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Corpus Christi IceRays

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This article is about the current North American Hockey League franchise. For the original Western Professional Hockey League/Central Hockey League franchise, see Corpus Christi IceRays (1998–2010).
Corpus Christi IceRays
CityCorpus Christi, Texas
LeagueNAHL
DivisionSouth Division
Founded2001
Home arenaAmerican Bank Center
ColorsRed, black, white
     
General managerRyan Bennett
(Hired 2022)
Head coachSylvain Clouthier
(Hired 2022)
AffiliateAustin Ice Bats (NA3HL)[1]
Franchise history
2001–2003Pittsburgh Forge
2003–2005Toledo IceDiggers
2005–2010Alpena IceDiggers
2010–presentCorpus Christi IceRays

The Corpus Christi IceRays are a Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The IceRays are based in Corpus Christi, Texas, and play in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The "IceRays" moniker derives from the many different species of stingrays that inhabit the nearby Gulf of Mexico.

History

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IceDiggers logo

The franchise originally joined the NAHL as the Pittsburgh Forge from 2001 to 2003. They relocated to Toledo, Ohio, and became the Toledo IceDiggers from 2003 to 2005. They then became the Alpena IceDiggers, playing in the Northern Lights Arena located in Alpena, Michigan, from 2005 to 2010.

The original IceRays organization was established in 1998 and played in the minor-professional Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) from 1998 to 2001 and the Central Hockey League from 2001 to 2010. Following the 2009–10 season, the IceRays' ownership purchased the IceDiggers franchise and transferred the IceRays' name, logo, colors, management, and coaching staff to the NAHL franchise before folding their CHL franchise.[2] The new IceRays junior franchise played their first game on September 15, 2010, against the Traverse City North Stars at the NAHL Showcase, falling 1–0. The IceRays played their first junior game at the American Bank Center on October 1, 2010, against the Wichita Falls Wildcats, winning 4–3 in a shootout.

During the 2011–12 season, IceRays goaltender Anthony Stolarz was scouted heavily by the National Hockey League (NHL), ending the season fourth in the NHL Central Scouting List among North American goaltenders. On June 23, 2012, Stolarz became the first player in IceRays junior franchise history to be drafted by an NHL franchise, joining the Philadelphia Flyers as the 45th overall pick (2nd Round).[3]

After just three seasons in the NAHL, the IceRays earned their first playoff bid during the 2012–13 season, finishing with a 28–26–6 record and fourth in the South Division under former head coach and professional player, Justin Quenneville. The IceRays won their first playoff game on April 5, 2013, against the Amarillo Bulls in a 2–1 road victory before falling in three-straight games to drop the best-of-five series. Following that season, Quenneville stepped down as head coach after two years at the helm, making way for new hire John Becanic to take over for the next three seasons.

The IceRays set multiple franchise records during the 2014–15 season, marking the best record in junior franchise history at 31–24–5 and their second appearance in the Robertson Cup Playoffs. The team would fall in two-straight games at the American Bank Center to the Wenatchee Wild in the South Division Quarterfinals, 3–2 (SO) and 3–2, respectively. On Feb. 7, 2015, the IceRays set a junior franchise record for the highest attendance as well as a league attendance mark, bringing in 6,965 fans during the annual Stars & Stripes Night, honoring military, first responders and law enforcement.[4]

In the 2015–16 season, the IceRays set one more junior franchise milestone thanks to former goaltender Pheonix Copley. On Feb. 27, 2016, the 24-year-old replaced St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen with 4:26 remaining in the second period,[5] marking the first player in junior franchise history to earn playing time in the NHL.

