Rayz Week in Review

Published on January 15, 2003 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


RAYZ REWIND: The Corpus Christi Rayz took 2 out of 3 games this past week to keep pace with the Lubbock Cotton Kings and New Mexico Scorpions and remain 4 points out of the 4th fourth and final playoff spot in the Southern Conference. The Rayz opened the week on Wednesday at Memorial Coliseum with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Fort Worth Brahmas. With :18 seconds left in overtime, Mike Tilson (Pickering, ONT) fired a one-timer on the pass from Cosmo Dupaul (Pointe-Claire, PQ) by Brahmas goalie Matt Mullin for the game-winning goal. It was Tilson's second game-winning goal since joining the Rayz. Brent Belecki (Calgary, ALB) made 28 saves for his 14th victory of the season and his 100th of his career. Friday night the Rayz kept the momentum rolling with a 7-5 triumph over the reeling El Paso Buzzards. Jaroslav Jabrocky (Poprad, Slovakia) recorded his first professional hat-trick, including the game-winning goal. Kenny Goetz (Edgewater Park, NJ) tallied his first professional 2-goal game and Belecki stopped 39 of 44 Buzzards shots for his 15th win of the season. Saturday the Rayz looked for the weekly hat-trick against their nemesis the Laredo Bucks. After jumping out to a 4-2 lead with less than 8 minutes remaining in the 2nd period, the Bucks rattled off 6 unanswered goals in the final 27 minutes for an 8-4 victory. Bucks forwards Morten Ask, David Myson, and Dave Gilmore each recorded 3-point games in the victory. The Rayz got goals from Ken Richardson (Peace Rivar, ALB), John Sicinski (Mississauga, ONT), Dupaul, and Ryan Prentice (London, ONT) but lost their 5th straight to their new rival.

LITTLE HOUSE OF HORRORS: The Rayz have lost 5 straight against the Bucks including all 4 games at the Laredo Entertainment Center. In 4 games at the LEC, the Rayz have been outscored 26-13 giving up a whopping 6.50 goals per game. The Rayz return to the LEC two more times in the month of January (1/25/03 and 1/29/03).

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: Friday's win over El Paso brought the Rayz over the .500 mark for the first time since November 1st. Until the win over the Buzzards, the Rayz had gotten back to .500 on 8 different occasions (4-4, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 10-10, 12-12-1, 15-15-1, and 16-16-1).

CALLING CENTRAL POWER & LIGHT: The Rayz power play is suffering its worst drought of the season. After going 0-7 Saturday night in Laredo, the Rayz power play went a combined 1-16 (6.2%) over the weekend. In the last 12 games the power play has gone 8-69 (11.6%) and has been shutout 7 times including Friday night vs. El Paso and Saturday night vs. Laredo. The Rayz do continue to lead the CHL in power play efficiency at 20.1%.

EARNING FREQUENT BUSING MILES: With trips to Shreveport, Memphis, Amarillo, Albuquerque, and Laredo 3 times, the Rayz will travel 4,331 miles in the month of January. The Rayz are currently in the middle of an 8-games-in-13-nights stretch.

MILESTONES ETC.: Rayz forward Cosmo Dupaul is one goal away from his 200th for his career. Defenseman Chad Nelson is 5 points away from 100 for his career. Goalie Brent Belecki earned his 100th career win with Wednesday night's victory over Fort Worth.

STREAKS: Cosmo Dupaul has scored in 9 out of the last 12 games....Jaroslav Jabrocky has 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) in 11 games with the Rayz...John Sicinski has 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) in the last 19 games...Ryan Prentice has 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in the last 2 games...Ken Richardson has 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 2 games since his return from a 3-week spell on the Injured Reserve.

BUMPS AND BRUISES: Rayz forward Layne Roland underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder on Monday. Defenseman Joe Savioli will undergo season-ending surgery on his torn ACL on Wednesday. Defenseman Brett Colborne continues to suffer from post-concussion syndrome and his return is indefinite. UP NEXT: The Rayz will hit the road for their longest road trip of the season when they battle the Amarillo Gorillas on Tuesday at 7:11PM and the New Mexico Scorpions on Wednesday at 8:05PM. The Rayz return home for a weekend set with the San Angelo Saints on Friday and the Lubbock Cotton Kings on Saturday at Memorial Coliseum. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:05PM. All games can be heard on 104.5FM The Octopus with Dan Weiss or Rick Dames or on the internet at www.sportsjuice.com. Broadcast time begins 30 minutes before each game with the "American Tire and Wheel Pre-game Show."

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2003


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