Red, white, blue and green

October 17, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Corpus Christi, Texas – The Corpus Christi Rayz will have played a total of four exhibition games before the regular season begins. However, none will be quite as memorable as Saturday night's landmark contest with the Mexico National Hockey Team at the Memorial Coliseum. The Rayz blanked the Mexico National Team 12-0 for their first pre-season victory, but the real story of the game was the exposure of hockey and the sportsmanship shown between the two hockey clubs.

Prior to the game, Rayz CEO/President, Doug Frank and Mexico Nation Team Director, Alfonso Gomez Haro exchanged jerseys on the ice and the Coliseum crowd –littered with proud Mexico fans, wearing red, white and green—welcomed their friends from south of the border. When the game began, the Rayz got off to an early start as defenseman, Casey Handrahan scored 3:55 into the game. The Rayz never looked back after that as nine different players scored for the Rayz en route to their victory. Rayz forward, Frank Werner led the way for Corpus Christi with a hat trick. He has now scored in all three Rayz exhibition games.

Saturday night's game was part of the Mexico National Team's first ever trip into the United States to play against professional teams. They began their voyage Friday night in Hidalgo when they faced the Killer Bees and will conclude Sunday afternoon against the Laredo Bucks. Team Mexico is a Division III program in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and seldom has the opportunity to play against competition outside of their native Mexico. Despite the loss, Mexico Head Coach, Joaquin De La Garma, and all the Mexico players finished the game with smiles on their faces as the Memorial Coliseum saluted them, while they responded with sticks in the air at center ice.

The scene was one that Team Mexico is not used to seeing trying to popularize the sports of hockey in their homeland. The fans who came out and cheered them made the experience worthwhile for the players, who were just thrilled to take the ice against some of the best professional hockey players in North America.

The Rayz will try to post back to back wins on Monday night as they conclude their pre-season schedule against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at the Memorial Coliseum. The game will be the final tune-up for Corpus Christi before they begin the regular season on Friday in Austin against the Ice Bats. The game will also be the final Rayz game ever at the Memorial Coliseum. The Rayz move into the all-new AmericanBank Center this season, and will open up on Friday, November 5th when they host the Laredo Bucks. Tickets are available for Monday's pre-season game and are only $5. Call (361)814-PUCK to get your tickets to the Rayz final farewell to the Igloo.



Central Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2004


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