On June 30, 2016, the IceRays hired former assistant coach Brad Flynn as the team's fourth head coach in junior franchise history. Flynn left after the 2017–18 season to become an assistant coach with the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League.[6] He was replaced by Ryan Cruthers, who had been with the Chicago Steel the previous season.[7] Cruthers was hired as an assistant for Robert Morris University in 2019 and Al Rooney was promoted for the 2019–20 season.[8] Rooney was fired after less than a season and a 13–33–3–3 record to be replaced by assistant Nate Weossner in the interim.[9]

The end of the 2019–20 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the team already eliminated from the playoffs. The IceRays withdrew from participation in the 2020–21 season due to the on-going complications during the pandemic.[10][11] Prior to their return in the 2021–22 season, Michael Lysyj was named the new head coach.[12]

Season-by-season records

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Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
Toledo IceDiggers
2003–04 56 13 38 5 31 146 243 1,375 6th, North Did not qualify
2004–05 56 18 35 3 39 149 234 1,424 6th, North Did not qualify
Alpena IceDiggers
2005–06 58 13 38 7 33 147 260 1,339 5th, North Did not qualify
2006–07 62 37 20 5 79 232 194 1,447 2nd, North Lost 1st Round, 0–3 vs. Team USA
2007–08 58 30 23 5 65 184 177 969 3rd, North Lost 1st Round, 0–3 vs. Mahoning Valley Phantoms
2008–09 58 27 25 6 60 157 184 1,125 4th, North Lost 1st Round, 1–3 vs. Team USA
2009–10 58 22 34 2 46 169 201 1,555 5th, North Did not qualify
Corpus Christi IceRays
2010–11 58 19 34 5 43 158 238 2,079 5th, South Did not qualify
2011–12 60 26 29 5 57 169 199 1,170 5th, South Did not qualify
2012–13 60 28 26 6 62 194 200 1441 4th, South Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Amarillo Bulls
2013–14 60 19 31 10 38 124 178 1386 6th, South Did not qualify
2014–15 60 31 24 5 67 186 196 1348 3rd of 8, South Lost South Play-in Series, 0–2 vs. Wenatchee Wild
2015–16 60 25 29 6 56 139 170 1145 5th of 6, South Did not qualify
2016–17 60 32 19 9 73 183 155 1290 3rd of 7, South Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs
Lost Div. Finals, 2–3 vs. Lone Star Brahmas
2017–18 60 27 23 10 64 160 177 1302 4th of 6, South Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–3 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs
2018–19 60 29 28 3 61 182 196 1350 4th of 6, South Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–3 vs. Amarillo Bulls
2019–20 53 16 30 7 39 102 156 726 5th of 7, South Season cancelled
2020–21 Did not participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 60 25 32 3 53 155 213 1209 7th of 8, South
26th of 29, NAHL		 Did not qualify
2022–23 60 11 42 7 29 140 255 1218 8th of 8, South
28th of 29, NAHL		 Did not qualify
2023-24 60 19 35 6 44 154 239 1299 8th of 9, South
29th of 32, NAHL		 Did not qualifty

References

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  1. ^ "IceRays Announce Affiliation with NA3HL's Austin Ice Bats". OurSports Central. August 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "IceRays set to move to the NAHL". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. May 21, 2010.
  3. ^ "FLYERS PICK STOLARZ IN 2ND ROUND OF NHL DRAFT | NAHL: Corpus Christi IceRays". goicerays.pointstreaksites.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  4. ^ "ICERAYS BEATEN BY BRAHMAS, 5–3 | NAHL: Corpus Christi IceRays". goicerays.pointstreaksites.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  5. ^ O'Donnell, Tim. "North Pole native Pheonix Copley makes NHL debut". Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  6. ^ "Western Hockey League's Rebels Swipe Flynn from IceRays". JuniorHockey.com. May 7, 2018.
  7. ^ "Ryan Cruthers Named IceRays Head Coach". OurSportsCentral.com. May 30, 2018.
  8. ^ "Rooney Promoted to IceRays Head Coach". OurSports Central. July 22, 2019.
  9. ^ "Corpus Christi IceRays announce coaching change". NAHL. January 9, 2020.
  10. ^ "Corpus Christi IceRays suspend operations". NAHL. August 24, 2020.
  11. ^ "NAHL Hockey: IceRays suspend operations for season due to COVID-19". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  12. ^ "Corpus Christi names Michael Lysyj as new head coach". NAHL. May 24, 2021.
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