The Corpus Christi IceRays faced the El Paso Rhinos in the Hilliard Center on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12, where the teams received applause and cheers from the largest opening weekend crowd in the North American Hockey League. The IceRays started their season with back-to-back wins against the Rhinos.
The IceRays’ weekend started with a 1-0 shutout by Vladislav Bryzgalov and ended with a last second overtime goal by Defenseman Nathan Di Chiara.
Their season began with one of the youngest head coaches in the league as 32-year-old Nick Skerlick started his first year in Corpus Christi.
The team was led by returning goaltender Vladislav Bryzgalov who was back with the team after being called up to the Chicago Steel and blocked 21 shots on goal.
Bryzgalov is the son of former NHL goaltender and three-time Olympian, Ilya “Mr. Universe” Bryzgalov. Ilya Bryzgalov was the backup goaltender for the Anaheim Ducks when they won their Stanley Cup. He played five playoff games for the Anaheim Ducks, winning three games.
The IceRays lone goal was scored at the 10:39 mark by forward Michael Sandruck, assisted by forward Oliver Czaja and forward Michael Azzarone.
The second period remained tense until the whistle. Just two minutes into the third period, Rhinos forward Brody Barta appeared to be injured and was taken off the ice. This only fueled the intensity and physicality between the IceRays and Rhinos.
With 13 minutes left in the final period, a fight broke out on ice, which got IceRays Forward Braden Franck a penalty for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. El Paso pulled their goaltender, Luke Brassil, with 1:30 remaining in the third period, taking the IceRays 6-on-5, desperate to take the game to overtime. The Rhinos defense kept the puck out of their net.
The Saturday game saw attendance grow to 4,374, about 300 more people than Friday’s game and it was noticeable. The security lines were longer than usual, the arena was louder than the night before, and the air felt thick with suspense.
The first period started off much more intense than game one and it was obvious the IceRays wanted to continue their win streak.
The first goal of the game was scored by IceRays forward Brodie Hankel, assisted by forward Andrew Waugh and forward Chayse Laurie.
The IceRays held their one-goal lead until a power play goal was scored by Rhinos forward Anthony Nolan and assisted by forward Jacob Solano with just 37 seconds remaining in the first period.
The period finished and a fight broke out on ice between IceRays player defenseman Dylan Chabier and Rhinos forward Galen Frizzie III. Both teams entered the second period 4-on-4 due to Chabier and Frizzie getting minor penalties for roughing.
The IceRays appeared fatigued in the second period, missing passes and creating a lot of icings. They fell 1-3 in the second period, with the Rhinos scoring just two minutes apart.
The first Rhinos goal of the second period was scored by forward Brendan Murraway, assisted by forward Jack Wheaton and defenseman Alexi Gregorie at the 17:20 mark. The second was scored by forward Jacob Solano and assisted by defenseman Vincent Gaudette at 15:52.
The IceRays defense faltered, allowing more close calls that Bryzgalov saved.
It seemed as if the IceRays had been defeated already, the crowd was silent, fans were leaving early, and the energy in the arena seemed to drain more with every shot that the Rhinos goaltender blocked.
The crowd roared with excitement when forward Michael Azzarone scored the second IceRays’ goal of the game, assisted by forward Chayse Laurie and forward Oliver Czaja with nine minutes left in the second period.
IceRays forward Brodie Hankel received a double minor penalty for boarding and roughing, and a ten-minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct after a scruff.
With just 1:34 left in the third period, the IceRays having only put nine shots on goal found themselves down 2-3. As the game was winding under the two-minute mark, IceRays forward Oliver Czaja tied up the game 3-3 with 1:33 left in the third period with a wrist shot from six feet away. The energy was electric; the crowd’s roar was deafening. The Rhinos responded by playing more offensively.
In overtime The IceRays were unable to break through the Rhinos defensive pairings and their goaltender kept blocking every shot.
With just 30 seconds remaining in overtime, a steal by Oliver Czaja and great defensive awareness led to a breakaway opportunity. The Rhinos goalie blocked his shot and a second rebound shot. He lost his footing on the second block and the puck got stolen once again. He could only watch helplessly as the puck shot by defenseman Nathan Di Chiara flew over his head and into the net.
The IceRays will face the Rhinos again at the Hilliard Center Oct. 10 and Oct. 11.
