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Friday, January 12, 2001

IceRays trying for streak in today's game
Weekend matchups with Tupelo, Austin will show if C.C. is worthy of playoffs
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times

Corpus Christi’s Brad Wingfield hangs on to the puck with Jackalope Mike Rusk and IceRays player Geoff Bumstead in pursuit Wednesday night. The IceRays will face two of the WPHL’s top teams this weekend. Corpus Christi is hoping to make a surge toward the postseason, even though they are still fifth in the Eastern Division.

Taylor Hall said preparation has been a key factor in helping the Corpus Christi IceRays he coaches to four wins in their last five games.
   Whether Corpus Christi is ready to make a serious jump into the playoff chase, however, will be proven this weekend when the IceRays face the top two teams in the Western Professional Hockey League's Eastern Division on consecutive nights.
   "It's going to be tough," said Hall, whose IceRays take on Tupelo tonight and Austin on Saturday. "We have to be sure we're on our game. Both of those teams are not the top teams by fluke. They're going to come ready so we have to be ready to execute."
   Austin and Tupelo are tied for the division lead with 53 points. The T-Rex visit Corpus Christi today for a 7:05 p.m. showdown against the IceRays at Memorial Coliseum. Saturday, the IceRays depart for a night game against the IceBats.
   Corpus Christi (20-18-2) remains in fifth in the Eastern Division with 42 points. A four-point weekend could help the IceRays close the gap between fifth place and the top of the standings.
   With two games in two days, the second being on the road, Hall said rest will be important.
   "The big thing is that we make sure we save our energy," Hall said. "We had a very light practice (Thursday). You really need to make sure you're feeling good. Come game time you have to be ready to go both physically and mentally."
   The IceRays didn't have any problems executing in Wednesday night's 6-2 win over Odessa. Kurt Wickenheiser, an Eastern Division all-star, and Tobin Praznik each scored two goals and combined for seven points in the victory. Corpus Christi rallied from an early 2-1 deficit.
   Praznik now has five goals and three assists in nine games since joining the IceRays in late December.
   "We're starting to feel confident on the ice," Praznik said. "Each time we go out, we get better and better. When we get behind, we have to make sure we stay out of the penalty box and try to get as many pucks into the net as possible."
   Corpus Christi led Odessa, 3-2, after the first period and held the Jackalopes scoreless the last two periods while scoring three more times in the second.
   Hall said he was impressed with the IceRays' high level of intensity throughout the game against Odessa, especially at the end. He said he hopes the effort carries over into the next two games.
   "It looked like we wanted the game more," Hall said. "We came out slow in the first period, but I was happy to see the way we finished. A team that's up by four goals sometimes tends to get sloppy. We need to continue to play hard and take care of things at the end."
   Against Tupelo, the IceRays will face the league's No. 1 scoring offense. The T-Rex have scored 167 goals this season and are 7-1-2 over their last 10 games.
   Tupelo's Jason Firth leads the WPHL in scoring with 77 points (36 goals, 41 assists). Teammate Brant Blackned is second in the league in scoring with 61 points (28 goals, 33 assists).
   Hall said primary objective would be to shut down Firth and the rest of Tupelo's offense.
   "Obviously with Tupelo we have to shut down their lines and Jason Firth. We have to play physical and stay out of the box like we did against Odessa."
   Corpus Christi is 2-1 against Tupelo this season. The IceRays posted a 4-0 win in their first meeting at Memorial Coliseum. They split their last two meetings, both of which were in Tupelo.
   The IceRays haven't been as lucky against Austin, which has won five of six, including two 8-1 victories.
   "I would say they're the best team we've faced this season," Hall said. "Austin is a very disciplined team with a sound offensive game plan. I think we do want to be successful and get to the point where we blossom. To do that, we have to come in right from the start and play hard."


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

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