Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - It takes time, but IceRays win

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Monday, November 29, 1999

It takes time, but IceRays win
CC defeats Stampede after lengthy delay, 5-2
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

David Adame/Caller-Times

Players scramble for a loose puck Sunday during the IceRays' 5-2 victory over the Central Texas Stampede.

It was worth the wait for those who stayed.
   After a three-hour delay because of problems with the ice surface at Memorial Coliseum Sunday, IceRays fans who remained in attendance saw Corpus Christi defeat the Western Professional Hockey League's hottest team, Central Texas, 5-2.
   Organized defense, opportunistic offense and a focused goalie named Eddy Skazyk who stopped almost every shot that came his direction helped the IceRays earn a win in their third WPHL Central Division game in as many days.
   The victory was the IceRays' second straight after snapping a seven-game losing streak in Waco Saturday, but perhaps more importantly, Corpus Christi's victory put an end to the Stampede's league-best 10-game winning streak. It was Central Texas' eighth game in 10 days.
   "I think the win was very important," said Skazyk, who turned away Stampede shots by flipping, flopping, diving and sliding around the ice en route to his sixth win in nine starts. "Central Texas is the hottest team in the league, and even with the losing streak we had, this win shows that we're as good as anybody in the league."
   The IceRays improved to 10-7-4, inching them closer to the Stampede, who still own the WPHL Central Division lead with a 16-5-1 record.
   Corpus Christi is 3-1 against Central Texas; Skazyk has all three victories against the Stampede with 133 saves (44 Sunday) in the series.
   "They shoot a lot from the exterior and try to crash the net looking for rebounds," Skazyk said of the Stampede's playing style. "That's good for me because if I can see the shot coming, I can control it."
   While Skazyk guarded the Corpus Christi net, IceRays forward Dustin McArthur filled the one at the other end twice, giving him four goals in the last two games.
   "I'm just continuing to work hard," McArthur said. "I believe when you do that, things will work out for you. Both of my linemates (Roger Lewis and Kurt Wickenheiser) work very hard, too. We take the puck deep and do well with that. We can check the opposition's best line and chip in with goals of our own."
   Wickenheiser scored the game's first goal 2:18 into the first period; the IceRays are 9-1-1 when they score first. Wickenheiser also had two assists, as did Dave Gilmore.
   IceRays forwards Geoff Bumstead and Tobin Praznik each had a goal and an assist. Bumstead has 33 points on the year, Praznik has 24.
   IceCubes
   A JUNIOR REPORTER: The IceRays had a little extra media attention at Sunday's game. Fourteen-year-old Carroll High School freshman Jen Morgan reported on the game for WPHL web site (www.wphlhockey.com), in conjunction with the league's Junior Reporter program. Morgan said she was looking forward to interviewing Tobin Praznik (her favorite player) after the game.
   Praznik and Morgan have at least one thing in common: They're both left wings. Morgan plays for the Ice Bears of the Corpus Christi Youth Hockey League.
   BOX SCORE
   Central Texas 1 1 0 -- 2
   Corpus Christi 2 1 2 -- 5

   FIRST PERIOD -- 1, Corpus Christi, Kurt Wickenheiser (Gilmore), 2:18. 2, Corpus Christi, Tobin Praznik (Bumstead, Gilmore), 15:31. 3, Central Texas, Peter Zurba (Newhook, Johnston), 17:51. Penalties -- Wingfield, CC (roughing), 3:25; T. Praznik, CC (boarding), 6:06; Savage, CC (fighting), 19:53; Newhook, CT (fighting), 19:53; Johnston, CT (spearing dbl. minor, roughing), 19:53; Wingfield, CC (roughing dbl. minor), 19:53.
   SECOND PERIOD -- 4, Central Texas, Mike Dick (Zurba, Hearn), 16:33, (pp). 5, Geoff Bumstead (Wickenheiser), 19:24, (pp). Penalties -- Holliday, CC (high-sticking), 4:03; Dick, CT (cross-checking), 5:09; Newhook, CT (holding), 6:44; Tzountzouris, CT (slashing), 7:46; Esslemont, CC (slashing), 14:45; Wingfield, CC (slashing), 17:55.
   THIRD PERIOD -- 6, Corpus Christi, Dustin McArthur (Lewis), 8:16. 7, Corpus Christi, McArthur (Wickenheiser), 18:10. Penalties -- Wickenheiser, CC (high-sticking), 14:41; Zurba, CT (charging), 19:05.
   Shots on goal -- Central Texas 16-15-15 46. Corpus Christi 10-20-12 42. Goalies -- Central Texas, Jason Carey (6-4). Corpus Christi, Eddy Skazyk (6-3). Referee -- Bill Meinel. A -- announced sellout, 3,510.



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

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