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Thursday, November 30, 2000

Central Texas holds off IceRays
Rally isn't enough as C.C. falls, 4-3
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times

Corpus Christi’s Kurt Wickenheiser (middle) tries to get the puck past Central Texas’ Chris Johnston (left) and Ron Newhook Wednesday night.

After playing their last five games on the road over a 15-day stretch, the Corpus Christi IceRays finally returned home to Memorial Coliseum.
   Wednesday night against Central Texas, things were more sour than sweet for the IceRays.
   The Stampede scored three goals in the second period and went on to post a 4-3 win over Corpus Christi, ending the IceRays' three-game home winning streak.
   Already on a power play advantage, Corpus Christi pulled goalie Jason Carey with three minutes left in the game to give the IceRays an extra man on the ice.
   Kurt Wickenheiser brought the IceRays to within one with 1 minute, 10 seconds left to play, but Central Texas was able to hold off the rally.
   Corpus Christi and Central Texas were tied for fifth place in the Western Professional Hockey League Eastern Division with 21 points. The win improved Central Texas 10-7-3 to (23 points) and gave the Stampede some cushion in the standings.
   The IceRays dropped to 10-12-1 with the loss, the team's fourth in five games.

Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times

Central Texas’ Peter Zurba tries to slow down Corpus Christi’s Kurt Wickenheiser at the Memorial Coliseum.

   Central Texas went on a power play 2:15 into the opening period following a roughing call on Dennis Shiryaev. The Stampede managed three shots on Carey despite sloppy play in Corpus Christi's zone.
   Shortly after the power play expired, the IceRays found themselves on the offensive behind the Central Texas goal. Alex Kholomeyev swung around from behind the net and softly slid the puck to Gatis Tseplis, who scored over Barnes' right shoulder from just outside the top of crease.
   Central Texas had another power play opportunity almost immediately after Tseplis' goal, his eighth of the season. As with its earlier power play, Central Texas didn't get a clear shot on Carey.
   Corpus Christi went on its first power play with just under 10 minutes left in the first period and again with three minutes left. The Stampede's penalty killing unit, seventh best in the WPHL, kept the IceRays from adding to their lead.
   Twenty-three seconds into the second period Central Texas went on its third power play of the game after a slashing call on Brad Wingfield.
   This time the Stampede took advantage of the opportunity and tied the game, 1-1, on David Bourque's third goal of the season, which came barley a minute gone from the clock.
   Five minutes into the period, a squabble erupted behind the Corpus Christi goal, resulting in penalties against IceRays forward Geoff Bumstead and Central Texas' Dave MacIntyre and Matt Hill.
   Just before the faceoff, Chris Johnson was also sent to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving the IceRays a 4-on-3 advantage. Even with just three defenders, Central Texas did an effective job denying Corpus Christi scoring chance.
   Central Texas took a 2-1 lead midway through the period on a power play when Ron Newhook floated a shot toward Carey, sneaking the puck in just past the Corpus Christi goalie's left arm.
   Central Texas' Matt Brenner was called for interference with 8:47 left in the second, giving the IceRays a one-man advantage. With time ticking down on the power play, Jaime Hearn evened the score at 2-2 with his eighth goal of the season.
   Less than three minutes later, Central Texas regained the lead on a goal by Peter Zurba.
   Five minutes remained in the period when Dumoulin, who recorded an assist on Hearn's goal, was charged with a game misconduct for fighting and ejected from the game.
   Corpus Christi was forced to defend Central Texas' power play attack for four minutes before the Stampede's Eric Preston was called for tripping and sent to the penalty box.


Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

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