Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Skayzk sets team saves record as 'Rays beat Waco, 5-4

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Monday, October 25, 1999

Skayzk sets team saves record as 'Rays beat Waco, 5-4
Corpus Christi goalie stops five Wizards breakaways early, holds on for win
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

Associated Press

IceRays goalie Eddy Skayzk turns back Brad Shaver's shot. Shaver would score two goals, but Skayzk would set a team record with 40 saves in a 5-4 'Rays win.

Corpus Christi goalie Eddy Skayzk started Sunday afternoon as the No. 1-ranked goalie in the Western Professional Hockey League with a 2-0 record and 1.50 goals-against average.
   By the end of the day, he had set an IceRays single-game record for saves with 40, helping Corpus Christi defeat Waco, 5-4.
   Skayzk has 101 saves and a 3-0 victory for the IceRays (4-2), who tied Fort Worth (4-0) for the Western Professional Hockey League Central Division lead with Sunday's victory.
   "I've been very relaxed lately," Skayzk said. "I've been seeing things clearly. When you're not fighting things, the puck does seem bigger."
   It must have appeared about as big as a bowling ball for Skayzk early. He single-handedly stopped five Waco breakaways in the first period.
   "That was good for us to see that our goalie was into the game from the start," said forward Alain Savage, who recorded a goal and an assist. "It could have easily been 5-0 (Waco) right there."
   With Skayzk strong in back, Savage, Dave Gilmore and Dustin McArthur provided the offense.
   Gilmore recorded three assists and scored a graceful backhand goal on a breakaway and McArthur had a goal and an assist - his first two points of the year.
   With the win, Corpus Christi improved to 3-1 in the WPHL Central Division.
   "All the teams are tough," IceRays coach Taylor Hall said. "I'll take any win, but especially one in our division because we have to play them all so many times."
   McArthur's first goal gave Corpus Christi a 1-0 lead 5:22 into the game.
   Assisted by Gilmore, a Brad Wingfield goal (his third) and another by Geoff Bumstead (his second) gave the IceRays a 3-0 lead after one period.
   Waco showed resiliency in the second with goals by Dave MacIntyre and a power-play goal by Brad Shaver.
   With 6:06 to play in the second period, Corpus Christi's lead slipped to 3-2.
   On cue, Gilmore dazzled the Corpus Christi fans with a nifty backhand goal exactly two minutes later to give the IceRays a 4-2 lead.
   Alone on a breakaway, Gilmore feigned a slapshot, gave Waco goalie Des Christopher a fake to Gilmore's right that sent the goalie to his seat, legs spread apart. Gilmore then dropped a soft, top-shelf backhand goal over Christopher's left shoulder.
   Penalties began to pile up for both clubs, but Corpus Christi protected the 4-2 lead through 40 minutes.
   Waco's Tony Cimellaro scored with 8:07 to play narrow the Corpus Christi margin to 4-3.
   Savage then hooked up with Gilmore for Savage's fourth goal of the year to stretch the margin back to two goals, 5-3.
   "That fifth goal was huge," Skayzk said. "I was getting a little tired out there. That was a big lift."
   Shaver scored his second power-play goal for Waco in the final minute.
   IceCubes

KERSERY RELEASED: Less than 20 hours after his first professional goal, forward Jade Kersey received his walking papers. Hall signed Craig Hayden, a defenseman, effectively replacing Kersey's salary. Hayden spent the first part of last season with Fort Worth before Waco signed him one month prior to the Wizards' playoff run. Hayden wore jersey number 10 for Corpus Christi and had one assist.

CHICKEN'S HOT: With an assist Sunday, Mike "Chicken" Tomlinson has recorded at least one point in the last five games.

OLD RECORD: Before Skayzk broke it, the old IceRays' record for most saves in a game was held by Scott Barber with 37.

LENGTHY MEETING: After the IceRays' 8-6 loss to Lake Charles, Hall kept the team in the locker room for a meeting until 12:30 a.m., Sunday, according to Corpus Christi director of public relations Mike Modungo. The game concluded at 9:50 p.m., Saturday.

SAVAGE LEADS TEAM: With three assists in the IceRays' loss to Lake Charles and another goal and assist Sunday, Savage improved his point total to a team-high 11. Savage has four goals and seven assists.
   Waco 0 2 2 - 4
   Corpus Christi 3 1 1 - 5
   FIRST PERIOD - 1, Corpus Christi, Dustin McArthur (Savage, Gilmore), 5:22, Corpus Christi, Brad Wingfield (unassisted), 16:00. 3, Corpus Christi, Geoff Bumstead (McArthur, Tomlinson), 19:20. PENALTIES - Bumstead, CC (roughing), 2:29; Cimellaro, Waco (slashing), 6:53; Wickenheiser, CC (slashing), 6:53; Taylor, Waco (high-sticking), 9:31; Taylor, Waco (10-minute misconduct), 11:43.
   SECOND PERIOD - 4, Waco, Dave MacIntyre (Larocque), 9:49. 5, Waco, Brad Shaver (Cimellaro, Taylor), 13:54, (pp). 6, Corpus Christi, Dave Gilmore (Hayden), 15:30. PENALTIES - Pilon, CC (obstruction holding), 1:28; J. Praznik, CC (obstruction hooking), 4:26; T. Praznik, CC (roughing), 7:48; Michalchuk, Waco (rouging), 7:48; Currie, CC (fighting), 13:06; Michakchuk, Waco (fighting), 13:06; Pilon, CC (obstruction holding), 13:06; O'Rourke, Waco (obstruction holding), 15:45; Tomlinson, CC (roughing), 17:22; Taylor, Waco (roughing), 17:22; Lewis, CC (slashing), 18:43.
   THIRD PERIOD - 7, Waco, Tony Cimellaro (Taylor, MacIntyre), 11:43. 8, Corpus Christi, Alain Savage (Gilmore), 13:29. 9, Waco, Shaver (Taylor, Michalchuk), 18:58 (pp). PENALTIES - Taylor, Waco (boarding), 8:06; Currie, CC (holding), 15:49; Tomlinson, CC (slashing), 17:36.
   SHOTS ON GOAL - Waco 8-18-15 44. Corpus Christi 12-10-6 28. GOALIES - Waco, Des Christopher (0-1). Corpus Christi, Eddy Skayzk (3-0). A -- unannounced. REFEREE - Ron Morgan.



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

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