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Monday, October 15, 2001
Buzzards swoop down on IceRays

By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
After combining for 11 goals in their first exhibition, El Paso and Corpus Christi were more subdued offensively when the teams met again Sunday night at Memorial Coliseum.
   The Buzzards, however, did just enough to avenge last Friday's loss with a 2-0 win over the IceRays behind second-period goals from John Hanson and Van Burgess.
   El Paso's victory split the preseason series, 1-1, as both teams prepare for the start of the new Central Hockey League's inaugural season. The IceRays open Thursday night against the San Antonio Iguanas, then host the Buzzards Saturday.
   By Wednesday, first-year IceRays head coach Dale Henry must cut four players from the 22-man training camp roster, including two veterans in order to meet the league's limit of five.
   "I've got some tough decisions to make," Henry said. "The guys came into camp in shape and ready to play. I'm not looking forward to having to release some of the guys, but we're still going to have a good corps."
   Last Friday, the IceRays took a 5-1 lead before El Paso rallied to tie the game. Jeff Paluseo gave Corpus Christi the win with a minute left to play on his second goal of the night.
   Henry said Sunday's effort was lacking.
   "We came out flat," Henry said. "Friday I thought we played hard for the first two periods. (Last night) we didn't get the jump like we did the other night."
   Five minutes into the first period, Corpus Christi's Ryan Prentice broke free into the El Paso zone and passed the puck across the crease to a trailing Kurt Wickenheiser. Despite being hounded by the only Buzzard back on defense, Wickenheiser managed to take a shot. El Paso goalie Jeff Levy knocked the puck to the boards with a diving save.
   Shortly after, El Paso went on a power play when Cory Evans was sent to the penalty box for high-sticking. The IceRays used a swarming defense to keep the Buzzards from getting a clean shot at the goal.
   Midway through the first, a slashing call on El Paso's Corey Waring gave Corpus Christi its first power play, but the IceRays managed just one shot before the penalty expired.
   With less than five minutes left, Jeff Paluseo was called for slashing, giving El Paso an extra man on the ice for the second time in the period. Forward John Hanson set up just to the left of the net and had an open look, but his shot was nabbed by IceRays starting goaltender Peter Brady.
   IceRays forward Mike DeGurse missed wide to the left on an early shot in the second period. The scoring woes continued on their next power play, as the El Paso defenders knocked the puck back across the ice each time the IceRays moved inside.
   The Buzzards took a 1-0 lead at the 7:29 mark of the second when Hanson beat Brady on a feed from Kory Baker. Just over two minutes had passed when Van Burgess found the net, this time against goalie Hugo Hamelin, who replaced Brady between goals.
   BUZZARDS 2, ICERAYS 0
   El Paso 0 2 0-2
   Corpus Christi 0 0 0-0
   First period - none. Penalties - Evans, CC (highsticking) 5:16; Waring, EP (slashing) 10:12; Paluseo, CC (slashing) 15:25.
   Second period - 1, Hanson, EP 1 (Baker, Rees) 7:29; 2, Burgess, EP 1 (Dudley) 9:43. Penalties - Ken Goetz, CC (elbowing) 2:39; Upton, EP (holding) 5:07; Rees, EP (hooking) 9:01; Bassi, CC (roughing) 16:03.
   Third period - none. Penalties -KcKinlay, CC (obstruction tripping) 9:53; Wickenheiser, CC (slashing) 17:51.
   Shots on goal - El Paso 8-11-14--33; Corpus Christi 4-11-11-26. Power-play opportunities - El Paso 0 of 6; Corpus Christi 0 of 3. Goalies - El Paso, Levy 4-11-11 (26 shots-26 saves); Corpus Christi, Brady 8-6-0 (14-13); Hamelin 0-3-14 (17-16). Referee - Guy Pellerin. Linesmen - Dave Pfohl, Stacey Jackson. A - n/a.


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

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