Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - IceRays best Jackalopes, 3-2

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Friday, November 5, 1999

IceRays best Jackalopes, 3-2
Bumstead, Genik lead Corpus Christi to seventh victory
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times

Tobin Praznik (20) of the IceRays battles for the puck with the Jackalopes Jacque Rodrigue (left) Michael Tornquist (below center) and Chris Morque.

IceRays forward Geoff Bumstead scored two goals and goalie Jason Genik made 34 saves to lead Corpus Christi to a 3-2 victory against Odessa Thursday in a Western Professional Hockey League game at Memorial Coliseum.
   With the win, the IceRays improved to 7-3-1. Bumstead also recorded an assist, increasing his point total to 16. Corpus Christi defenseman Ryan Esselmont had two assists and forward Mike Tomlinson scored his fifth goal of the year.
   "it was a hard fought game right from the start," Bumstead said. "They have a good defensive team. But we've been working hard all week and I just got lucky tonight."
   Odessa fell to 3-8 with the loss.
   Genik improved to 3-2 with the win.
   Corpus Christi scored first with a goal inside the first period's final minute. IceRays forward Dustin McArthur started the play with lead pass to Bumstead in the neutral zone. Bumstead split through a pair of Odessa defenseman and instead of firing a shot, Bumstead dropped the puck to Tomlinson, who was trailing the play.

Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times

Corpus Christi's Ryan Esselmont is slammed into the boards by Odessa's Eric Perricone Thursday during IceRays' 3-2 win over the visiting Jackalopes.

   Tomlinson then blasted a slapshot that beat Jackalopes goalie Mike Tornquist (2-2) with seven seconds to play before the first intermission.
   The IceRays had a chance to build on its 1-0 lead in the second period with a four minute power play after Odessa's Gary Coupal was caught attempting to butt-end Corpus Christi defenseman Kevin Holliday. The IceRays got off eight shots in the extended power play but did not score.
   Odessa then scored to briefly tie the game, 1-1. Eric Perricone took a lead pass from Jason Pellerin and beat Genik with a soft shot that slid under Genik's left leg 16:26 into the second period. The goal had to feel good for both Jackalopes - both rookie forwards attended the IceRays training camp.
   Thirty-five seconds later, however, Bumstead scored his fifth goal of the year to re-establish the Corpus Christi lead, 2-1, with 2:59 to play in the period.
   Bumstead gave the IceRays a short-lived 3-1 lead with his sixth goal, which he scored with 4:12 to play.
   Odessa's Mike Vandenberg answered 16 seconds later with a goal to pull within one goal, 3-2.

   IceCubes
   TWO MORE EJECTED: Two fans were ejected in the third period for chanting "You suck" to Tornquist, the Odessa goalie.
   "It's a bunch of crap," said Eric Ballge, one of the ejected fans. "I stood up and yelled (the chant) and the police warned me not to say the word 'suck' again, because IceRays management said they didn't want the word used. Then I started yelling 'You're bad' and 'You're no good' and they kicked me out anyway. I paid $19.50 to come to this game."
   WPHL president Rick Kozuback said Wednesday that the league does not find the chant offensive and that it occurs in at least six WPHL buildings.
   After the ejections, which happened with about six minutes to play in the game, nearly all of section nine, where Ballge was seated, left the building as well.
   One of the police officers said the fan was ejected because the IceRays management does not want the chant heard.
   'RAYS HELP HIGH SCHOOLERS: King High School invited IceRays Alain Savage and Brent Hoiness to help the Mustangs celebrate National French Week.
   The two Corpus Christi forwards will speak with King's French classes and other French students today. Savage, a French-Canadian, is fluent in French.
   AUTOGRAPH SESSION: IceRays fans can get their first public opportunity to meet, greet and seek autographs from their favorite players on Nov. 9, from 6-8 p.m. at the team store inside Sunrise Mall.

   Odessa 0 1 1 - 2
   Corpus Christi 1 1 1 - 3
   FIRST PERIOD - 1, Corpus Christi, Mike Tomlinson (Bumstead, McArthur), 19:53. PENALTIES - Wingfield, CC (cross-checking), 0:48; Rodrigue, Ode (obstruction hooking), 3:00.
   SECOND PERIOD - 2, Odessa, Eric Perricone (Pellerin), 16:26. 3, Corpus Christi Geoff Bumstead (T. Praznik, Esselmont), 17:01. PENALTIES - Holliday, CC (holding), 19:43; Coupal, Ode (roughing), 3:43; Genik, CC (roughing), 3:43; Coupal, Ode (att. butt-end dbl. minor), 9:50; Wingfeild, CC (instigating, fighting, game misconduct), 17:14; Coupal, Ode (fighting), 17:14. THIRD PERIOD - 4, Bumstead (Esselmont), 15:32. 5, Odessa, Vanbenberg (Coupal, Smith), 15:48. PENALTIES - MacEachern, CC (interference), 4:05; Holliday, CC (fighting), 7:41; Coupal, Ode (fighting), 7:41; Vandenberg, Ode (holding), 10:43; Tomlinson, CC (tripping), 12:27; CC bench (delay of game), 16:49. SHOTS ON GOAL - Odessa 13-14-9 36. Corpus Christi 13-14-8 35. GOALIES - Odessa, Mike Tornquist (2-2). Corpus Christi, Jason Genik (3-2). A - announced sellout, 3,510. REFEREE - Doug Wittlg.

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