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Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999
IceRays manuever past Monroe, 4-2
Goalie Genik stops 42 shots as CC emerges from grueling schedule
By STU DUNCAN
Staff Writer

   Gee, thanks.
   That was a fitting response by the Corpus Christi IceRays to the Western Professional Hockey League scheduling committee for their latest three-game stint involving Friday evening's road game at Lake Charles sandwiched between home games on Thursday and Saturday nights.
   The weary IceRays had more than enough energy remaining to take two of the three games, however, ending with Saturday's 4-2 triumph against Monroe at Memorial Coliseum. It was the second time in as many weekends the IceRays took two of three games.
   With the victory, Corpus Christi (33-22-5, 71 points) remained tied for first place in the Central Division standings with Waco (33-18-5, 71 points). The Wizards nipped El Paso, 4-3 in a shootout Saturday evening.
   "The guys are definitely tired," IceRays coach Taylor Hall said, "but I think we played a very strong game and played stronger as the game grew on.
   "The key for us to win is solid defense," he added. "We got great goaltending from Jason Genik and our six defensemen played a great game. That was the difference for us tonight."
   Monroe (31-23-6, 68 points) failed to capitalize on its first three power play chances against the IceRays goalie Genik (14-4-1). Genik failed to notch his fourth shutout of the season, however, when Moccasins forward Dorian Anneck, who also added Monroe's final goal, tipped in a power-play goal on his team's fourth attempt 6:18 into the final period.
   Genik, who is No. 1 in the league in goals against average, saved 42 of 44 shots during the game, including 33 after the first period action.
   "We were really upset about the loss to Lake Charles," Genik said referring to Friday's 5-3 setback to the Ice Pirates. "We came so close to tying that game and getting some points. But we really took this one (Saturday's game) to heart and came out playing."
   The IceRays scored the opening period's lone goal on their first and only power play of the period 10:56 seconds into play.
   Corpus Christi forward Pavel Evstigneev hovered to the left of the Moccasins goal, retrieved a loose puck and stuffed in a back-handed shot after Monroe goalie Martin Engren (4-2-1) had deflected IceRays defenseman Jody Praznik's forceful slap shot. Evstigneev and his teammate Chris Robertson tallied two assists each in the game.
   Corpus Christi took a 2-0 lead 38 seconds into the second period, when forward Geoff Bumstead skated to the front of the net and away from a pack of players shielding Engren's view. Bumstead tapped in his 25th goal of the season on the fly for a 2-0 IceRays' advantage.
   The IceRays recorded their third tally a little more than 11 minutes later, when defenseman Regan Harper flipped in the team's second goal of the period and his seventh of the season to make the score 3-0.
   Forward Mike Tomlinson added the insurance for the IceRays with 3:29 to play when he trickled a point-blank shot past Engren for a 4-1 edge.
   The IceRays will return to the ice Thursday when they host Central Texas at 7:05 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.
   WINGFIELD LOST FOR SEASON: The IceRays will have to get used to playing without forward Brad Wingfield. Wingfield broke his right leg with 59 seconds remaining in the second period of Friday's defeat in Lake Charles and will miss the remainder of the season because of the injury. He is expected to undergo surgery in Lake Charles and should be released from the hospital on Monday. Wingfield received the injured when he slid into the Lake Charles goal Friday, while allegedly being pushed in the process, and his leg caught in the net.
   Defenseman Jody Praznik has returned to the IceRays after an injury sidelined him for eight games. What a return it was Friday, too, as Praznik dished out two assists against the Lake Charles Ice Pirates. He also had two assists during Saturday' game with Monroe.
   Praznik missed the extensive playing time because of a broken big toe on his right foot.
   IceRays defenseman Shaun Peet returned to action Saturday against Monroe after serving a one game league suspension for receiving his third game misconduct penalty during Thursday's game. Peet had an assist against the Moccasins on Mike Tomlinson's insurance goal late in the third period.
   SATURDAY'S SUMMARY
   ICERAYS 4, MOCCASINS 2

   Monroe, 0|0|2--2
   Corpus Christi, 1|2|1--4
   FIRST PERIOD -- 1, Corpus Christi, Pavel Evstigneev (Jody Praznik, Chris Robertson), pp., 10:56.
   SECOND PERIOD -- 2, Corpus Christi, Geoff Bumstead, (Robertson, Evstigneev), 0:38. 3, Corpus Christi, Regan Harper (Bumstead, Evstigneev), 11:58.
   THIRD PERIOD -- 4, Monroe, Dorian Anneck, (Russ Parent, Jason Smith), pp., 6:18. 5, Corpus Christi, Mike Tomlinson (Praznik, Shaun Peet), 16:31. 6, Monroe, Anneck, (Parent, Don Hearn), 19:06.
   SHOTS ON GOAL -- Monroe 9-12-23-44. Corpus Christi 15-11-12-38; POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITIES -- Monroe 1 for 5. Corpus Christi 1 for 1; GOALIES -- Monroe Martin Engren (4-2-1) 38 shots, 34 saves. Corpus Christi Jason Genik (14-4-1) 44 shots 42 saves; A -- 3,292.

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