Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Bats get Smart in victory over 'Rays

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Saturday, February 5, 2000

Bats get Smart in victory over 'Rays
Austin forward records two goals, assist in 5-4 win over Corpus Christi
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

Photo courtesy Austin American-Statesman

In a battle of WPHL Central Division foes, the Austin Ice Bats skated to a 5-4 victory over the Corpus Christi IceRays.

AUSTIN-It wasn't the kind of homecoming Andy Ross had in mind.
   The 29-year-old forward from Philadelphia made his IceRays debut in a 5-4 Corpus Christi loss to Austin at the Travis County Exposition Center Friday night.
   Austin coach Brent Hughes released Ross, the Ice Bats' all-time Austin leader in goals scored, assists and games played, last Thursday in favor of a younger lineup.
   "It hurts," said Ross, who received a generous ovation when he was announced in the IceRays' starting lineup. "This would have been a lot better if we would have won."
   Ice Bats forward Kelly Smart victimized the IceRays with two goals and an assist. Smart also scored the game-winning goal.
   With the defeat, Corpus Christi lost a shot a sole possession of second place in the Western Professional Hockey League Central Division. It also broke a three-game winning streak for the IceRays (20-17-8, 48 points).
   Austin improved to 24-17-3 (51 points) and remained in second place in the WPHL Central Division. The Ice Bats are 5-3-1 against Corpus Christi this year; the two rivals will meet five more times in the regular season.
   Corpus Christi, which boarded a bus headed to Shreveport, La., after the game Friday for a 7:05 tilt today, is not the only team Smart has burnt. He has scored nines goals and recorded eight assists in eight games since the Jan. 14 all-star break. Austin is 6-1-1 in that span.
   "I don't know what it is," Smart said. "Everything seems to be going my way right now."
   Ross recorded one assist in the defeat and Smart said it was "different" seeing Ross in an IceRays jersey.
   Geoff Bumstead scored a goal and had an assist in the game, moving his league-leading point-total to 82.
   Austin took a 3-2 lead after one period after goals by David Brosseau, David Moore and Smart.
   Corpus Christi scored first, getting a goal from Bob Quinnell 4:09 into the game. Brosseau tied the game, 1-1, at the 10:10 mark of the first period.
   The Ice Bats took their first lead, 2-1, 1:47 later on Moore's goal.
   Hall pulled goalie Jason Genik (9-8-3) after the Moore goal and replaced Genik with Eddy Skazyk (11-8-5). Tobin Praznik scored the equalizer for Corpus Christi just 24 seconds later.
   Austin pushed back ahead, 3-2, on Smart's 17th goal, which came with 6:52 to play in the period. Bumstead knotted the game at 3-3, just 39 seconds into the second period with his 28th goal of the year.
   After a big save by Skazyk on an Austin power-play, Austin took the lead, 4-3, with just 20 seconds to play in the second period.
   Kurt Wickenheiser scored an early third-period goal to tie the game for the fourth time.
   Smart's second goal, the game-winner, came 8:30 into the third period on a breakaway.
   IceRays coach Taylor Hall pulled Skazyk for the extra skater with 1:23 in the game, but the IceRays did not score.
   IceCubes
   GILMORE TRADED: IceRays forward Dave Gilmore was traded to Fort Worth Friday for forwards Alex Kholomeyev and Dennis Shiryeav. Corpus Christi forward Valari Ermolov was also traded Friday. Ermolov went to Amarillo for future considerations. Gilmore was a featured, skilled forward for the IceRays, scoring 14 goals and recording 19 assists. Gilmore did miss 19 games with a broken nose and concussion.
   Kholomeyev, a Russian, scored 16 goals and had 17 assists in 37 games this season for the Brahmas. A rookie from the Ukraine, Shiryeav is labeled as a defensive-minded forward. "This trade was too good to pass up," Hall said. "We wish Dave the best of luck, however I feel that these two guys will help us down the road in the playoffs."
   SHIELDED BUMMER: Bumstead wore a protective shield attached to helmet Friday, a measure of safety for his injured jaw.
   Bumstead was cross-checked in the back during Tuesday's 2-1 win against Fort Worth, causing him to fall to the ice. He split open his chin and stitches were required to close the cut on the WPHL Most Valuable Player candidate's chin.
   BOX SCORE
   Corpus Christi 2 1 1 -- 4
   Austin 3 1 1 -- 5

   FIRST PERIOD -- 1, Corpus Christi, Bob Quinnell (Bumstead, McArthur), 4:09, (pp). 2, Austin, David Brosseau (Price, Smart), 10:10. 3, Austin, David Moore (Shepherd, Kungle), 11:47. 4, Corpus Christi, Tobin Praznik (Janicki, Wickenheiser), 12:13. 5, Austin, Kelly Smart (Moore, Price), 13:08. PENALTIES-Ross, CC (bench minor), 0:00; Sharuga, Aus (obstruction holding), 2:32; Legault, Aus (slashing), 12:38; Wickenheiser, CC (cross-checking), 12:38; Kolomeyev CC (roughing), 16:12; Greenlaw, Aus (roughing), 16:12; Lewis, CC (roughing), 18:35; Brindley, Aus (roughing), 18:35.
   SECOND PERIOD -- 6, Corpus Christi, Geoff Bumstead (Quinnell, Kolomeyev), 0:39. 7, Austin, Jeff Greenlaw (Moore) 19:50. PENALTIES-Wickenheiser, CC (cross-checking), 5:07; Smart, Aus (unsportsmanlike conduct), 7:05; Wickenheiser, CC (charging), 9:18; Brosseau, Aus (slashing), 14:16; T. Praznik, CC (obstruction tripping), 14:34; Holliday, CC (10-min. misconduct), 19:30; Sharuga, Aus (10-min. misconduct), 19:30.
   THIRD PERIOD -- 8, Corpus Christi, Kurt Wickenheiser (Ross, T. Praznik), 1:18. 8, Austin, Smart (Lidster), 8:30. PENALTIES-Kolomeyev, CC (holding), 1:48; Legault, Aus (cross-checking, 10-min. misconduct), 5:04.
   SHOTS ON GOAL-Corpus Christi 12-13-8 32. Austin 12-8-12 35. GOALIES-Corpus Christi, Jason Genik (9-8-3) left at 11:47 of 1st period. Eddy Skazyk (11-9-5) entered at 11:47 of 1st period. Austin, Byran McMullen (10-5-1). A -- 5,236. REFEREE-Steve Cruickshank.
   EOF
   _

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