FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Mar. 2, 2012
JACKS HANG TOUGH, FALL TO CORPUS 3-2
Minx tallies twice but ‘Rays rally late for first win in Odessa this season.
ODESSA, TX– In the ninth of ten meetings between the two teams this season, the Odessa Jackalopes were outdueled by the Corpus Christi IceRays 3-2 on Friday at Ector County Coliseum. With the loss, the Jackalopes fell to 19-25-5 overall this season and with 43 points, remain tied with the Wichita Falls Wildcats for fifth place in the NAHL’s South Division standings, seven points shy of Corpus Christi and the South Division’s fourth and final playoff spot.
After AJ Jarosz netted the first of his two goals in the game at 14:32 of the first period to put the ‘Rays up 1-0, Tyler Minx answered back for the Jacks early in the second when he wired a transition slapper past Corpus Christi netminder Anthony Stolarz at 6:32 on feeds from Lawrence Cornellier and Jared Docken.
Minx’s big night continued at 15:20 of the middle frame, when the Oklahoma City native tapped home a brilliant down-low feed from former IceRay Josh Obregon to deliver the Jacks their lone lead of the game at 2-1. Minx’s two goals were his second and third of the season and second and third in Odessa’s past two games.
Corpus Christiwas resilient on Friday however, as Jarosz potted his second of the game and 12th of the season in the final minute of the second, a power-play marker from Zach Holstrom at 19:20. With the late goal, the IceRays entered the third period tied at two before coaxing the game-winner past Odessa goaltender Connor Hellebuyck at 3:54 when Jonathan Grebosky tallied a two-man-advantage marker from Frank Misuraca and Jarosz.
Despite three third-period power-plays, the Jacks could never break through down the stretch and ended up dropping a home game to the IceRays for the first time this season. Retaining the edge in the regular season series at 5-2-2, the Jackalopes play host to the ‘Rays Saturday at 7:05 pm at Ector County Coliseum in the final meeting between the two teams in 2011-12.
The Odessa Jackalopes celebrate their 15th Anniversary in 2011-12 and drop the puck on their inaugural campaign as a member of the North American Hockey League. Season tickets, mini-plans, and single game tickets are available by calling (432) 552-7825 or by visiting the Jacks online at www.jackalopes.org.
Be sure to follow the Jackalopes on Twitter @LetsGoJacks all season long and don’t forget to ‘Like’ the official “Odessa Jackalopes” fan page on Facebook.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
