Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Despite 6-5 loss, Hall happy with exhibition

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Monday, October 4, 1999

Despite 6-5 loss, Hall happy with exhibition

By Mark Button
Caller-Times

It might have been the happiest Taylor Hall has ever been after a loss.
   His IceRays dropped an exhibition to Lake Charles, 6-5 in overtime, at Memorial Coliseum in Game 1 of the two-game Caller-Times Best of the Best series. But the game was not so much about winning and losing as it was about evaluating the players in Corpus Christi's trainging camp.
   "I'm real happy," Hall said. "I've got some tough decisions to make. With some of this young kids, you want to see how they were going to fair. To me, everyone out there looked like they could play in this league."
   The IceRays led on four different occassions Sunday - each time by a single goal - before Lake Charles' Clint Wensley scored the game-winner on IceRays goalie Eddy Skazyk in the shootout. The goal gave Wensley a hat trick.
   A near-capacity crowd of 3,010 saw the game, according to IceRays public relations director Michael Modugno. With the added seats inside the Igloo, the maximum capcity is around 3,500, Modugno said.
   The two teams will play at the Igloo again Tuesday, with a 7:05 p.m. start. The Western Professional Hockey League season-opener will take place at the coliseum as well when the Austin Ice Bats come to town on Oct. 13.
   Pavel Evstigneev and Jody Praznik each scored goals in the first period to give the IceRays a 2-1 advantage at the first intermission. New to Corpus Christi but veterans in their own rights, both Kurt Wickenheiser and Dustin McArthur scored in the second period, which ended with Corpus Christi leading, 4-3.
   Lake Charles took its first lead at 15:39 of the third period with a Marion Ivanasec goal, assisted by Troy Kennedy and Joe Middlestadt. Then, with just 21 ticks on the clock, the IceRays tied the game when Alain Savage tipped in a pass from Wickenheiser to send the game to overtime.
   "I saw Dustin go to one corner and Wickenheiser went to the other, so I just went to the net," Savage said. "Wicker threw it in front, and I just tipped it in."
   Corpus Christi was held scoreless in the shootout, but Hall was not too concerned.
   "I went without (league MVP) Chris Robertson, Geoff Bumstead, Brad Wingfield and Tobin Praznik," he said. "And I still believe I could take this team right here and win games in this league."
   Hall won't have to, though.
   All his top-skill players and tough guys will be on the ice for the home-opener. Some of the rookies, however, will not be around.
   "After Tuesday's game, I'll definitely be moving some guys out. Wednesday at the latest," he said.
   IceCubes
   A HOLLIDAY PUNCH: It took 18 minutes, 17 seconds for defenseman Kevin Holliday to get in his first fight as an IceRays player. Last year, Holliday set a United Hockey League record with 43 fights in 41 games. Holliday landed about five right-handed fists on Lake Charles' Joe Middlestadt before they fell onto the ice in a heap.
   A SMASHED: The IceRays' booster club found a way to get fans back in hockey mode. For a dollar, fans were allowed to smash an old car painted in Lake Charles colors with a sledge hammer. If it's still standing, the Lake Charles car will be available for further destruction prio r to Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. exhibition game against the Ice Pirates.
   A BIG HAIR, NO SHOW: The lead singer of Warrant was scheduled to sing the National Anthem prior to Sunday's game, but bus problems kept the the rocker from showing. The "big hair," 1980s rock band played at Buckets Sunday night.
   A SAT OUT: Veteran IceRays who sat out Sunday included Mike Tomlinson, Geoff Bumstead, Brad Wingfield and Quinten Van Horlick. Veteran defenseman Greg MacEachern also sat out, as did Brent Currie, Shawn Grenier, Varian Kirst and Dustin Bernes.

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