Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Corpus Christi secures WPHL playoff spot with win over Monroe

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Friday, March 17, 2000

Corpus Christi secures WPHL playoff spot with win over Monroe
Behind Shiryaev's two goals, IceRays clinch postseason berth with 4-2 victory
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

David Adame/Caller-Times

IceRays forward Alex Kholomeyev (8) sends a shot past Monroe goalie Clint Owen for Thursday night's first goal.

The Corpus Christi IceRays needed only to play even with Monroe for 60 minutes Thursday to secure a bid to the 1999-2000 Western Professional Hockey League playoffs.
   They did better than that.
   Forward Dennis Shiryaev scored two goals and Corpus Christi defeated Monroe, 4-2, to put the IceRays in the postseason. Corpus Christi could have ensured life after the regular season with the one point a shootout loss provides, but the team secured the bid with style instead.
   With its fourth consecutive victory, Corpus Christi improved to 33-23-8 (74 points). The IceRays have seven games remaining in the regular season to work for the best possible playoff seed.
   Monroe fell to 36-22-6 (78 points), though the Moccasins have already qualified for the postseason.
   Tobin Praznik scored the game-winning goal for Corpus Christi 22 seconds into the third period. It was the rookie's 43rd of the year, which is tops among WPHL first-year players. With the goal, Praznik moved his consecutive goal-scoring streak to seven games.
   Geoff Bumstead recorded his 110th point with an assist on the Praznik goal. Bumstead passed former Corpus Christi forward Chris Robertson as the franchise's single-season point leader. "It's a great feeling to finally break the record," Bumstead said. "Chris Robertson is a great player and it's an honor to break that record."
   IceRays goalie Jason Genik stopped 25 shots to improve to 14-11-3.
   An end-to-end second period produced just one goal. IceRays forward Brad Wingfield set up Shiryaev for a goal 9:19 into the second period. That tied the game, 2-2.
   Corpus Christi outshot Monroe, 17-9, in the second 20 minutes.
   Monroe took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission after answering an early Corpus Christi goal with back-to-back goals of its own.
   Alex Kholomeyev put the IceRays up, 1-0, 1:31 into the game with his sixth goal since being traded to Corpus Christi from Fort Worth.
   The Moccasins tied the game, 1-1, on a Jami Yoder goal at the 7:04 mark of the first period. Monroe then took the lead, 2-1, 1:16 later on a Shawn Redmond power-play goal.

   IceCubes
   IRONMAN ROSS: Thursday's game was Andy Ross' 251st in the WPHL. Only two players have played in more league games than has Ross, who spent the bulk of his four-year WPHL career with the Austin Ice Bats.

   Monroe 2 0 0 - 2
   Corpus Christi 1 1 2 - 4
   FIRST PERIOD - 1, Corpus Christi, Alex Kholomeyev (Quinnell, Olsen), 1:31. 2, Monroe, Jami Yoder (Altschul, Szatsmary), 7:04. 3, Monroe, Shawn Redmond (Smith, Anneck), 9:20, (pp). PENALTIES - Van Horlick, CC (unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing, 10-min. misconduct), 0:23; Wingfield, CC (fighting), 0:23; Rowland, Mon (fighting), 0:23; Cressman, Mon (unsportsmanlike conduct), 0:23; Kenny, Mon (unsportsmanlike conduct), 0:23; Praznik, CC (holding), 8:53; Bumstead, CC (fighting), 10:52; Szatsmary, Mon (fighting), 10:52; Ross, CC (interference), 14:19; Altschul, Mon (holding), 17:16.
   SECOND PERIOD - 4, Corpus Christi, Dennis Shiryaev (Wingfield), 9:19. PENALTIES - Van Horlick, CC (unsportsmanlike conduct), 0:22; Kenny, Mon (unsportsmanlike conduct), 0:22; Van Horlick, CC (roughing), 5:06; Parent, Mon (tripping), 5:25; Van Horlick, CC (cross-checking), 11:12; Doherty, CC (holding), 14:43; Kenny, Mon (obstruction hooking), 18:29.
   THIRD PERIOD - 5, Corpus Christi, Tobin Praznik (Bumstead, Olsen), 0:22, (pp). 6, Corpus Christi, Shiryaev (Wingfield, Quinnell), 15:31. PENALTIES - Pawluk, Mon (hooking), 1:08; Quinnell, CC (obstruction holding), 9:49.
   SHOTS ON GOAL - Monroe 11-9-9 27. Corpus Christi 11-17-11 39. GOALIES - Monroe, Clint Owen (18-10-3). Corpus Christi, Jason Genik (14-11-3). A - announced sellout, 3,510. REFEREE - Scott Hughes.


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

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