are available for viewing on the internet at www.chltv.com.

Practice Schedule: The Rayz practice this week from 10:00-11:30am Tuesday through Thursday at the Champion Toyota Ice Center at the Memorial Coliseum. On Friday and Saturday mornings, there will be a pre-game warm-up skate lasting approximately 30 min at the American Bank Center at 10:00am.

Dynamic Duo

The Rayz have seen two of their young guns explode this season and in so doing help the Rayz become one of the highest scoring teams in the CHL. Rookie forwards Derrick McIver and Ken McKay did not take long to settle into their pro careers nicely. McIver currently leads the Southern Conference in rookie goals with 15, and is one back from the Rayz team lead. He and McKay are currently tied for the team lead in rookie scoring at 21 points apiece on the season. McKay, who was forced to miss six games earlier in the year, is averaging just under a point a game in his first twenty two contests as a pro. The tandem is tied for seventh in the league in rookie points. Both men have tallied three multi-goal games this season tying them for the team lead with Jason Baird.

What a Difference a Year Makes

As 2004 concluded, the Rayz have made a quantum leap to where they were 365 days ago. The Rayz are currently tied for first place and through less than half of this season, they have already toppled many records from last year. This weekend's pair of road games gave the Rayz their 7th and 8th wins and their 18th point of the year on the road. That total surpasses the amount of wins and points the Rayz gained away from Corpus Christi all last season through 32 road games. Individual accomplishments are abundant as well this season. Currently, Greg Bullock and Jason Baird lead the Rayz with 39 and 36 points respectfully. Both of them have passed Mike Tilson's team leading 34 points from last season's end. Baird also has 16 goals, and rookie, Derrick McIver has 15 goals this year. Last season the team high after 64 games was 16 goals. The Rayz are in first place and over the weekend became the first team in the Southeast Division to hit the 30 point plateau.

Star-Studded

For the first time in franchise history, the Corpus Christi Rayz will have three members on a CHL All-Star team. When the best of the league meet in Laredo next Wednesday, January 12th, the Rayz will have three representatives in Bernie John, Jason Baird and Greg Bullock. Baird, who was last season's All-Star Game MVP, will be there with Bullock as the two leading scorers in the Southern Conference. John, who is the Rayz captain and the reigning CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman, leads all defensemen in points per game this season.

BlackStop

Rayz netminder, Josh Blackburn, has been impressive in his last four starts. He is a perfect 4-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and a save percentage of .946 over that span. Over the weekend, Blackburn made 41 saves on 43 Rio Grande Valley shots Thursday and 36 saves on 37 Odessa shots Saturday to lead the Rayz to both victories of the weekend. The wins improved Blackburn's record to 8-3-0 on the season and a perfect 4-0-0 mark against the Bees.

This Week in the Community: Yesterday, Rayz defenseman Dominic Periard appeared with Head Coach, Ken McRae on the Corpus Christi Rayz Coach's Radio Show at Buffalo Wild Wings. The Rayz will appear at Buffalo Wild Wings at 2001 SPID every Monday night for the remainder of the season. The show can be heard weekly on the Rayz flagship station, 103.7 FM KOUL.

This Saturday night, immediately following the Rayz game at the American Bank Center versus the Odessa Jackalopes, Rayz players, Greg Bullock, Blair Stayzer and Brent Zelenewich will appear at the Team Store in the arena for a post-game autograph session. Fans can bring merchandise or memorabilia to the game that they would like to have signed, or they may purchase anything at the store and immediately have it autographed.

The Rayz and the American Bank Center are teaming up this weekend to offer fans greater access inside the brand new state of the art home of the Rayz. In the latter stages of both games this weekend, the Club Suite Level in the American Bank Center will be opened up to the general public. Fans will have the opportunity beginning in the third period of each game to head upstairs to the Suite Level, where they may enjoy a full service bar and a buffet spread of food, plus ample seating and first class treatment in the Club Level. The Club Level will remain open after the conclusion of the game and the Rayz players will join the fans in the area.

Rayz Next Home Game: The Rayz return home next week with back to back games on Friday and Saturday night against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and Odessa Jackalopes respectively. Both games begin at 7:00pm. This Friday Night is Ladies Night. All Ladies 18 and older will receive specially discounted tickets starting at just $8. A lucky fan has a chance to win a cruise for two to an exotic destination. Ladies can come get pampered by the Rayz this Friday night as the Rayz make their first home appearance of the new year. Ladies are getting into the game for as little as $8 The game starts at 7:00pm and the doors open up at 6.

Then on Saturday there will be a celebration fit for a King...Elvis that is! Come help the Rayz celebrate Elvis' 70th birthday as Corpus Christi converts the American Bank Center into Graceland South. There will be Elvis memorabilia giveaways throughout the night, including a trip for two to Las Vegas. All fans who show up at the box office dressed as Elvis will receive a special discount on tickets. Plus if your name is Elvis, King or Lisa Marie you'll get into the game FREE! In addition, world famous Elvis impersonator Ralph Elizondo will be on hand to entertain the crowd. Regular priced tickets start as low as $10 and are available at the American Bank Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. For more information, contact the Rayz at (361)814-PUCK.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2005


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