Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - IceRays' scope locked on Warthogs, not Bats

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Wednesday, March 8, 2000

IceRays' scope locked on Warthogs, not Bats
Corpus Christi taking recent surge in stride heading into today's game against Alexandria
By Mark Button
Caller-Times
IceRays coach Taylor Hall is not concerned with catching or passing Austin in the Western Professional Hockey League Central Division.
   That was not the case 34 days ago, when Corpus Christi traveled to Austin to challenge the Ice Bats for sole possession of second place in the division. Austin won that game, 5-4, and has gone 13-3-1 since. The IceRays, however, have not kept pace, going 8-6 since the Feb. 4 game.
   Corpus Christi's results have been better of late, however. The team has won five of its last six games, including two against the rival Ice Bats.
   With 76 points, Austin (36-20-4) may be within the IceRays' reach. Corpus Christi is 28-22-4, 12 points behind the Ice Bats, who will play their remaining 10 games on the road.
   Only two teams - New Mexico and Central Texas - have secured playoffs berths. As it stands now, however, Corpus Christi is looking at a fifth seed in the Western Bracket and a first round, best-of-three-games series against El Paso.
   Still, Hall's focus has not wavered.
   "I'm not looking to catch anybody, other than the fact that we're trying to play our best hockey, game-in and game-out," Hall said. "There is nothing we can do about other teams, other than we can just help ourselves and win our games. If other teams lose along the way, great."
   Alexandria, the IceRays' opponent today, is currently out of the playoff picture and the Warthogs (19-32-9, 47 points) need help from many teams in order to qualify for the postseason.
   That does not make Alexandria any less dangerous to the IceRays, Hall said.
   "We need to make sure we prepare ourselves even more so against Alexandria so they don't catch us off guard," Hall said. "They want to try to make the playoffs and I'm sure they have a point to prove."
   ICECUBES
   QUINNELL CALLED UP: The International Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies called up IceRays defenseman Bob Quinnell Monday night, Hall said.
   Utah (35-18-8) is in first place in the IHL Western Conference. The Grizzlies hosted Manitoba Tuesday and they have back-to-back home games against Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday.
   "It sounds like it will be up there for the weekend for sure," Hall said. "They'll probably re-evaluate after the weekend."
   In just 47 games, Quinnell is ranked ninth for scoring defensemen with 11 goals and 36 assists. In the last 10 IceRays' games, Quinnell has four goals and 15 assists with a plus-minus ratio of plus-10.
   Quinnell spent the first six weeks of the 1999-2000 hockey season with the IHL's Long Beach Ice Dogs before coming back to Corpus Christi for his second season. Quinnell holds the single-season and career records for points by a defenseman. His 47 points this year set the single-season mark and his career total is 88.
   While the team loses Quinnell, at least temporarily, veteran defenseman Jody Praznik will make his return today.
   Praznik broke his left thumb on Jan. 7. At the time of his injury, Praznik led all WPHL defensemen with 40 points.
   ROLAND OUT: IceRays forward Layne Roland was placed on the IceRays' 14-day injured-reserve list Monday with an "undisclosed" injury, according to Mike Modugno, IceRays director of public relations.
   Roland skated off the ice during Sunday's game against Austin with an apparent hand injury.


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

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