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Woeful Weekend

November 17, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Corpus Christi, Texas: November 17, 2003 – The third weekend of three games in three nights was unkind to the Corpus Christi Rayz. A shootout loss Friday Amarillo a 4-2 Saturday night defeat in Bossier-Shreveport and a 3-1 loss on Sunday against the two-time defending President's Cup Champion Memphis RiverKings. The Rayz ran into three of the hottest teams in the league and this weekend fell to 5-6-2 and have not won in their last five games.

The Amarillo Gorillas had won five straight coming into their battle with the Rayz Friday night. The Mudbugs rode a four game winning streak into Saturday's matchup against the Rayz and Sunday the Memphis RiverKings brought in a three game winning streak against the Rayz. All three teams would continue their winning streaks after facing the Rayz.

The Rayz kept all three games close, and in fact were leading Amarillo late in the game until Tyler Butler scored with the Gorillas goalie pulled to tie the game up at three. Butler's goal with 1:03 remaining sent the game to overtime and then a shootout which the Rayz would eventually lose. Butler's goal also marked the last time that Corpus Christi held a lead this weekend. In both Saturday and Sunday's games, the Rayz surrendered the first goal of the game and were never able to bounce back and take leads.

Brent Belecki played Friday and Saturday night to extend his consecutive game streak to eight games, before rookie Rob Garrick took his place for Sunday's game vs. Memphis.

Despite the team remaining winless this weekend, a few of the Rayz players continued to shine. Rookie RW Ed McGrane had goals in each of the three games this weekend and finished with three goals, two assists and five points. He and Brad Wingfield currently are tied for the team lead in points with 15. McGrane's three goals this weekend gave him a team leading total of nine for the season.

With the Rayz getting only one point this weekend, they were leaped by Rio Grande Valley in the standings and the Rayz have now fallen to third place in the Southeast Division. Next weekend the Rayz will look to get back on the winning track with a big weekend against three division rivals. Thursday night, the Rayz will host the Austin Ice Bats at the Memorial Coliseum. Then they take to the road for two games on Friday and Saturday night in Rio Grande Valley and Laredo. Next weekend will mark the last of four consecutive three games in three night stints. It will also be the first time the Rayz play the majority of their games for a week on the road. The Rayz played ten of their first 13 games at home and were 4-4-2 at the Memorial Coliseum over that stretch.

The Rayz have already beaten the Austin Ice Bats 3-0 this season as Brent Belecki got his first shutout of the season. Tickets are still available for Thursday night's game against Austin. Please call (361) 814-7825 for tickets and be at the Memorial Coliseum this season to Catch Some Rayz.

Notes...Rayz captain Ken Richardson sat out all three games this weekend with a foot injury. He is currently day-to-day...Mike Tilson got a powerplay goal Friday night against Amarillo. Tilson leads the Rayz with three powerplay goals...Sunday night the Rayz were 0-10 on the powerplay. This weekend they were a combined 2-21 on the man advantage in the three games...Sunday afternoon was Brad Wingfield Bobble-head game. The first 1,000 fans received Brad Wingfield Bobble-heads. Those who did not receive a bobble-head can purchase one for $15 or an autographed one for $25. Please contact the Rayz offices for more information at (361) 814-7825...The Rayz have been outscored 18-8 in the third period this season by their opposition.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2003


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