|
Local Sports
| News | Sports |
Business | Opinions |
Columns | Entertainment |
| Science/Technology| Weather | Archives | E-mail Us |
Sunday, October 3, 1999
IceRays unconcerned about exacting revenge
Corpus Christi players say they won't harbor thoughts of last season's playoff ouster tonight
By Mark Button
Caller-Times
Sure, the Lake Charles Ice Pirates dashed the IceRays' hopes of Western Professional Hockey League championship last year by booting Corpus Christi from the second round of the playoffs.
And yes, the Ice Pirates embarrassed the IceRays in Game 3 of that series, routing Corpus Christi, 9-0.
So today's 6:05 p.m. rematch at Memorial Coliseum is all about revenge, right?
Wrong.
The two exhibition games with Lake Charles - the teams play here again Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. - give both coaches a chance to evaluate the players they have in camp in an actual game.
"You can only see so much in scrimmages," IceRays coach Taylor Hall said. "I'm very interested to see how these guys fair against another team."
There will be hitting, plenty of it in fact, and expect some fights.
"Oh yeah, you'll see a few fights," said Kurt Wickenheiser, one of the skilled forwards at the IceRays camp. "Taylor has told all the guys not to fight at all during camp, so some of these guys are champing at the bit."
IceRays fans can expect to see the defenseman Kevin Holliday's gloves hit the ice a couple of times. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound aggressive-minded defenseman set a United Hockey League record last year by fighting 43 times. That's quite a few rumbles, even more when you learn he only played in 41 games.
"He'll fight anything that moves," said IceRays forward Geoff Bumstead, who knows a thing or two about mixing it up. He was voted "Best Fighter" by the players and coaches of the WPHL last season.
But not everyone playing today is looking to earn a job by throwing haymakers.
Rookies like forward Jade Kersey know that Hall will be making cuts after the second game against Lake Charles.
"I'm pretty excited," Kersey said. "This has been a long time coming. I'm looking forward to playing in a game-time situation. It will be an excellent test."
IceCubes
A MOST SKILLED: The IceRays held a skills competition at the Igloo Saturday in conjunction with the Caller-Times Best of the Best Showcase.
Newcomer Alain Savage beat out Eric Perricone, Dave Shute and Brent Hoiness to win the speed skating contest.
Shute, considered one the swiftest skaters in the league, assured his fans that he has not lost a step.
"Just wait till I get the biscuit on my stick, you'll see," he said.
Pavel Evstigneev won the shootout competition and Eddy Skazyk won the goalie's contest.
WINGER DAY TO DAY: IceRays forward Brad Wingfield has been listed as "day-to-day" by the team's training staff. Wingfield suffered a thigh bruise in practice Thursday.
"I'll probably start skating Sunday," he said.
Staff writer Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613 or by e-mail at buttonm@caller.com
| Talk about this story | Next Story
| Home |
© 1999 Caller-Times Publishing Company, a
Scripps Howard newspaper.
All rights reserved.
|
 |
 |
|
