Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - 'Rays annihilate Amarillo, 7-1

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Friday, December 24, 1999

'Rays annihilate Amarillo, 7-1
Wickenheiser, Bumstead show way as CC blitzes Rattlers

George Tuley/Caller-Times
Corpus Christi's Geoff Bumstead (98) and Tobin Praznik (20) watch Thursday as Amarillo's Eric Andersen (6) attempts to control a loose puck in front of goalie Trevor Amundrud.
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

December can be a depressing month for many, the Corpus Christi IceRays included. So far this month, the hockey team has lost six of nine games and its best player, Chris Robertson, who quit the team on Dec. 11.
   But there have been bright spots, too.
   Take Thursday night, for instance.
   Behind Kurt Wickenheiser's hat trick and a three-assist night for Geoff Bumstead, the IceRays erased an early one-goal deficit and defeated the Amarillo, 7-1, in a Western Professional Hockey League game at Memorial Coliseum. The victory improved Corpus Christi's record to 13-11-5 (31 points, fourth in the Central Division) and 3-5-1 in December. The IceRays are 2-2 since losing Robertson, the WPHL's Most Valuable Player last season. "We've been kind of struggling of late," said Wickenheiser, who also recorded two assists. "But we have 40 games left. If the boys can keeping playing hard like they did tonight, things will work out fine."
   Corpus Christi exploded for four unanswered goals in the second period, starting with a Bumstead goal 15 seconds into the period that tied the game, 1-1, and ending with a Todd Norman unassisted goal.
   Wickenheiser, who assisted on Bumstead's goal, scored in the second as well and also assisted on Tobin Praznik's 20th goal. Bumstead returned the favor, assisting on Wickenheiser's first goal, keeping Bumstead's consecutive assist streak alive at 13 games. Wickenheiser has his own streak brewing: The veteran forward has recorded at least one point in the last 12 games. Wickenheiser has 28 points during that span.
   Amarillo fell to 14-15-5, having gone 1-2 during the Rattlers' three-game road trip.
   December has been depressing for Amarillo as well. The Rattlers are 4-6-2 for the month.
   "It's been a tough month for us," Amarillo coach Neil Gondek said. "We wanted to play at least .500 hockey, but we're kind of limping our back home."
   Former IceRays forward Dave Shute scored the game's first goal, a blast from the left point on a secondary breakaway. Former IceRays forward Jade Kersey assisted on the Shute goal, his 14th.
   Wickenheiser notched his second and third goals in the third period. He has a team-high 22 goals this season.
   IceCubes
   A SPECIAL DELIVERY: So much for saving money.
   Amarillo left former IceRays forward Jade Kersey behind at the start of its three-game road trip in an effort to cut some costs. The Rattlers ended up flying Kersey into Corpus Christi Thursday after Ian Larocque quit the team Wednesday night. Amarillo acquired Larocque from Waco in the WPHL's dispersal draft last Wednesday.
   Kersey played four games for Corpus Christi before being traded to Amarillo. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Kersey went to Brown University with IceRays Brent Hoiness and Bob Quinnell.
   A SPECIAL DELIVERY, II: You'll forgive Layne Roland if he looked a little tired Thursday night.
   The newest IceRays player and his wife, Stefanie, arrived in Corpus Christi at 1 a.m. Thursday after traveling 25 hours from Heilbronn, Germany, where Roland was playing before he signed with the IceRays Tuesday.
   A FAMILY AFFAIR: Brad Wingfield's family was in attendance for Thursday's game, which was an extra special treat for his mother, Judy, who had not seen Wingfield play in more than four years.
   "I haven't seen him play since juniors," Judy Wingfield said. "I used to always leave the building when he fought. So Brad told me he was going to get me a seat where I couldn't leave."
   Mom left happy: She made it through her first fight (Wingfield won), and she saw him score a goal.
   Also making the trip from Gibsons, British Columbia was Wingfield's father, Barry, and younger brother, Jody. Kevin Holliday's parents, Terry and Brenda Holliday, were also in attendance.
   BOX SCORE
   Corpus Christi 0 4 3 -- 7
   Amarillo 1 0 0 -- 1
   FIRST PERIOD -- 1, Amarillo, Dave Shute (Kersey), 3:12. Penalties-Gomes, Ama (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:10; Quinnell, CC (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:10; Holliday, CC (high-sticking), 6:48; Quinnell, CC (tripping), 11:02; Doherty, Ama (roughing), 19:30. SECOND PERIOD -- 2, Corpus Christi, Geoff Bumstead (Wickenheiser, Quinnell), 0:45, (pp). 3, Corpus Christi, Kurt Wickenheiser (Bumstead, Snesar), 3:11. 4, Corpus Christi, Tobin Praznik (Bumstead, Wickenheiser), 5:25. 5, Corpus Christi, Todd Norman (unassisted), 5:36. Penalties-Holliday, CC (obstruction hooking), 9:23; Wingfield, CC (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:52; Dobbyn, Ama (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:52; Shute, Ama (high-sticking), 14:54; Hoiness, CC (high-sticking), 14:56; Holliday, CC (10-min. misconduct), 14:56; Rattray, Ama (10-min. misconduct), Wingfield, CC (cross-checking), 16:40.
   THIRD PERIOD -- 6, Corpus Christi, Wickenheiser (Bumstead, T. Praznik), 13:02, (pp). 7, Corpus Christi, Wickenheiser (Quinnell), 14:19. 8, Corpus Christi, Brad Wingfield (J. Praznik), 17:50 Penalties-Praznik, CC (obstruction stick-holding), 8:10; Dobbyn, CC (Fighting, roughing), 12:02; Holliday, CC (fighting, game misconduct), 12:02; Wingfield, CC (fighting), 19:52; Andersen, Ama (fighting), 19:52.
   Shots on goal-Amarillo 12-13-13 38. Corpus Christi 15-18-11 44. Goalies-Amarillo, Trevor Amundrud (9-11-2); John Hultberg at 5:36 of 2nd (3-3). Corpus Christi, Eddy Skazyk (8-4-3). Referee-Scott Hughes. A-announced sellout, 3,510.



Staff writer Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613 or by e-mail at button@caller.com

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