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Friday, February 9, 2001
Homestand gives IceRays much-needed boost
Coliseum places team into playoff position for stretch drive
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
Corpus Christi had become an unfamiliar place to the IceRays before returning home from a seven-game road trip in early January.
The IceRays hadn't played more than two consecutive home games since opening the season with four straight at Memorial Coliseum, and spent more time on a bus than in their own vehicles.
In the past month, however, the IceRays have played eight of 10 games at home. During that stretch, Corpus Christi has flourished in the small confines of Memorial Coliseum, winning six of those eight, with another scheduled tonight against Fort Worth.
The timing couldn't have been better, defenseman Shawn Frappier said.
"We needed a homestand like that," Frappier said. "It was the perfect time of the year for it to happen. There's absolutely no reason we should lose at home and we're not going to accept anything less. Obviously, we've set high standards because we're a good hockey team. The big thing was to not underachieve, because that's what we did all year."
Having won just three games of a seven-game road trip, the IceRays returned home Jan. 7 one game above .500 and in fifth place in the Western Professional Hockey League Eastern Division. Since then, Corpus Christi is 7-2-1 and tied for fourth with divisional foe Monroe.
Included in Corpus Christi's recent success is a six-game home winning streak, dating back to a 3-1 victory over Bossier-Shreveport before its last extended road trip. The IceRays (26-20-3, 55 pts.) also pieced together four consecutive wins, three of those at home, before losing two in a row to Monroe and San Angelo last weekend.
Corpus Christi responded with a 3-1 win over El Paso last Tuesday, which forward Dustin McArthur said displayed the team's rejuvenated confidence.
"Once we got rolling, we knew that every game we played at home, we were going to win," McArthur said. "Unfortunately, we lost a couple to teams we shouldn't have lost to. Our goal was to win them all, but we've still done very well."
With 21 games left in the regular season, Corpus Christi is 15-9-1 at home. Away from home, the IceRays are 11-11-2, but they have an opportunity to improve their road mark following tonight's matchup against the Brahmas.
Immediately after the game, the IceRays will board their bus for a six-game road trip, beginning in Fort Worth Saturday night.
"This is where we'll see if we can pull it together," Frappier said. "It's not do or die, but if we pull together we can make it to the playoffs. I feel like packing my bags right now."
First, the IceRays must handle the Brahmas one last time at Memorial Coliseum. The teams are scheduled to meet four more times before the end of the season, all in Fort Worth.
The worst team in the WPHL with 25 points, Fort Worth had lost eight straight games before upsetting division leader Austin last Wednesday, 3-1. Corpus Christi is 7-2-0 against the Brahmas this season.
At this point in the season, Frappier said a win over Fort Worth is all the IceRays will accept.
"We need to win this game," Frappier said. "Our objectives are to not lose at home or any team below us, so it's a double-edged sword. This is also the start of our weekend, and we want to send a message."
With a potential playoff spot at stake, McArthur said the message is clear.
"Even if it wasn't here, it's definitely a crucial game," McArthur said. "We figure we have to win two out of every three to make the playoffs, and at least four these next six games on the road. We've got our work cut out for us, but we're going to be wound up like tops."
Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com
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a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.
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