Rayz top Bees 4-3 in shootout for first win

Published on October 20, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Corpus Christi Rayz returned to the American Bank Center for the first time in six months on Saturday Night and made up for lost time in excitement. Geno Parrish scored the game winning goal in a shootout to give the Rayz a 4-3 win - their first of the season - over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in the 2007-2008 home opener. The Rayz never trailed in the back and forth contest, and were able to hold off a late Rio Grande Valley attack for their first win of the year. The Rayz finished up the opening weekend 1-1 and will now prepare for a three game set next weekend beginning Friday Night in Laredo.

The Rayz and Bees played a wide open first period, combining for 36 shots. The Rayz struck first at 11:08 when Brent Howarth scored his first professional goal. Kevin Watters fed Howarth in the slot, and the rookie wristed a perfect shot into the top right corner. The Rayz made it 2-0 at 16:24 when Justin Quenneville got his first goal of the season. Quenneville knocked home a rebound in the crease, after Jason Baird and Joe Blaznek helped set up the play. The Bees got on the board in the final minutes when Rob Voltera blistered a slapshot just inside of the right post off a faceoff at 19:22. Both teams had 18 shots in the period and the Rayz held a 2-1 lead.

The teams played a scoreless second period with the Rayz registering 10 shots on goal to the Bees 5. The Rayz maintained their 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

In the third period, the Bees tied the game at 5:42 when Mike Looby scored from the high slot. The Rayz recaptured the lead when Baird tucked a centering pass to Blaznek who buried his first goal with the Rayz at 10:15. The Rayz appeared to be headed for a regulation win, but the feisty Bees came back to tie the score late in the third. At 18:24, Dennis Maxwell let a shot go from the right circle that deflected off of a stick and fluttered past Jason Tapp to send the game to overtime. After a scoreless overtime, including the final 1:13 of the segment on a Rayz power play, the game went to a shootout. Nick Lindberg, Baird and Parrish scored for the Rayz and Tapp made three saves on five shooters to get the Rayz their first win of the year.

Tapp made 34 saves on 37 shots, improving to 1-1 on the year, while Van Nynatten suffered a shootout loss in his season debut, making 37 saves on 40 shots. The Rayz outshot the Bees 41-37 and both teams were 0-4 on the power play.

The Corpus Christi Rayz return to home ice next Saturday and Sunday with games against the Youngstown Steelhounds and Laredo Bucks. Saturday is Harley Davidson Men's Night, presented by Classic Rock 104.5FM. Sunday at 3:05pm is Caller-Times Family Day. Tickets for both games are on sale now. Get yours today. 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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Central Hockey League Stories from October 20, 2007


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