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Friday, March 3, 2000

'Rays unleash offense, squash Mudbugs
Corpus Christi improves to 2 for 2 against defending WPHL champions, 9-4
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

Caller-Times

Shreveport goalie Hugo Hamelin (right) turns away a Layne Roland shot Thursday night during the IceRays' 9-4 win over the Mudbugs.

If Thursday night was any indication, the Corpus Christi IceRays should find success in the 1999-2000 Western Professional Hockey League postseason.
   For the second time in as many chances this season, the IceRays knocked off defending WPHL President's Cup champion Shreveport. In a 9-4 rout, Corpus Christi forward Layne Roland recorded a hat trick and Kurt Wickenhesier scored his 48th and 49th goals of the year.
   "I think (the win) says a lot," said Roland. "It's a real confidence builder. These were the guys who won it all last year and to know that we went into their building and won and now we beat them here, it does a lot of our confidence."
   With the win, Corpus Christi (27-21-8, 62 points) ran its winning streak to four games, the team's longest of the season. If the IceRays defeat Central Texas today, it will establish the franchise record for consecutive wins.
   "We've been getting progessively better," IceRays coach Taylor Hall. "It takes time and we've had some rough times this season, but it's wonderful to see it start to come together."
   Shreveport, the WPHL Eastern Division leader, fell to 36-15-7 (79 points).
   The Mudbugs provided the only scoring in the first period when Scott Muscutt deflected a Stefan Simoes shot from the left circle. Muscutt's first goal since Dec. 4, 1999 gave Shreveport a 1-0 lead 1:24 into the game.
   Though the IceRays failed to score in the first period, they made up for it in the second, scoring four times.
   Corpus Christi scored its first two goals less than 30 seconds apart and after another goal, the IceRays had a 3-1 lead in under 8 minutes of play in the second period.
   Roland started the scoring barrage with his 10th of the year 6:15 into the period. Before the Mudbugs could gather themselves, Wickenheiser scored his 48th goal just 22 seconds later to give the IceRays a 2-1 lead. Brad Wingfield added to the Corpus Christi lead at the 7:48 mark of the second with his 13th goal of the season.
   A Dale Henry goal got Shreveport within a goal, 3-2, but Bob Quinnell's 11th goal and 41st point of the year gave Corpus Christi its second two-goal cushion at 4-2. With the goal, Quinnell tied the record he set last season for most points in a season as an IceRays defenseman.
   The Corpus Christi scoring spree continued in the third period, beginning with a Cory Johnson shorthanded goal just 45 seconds into the final period. It was Johnson's first goal since being traded to Corpus Christi from Lubbock, and it gave the IceRays a 5-2 lead.
   Wickenheiser's 49th goal gave the IceRays a brief four-goal lead, 6-2, before former IceRays forward Alain Savage scored for Shreveport to make the score 6-3.
   The Mudbugs inched closer with a Trevor Buchanan goal, but back-to-back goals by Wickenheiser and Roland put the game out of reach, 8-4, with 10 minutes to play. Roland's goal completed the hat trick.
   "Any time you score three goals, it's going to feel good," Roland said.
   IceCubes
   A KHOLOMEYEV SUSPENDED AGAIN: IceRays forward Alex Kholomeyev served the first half of a two-game suspension Thursday. He will also miss today's game at Central Texas.
   Kholomeyev received a game misconduct in Tuesday's game against Austin. It was his fourth game misconduct this season, which results in an automatic two-game suspension. His next regular-season game misconduct will beget a three-game suspension.
   A PRAZNIK, VAN HORLICK DUE BACK: Defenseman Jody Praznik is scheduled to come off the IceRays injured-reserve list Sunday and forward Quinten Van Horlick will come off Monday. Praznik had a broken left thumb and Van Horlick had a back injury.
   Defenseman Paul Doherty made his IceRays debut Thursday. Corpus Christi picked up Doherty from Amarillo on Feb. 4 in the Valeri Ermolov trade. Doherty, however, had an elbow injury that kept him out of the lineup until Thursday.

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