Corpus Christi IceRays (6-14-4, 16pts) vs. Odessa Jackalopes (10-12-0-1, 21pts)
at Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, TX
Time: Friday 7:15 p.m. CDT | Saturday 7:15 p.m. CDT
Broadcast: (Home) HockeyTV | Listen Live Here
What You Need to Know:
All-Time Record: 41-49-7-2
Season Series: 0-0
Leading Scorers:
COR: 19pts, Ulvebne (6G, 13A)
ODA: 19pts, Mansfield (11G, 8A)
History:
For the second-straight year, the Jacks host the IceRays for their annual Teddy Bear Toss. Last season, it was the final game before the holiday break and Corpus won, 6-2. Odessa did score allowing fans to send over 2,000 stuffed animals onto the ice to be donated to local children in need. This year though it will be at the end of a 3-in-3 for Odessa. Last season, the Jacks won the season series against the IceRays, 4-3-1. The first two games of 2023 will be on the road against Corpus Christi.
Confidence:
Odessa enters this weekend against the IceRays on a three-game win streak. Tying their season high. Their most recent win came last night against first-place Lone Star, 4-3. Corpus Christi enters the weekend series on a five-game point streak (3-0-2). However, they are in last place in the South. After this weekend the final two games of the calendar year will be on home ice against the Oklahoma Warriors.
Scoring:
The IceRays have allowed the most goals in the South at 88. On the flip side, the IceRays are tied with Amarillo for the fourth-most goals in the division with 65. The Jacks have allowed the second most goals with 84. Both teams enter the weekend series with a minus 23 goal differential which is the worst in the South and second worst in the league. Corpus Christi does not have any skaters with double-digit goals. Odessa has two players with more than ten (Emerson Goode/Ryan Mansfield). The IceRays have allowed 33 goals in the second period which is the third most in the NAHL. They have given up 27 in the first period which is tied for the fourth most in the league. The IceRays allow an average of 3.67 goals per game which is the second most in the NAHL. The Jackalopes give up an average of 3.65 goals per game which is the third most in the league.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
IceRays (F: #24 – Hans Martin Ulvebne)
The 18-year-old is in his second season in the NAHL. His rookie season started last year after playing two games for the IceRays. The Oslo, NOR native currently leads his team in points (19) and assists (13). The 6’0”/180lb. left-handed forward has scored two goals and three assists in his last three games. He is tied for the team lead in power-play assists with four. Last season, Ulvebne played two games for Norway U18 in the WJC-18 (D1A). He also played for Bishop Kearney Selects 18U AAA (NEPACK) and scored eight points (5G, 3A) in 11 games. In 2018-19, he won the Norway U18 Gold Medal.
Jackalopes (F: #28 – Tanyon Bajzer)
The Cleveland, OH native is in his last year of junior hockey. The 20-year-old is coming off the best weekend of his NAHL career after recording two goals and three assists versus Amarillo. His five-point weekend earned him South Division Star of the Week. The 6’1”/170lb. right-handed forward is second on the the team in points (18) and assists (9). He leads the team in shooting percentage at 18.4%. Last season, Bajzer had 29 points (18G, 11A) in his rookie season and finished sixth in scoring. Before reaching the NAHL, Bajzer played for Gilmour Academy (USHS-Prep) in 2020-21 and tallied 44 points (17G, 27A) in 47 games. Putting him second on the team in points.
Phot by: Danne Braden
