Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Ice Bats beat 'Rays, 4-3

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Thursday, March 23, 2000

Ice Bats beat 'Rays, 4-3
Austin goaltender Laurie pitches shutout in shootout
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

IceRays goalie Jason Genik (30) knocks Austin's Matt Sharuga to the ice with a glove to the back of the head during the first period Wednesday night. The Ice Bats beat the IceRays, 4-3, in a shootout. Both teams already have qualified for the WPHL playoff.

Corpus Christi came up empty in overtime Wednesday.
   Austin goalie Rob Laurie stopped three IceRays shootout shooters and the Ice Bats defeated the Corpus Christi, 4-3, Wednesday night at Memorial Coliseum.
   The Ice Bats scored three consecutive goals on IceRays goalie Jason Genik with Laird Lidster netting the game-winner.
   Austin had lost its three previous shootouts.
   "I was starting to get worried about our hockey club," Austin coach Brent Hughes said. "Shootouts are such a crap shoot. But it feels good to finally win one again."
   With 43 seconds to play, the IceRays thought they scored to take a 4-3 lead, but the play was ruled offsides. Several fights ensued, and Corpus Christi's Dustin McArthur, who scored a goal and had an assist in the game, and Tobin Praznik were lost for the shootout. For Austin, Shawn Legault and Matt Sharuga were also lost because of the fighting penalties.
   "I think it hurt us because we lost Tobin and Dustin for the shootout," IceRays forward Cory Johnson said. "We could have used them."
   Corpus Christi fell to 35-24-9 (79 points). The IceRays will host Austin again on Friday night.
   The Ice Bats improved to 39-23-6 (84 points). The Ice Bats lead the season series, 9-4.
   "I thought we outworked Corpus Christi all night," Hughes said. "This one was a fun one for the fans, I'm sure. It had a playoff feel to it."
   Johnson had a goal and an assist for the IceRays in the loss. Austin took an brief lead late in the third period when Sharuga scored an unassisted goal with 2:06 to play in the game. Johnson, however, took a pass from McArthur 15 seconds later and found the back of the Ice Bats' goal to tie the game, 3-3.
   "The shift after a goal is an important one," Hughes said. "So that goal kind of shook me up a bit."
   The second period mirrored the first as the IceRays took an early lead only to see Austin respond with a tying goal late in the period.
   Tobin Praznik put Corpus Christi ahead, 2-1, with a breakaway goal 2:20 into the second period. It was Praznik's 47th goal, which is the best for all Western Professional Hockey League rookies.
   Austin's Rookie of the Year candidate, Dan Price, scored the equalizer with just 1:36 remaining before the second intermission. It was Price's 44th of the year.
   The IceRays managed just five shots in the second period.
   The two teams exchanged goals in the first period, which ended in a 1-1 tie.
   McArthur put Corpus Christi ahead, 1-0, before the game's first line change. He scored a rebound goal just 21 seconds into the game. Assisted by Cory Johnson and Alex Kholomeyev, it was McArthur's 27th goal of the year.
   Austin answered at the 8:24 mark of the first period with a Ryan Brindley goal.

   IceCubes
   COACH OF THE YEAR: The WPHL named Monroe coach Brian Curran Coach of the Year Wednesday, narrowly defeating Central Texas coach Todd Lalonde.
   "It was the closest vote we've had," said Steve Cherwonak, league director of scheduling and media services. "Both coaches received six first place votes and one second place vote cast differently could have changed things." In his first year as the Moccasins coach, Curran guided the team to a record of 37-23-6 through 66 games. Lalonde guided the Stampede to 48 wins through 68 games, setting a new WPHL record. Last year, Shreveport set the league mark for wins in a season with 47. The 16 WPHL coaches were the only people to cast votes for this award. The league will announce its Rookie of the Year today.
   GOALIE OF THE YEAR: Central Texas goalie Matt Barnes won the Scott Brower Most Outstanding Goaltender award Tuesday. Also a finalist for the WPHL Rookie of the Year honor, Barnes' 2.30 goals-against average and .933 save percentage were the best in the league through Tuesday's games. He was 25-7-3 through 68 games.
   PLAYOFF ROSTERS: WPHL teams must submit their playoff rosters to the league by no later than 3 p.m. Friday. Coaches can have up to 20 players plus one extra goalie on the final roster as long as the team is under the $10,000-a-week salary cap. The third goalie's salary does not count against the cap.
   PIECING IT TOGETHER: Since IceRays coach Taylor traded for Darryl Olsen on Jan. 8, Corpus Christi is 21-9-4.

   Austin 1 1 1 1 - 4
   Corpus Christi 1 1 1 0 - 3

   FIRST PERIOD - 1, Corpus Christi, Dustin McArthur (Johnson, Kholomeyev), 0:21. 2, Austin, Ryan Brindley (Sharuga), 8:24. PENALTIES - Brindley, Aus (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:40; T. Praznik, CC (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:40; Genik, CC (slashing), 8:49; Kungle, Aus (roughing dlb. minor), 10:04; Kholomeyev, CC (roughing dlb. minor), 10:04; Legault, Aus (fighting), 11:49; Shiryeav, CC (fighting), 11:49; Brosseau, Aus (elbowing), 18:56.
   SECOND PERIOD - 3, Corpus Christi, Tobin Praznik (Wickenheiser), 2:20. 4, Austin, Dan Price (Stahl), 18:24. PENALTIES - Legault, Aus (holding), 6:08; Shiryeav, CC (charging), 9:19; Brosseau, Aus (tripping), 10:14; Janicki, CC (hooking), 14:39. THIRD PERIOD - 5, Austin, Matt Sharuga (unassisted), 17:54. 6, Corpus Christi, Cory Johnson (McArthur), 18:09. PENALTIES - Brosseau, Aus (holding), 0:58; Genik, CC (roughing), 4:45; T. Praznik, CC (fighting), 19:17; McArthur, CC (fighting), 19:17; Legault, Aus (fighting), 19:17; Sharuga, Aus (unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting), 19:17.
   SHOOTOUT - 7, Austin, Laird Lidster.
   SHOTS ON GOAL - Austin 10-10-13 33. Corpus Christi 10-5-8 23. GOALIES - Austin, Rob Laurie (23-13-3). Corpus Christi, Jason Genik (15-11-4). 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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