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Wednesday, January 17, 2001
IceRays set for Amarillo
Hall: Austin loss won’t slow team
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
Corpus Christi's first game this month didn't exactly present the IceRays with a promising outlook.
In El Paso for the sixth of seven consecutive road games, the Buzzards blasted the IceRays in a 10-1 victory on Jan. 5.
Following the loss, the worst in franchise history, Corpus Christi put together a string of three straight wins before falling in a shootout against Austin on Saturday.
Despite the loss, Corpus Christi coach Taylor Hall said the momentum created from last week's four-point performance should carry over as the IceRays prepare for tonight's game against Amarillo.
Hall does have his concerns, however.
"We definitely feel a lot more confidence," said Hall, whose team last week defeated Odessa and Tupelo before losing to Austin. "One danger we have to worry about is being overconfident. We just want to make sure we have the same work ethic as we did last week. We have a pretty good opportunity to win some games."
Corpus Christi (21-18-3) enters tonight's matchup against the Rattlers with 45 points and still in fifth place in the Western Professional Hockey League Eastern Division.
In Odessa and Tupelo, the IceRays faced two of the top teams in the league. Like the IceRays, Amarillo (18-16-6, 42 points) is attempting to climb up the Western Division standings from its fourth-place position.
The Rattlers edged Austin, 2-1, last Monday, which extended their winning streak to three games. Three of Corpus Christi's last four games were decided by one goal - a sign, Hall said, that the IceRays need to play with maximum intensity.
"The guys have taken on a little more ownership. They want it more now than I've seen them want it this season," Hall said. "They work well together and their communication on the ice has been great. If we don't play as hard as we can, we're not going to win. You see how close some games end up being, so we have to do everything we can to win."
Hall said a win against Amarillo will indirectly help with preparations for the rest of the week, which includes a road game against Austin and home matchup against Fort Worth.
"The first game of the week is the toughest," said Hall, whose IceRays are 2-4 in Wednesday games. "We have to go through the week and make sure we come out and play our hardest. It's very important to get ourselves in a mode to play our best hockey."
Friday, the IceRays will find themselves back in Austin to take on the league's No. 1 team.
Corpus Christi hasn't fared well against the Ice Bats, who have outscored the IceRays 33-11 in seven games this season.
Hall said his team's most recent loss to Austin shouldn't derail the IceRays as they search for only their second win this year against Austin.
"After playing as hard as we did, I thought we'd win. All we needed was five more minutes," Hall said. "Unfortunately, in a shootout it's all one big gamble. We look forward to getting the job done in regulation Friday."
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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