Corpus Christi IceRays (10-34-6, 26pts) vs. Odessa Jackalopes (24-22-1-2, 51pts)
Location: Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, TX
Time: Friday 7:15 p.m. CDT | Saturday 7:15 p.m. CDT
Broadcast: HockeyTV | Listen Live Here
What You Need to Know:
All-Time Record: 47-49-7-2
Season Series: 6-0
Leading Scorers:
COR: 30pts, Ulvebne (8G, 22A)
ODA: 45pts, Mansfield (16G, 29A)
March Madness:
Odessa enters this weekend on a three-game losing streak. While Corpus Christi comes in on a nine-game losing streak (0-8-1). The Jacks are currently in sixth place and ten points out of a playoff spot. They still have 11 games remaining this season and one in hand on New Mexico, who hold the final playoff spot. The Ice Wolves play four-straight games against Lone Star, while Odessa will spend the next four games against the IceRays and Shreveport. Odessa only has one road trip remaining this season and it will be against New Mexico on Apr. 7-8. The Jacks are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs as the max points they can achieve is 73. After the Jacks wrap up their season series with Corpus Christi this weekend, they will play seven-straight games against a team currently in a playoff spot.
Home Ice Advantage:
The Jacks are 11-8-1-1 as the home team this season but have a record of 11-7-1 while at the JackShack. The seven-game homestand is the second-longest of the season for Odessa. Their longest was nine games and they finished with a 5-4 record. With all four losses coming at the hands of the Oklahoma Warriors. They will end this homestand with a 3-in-3 against the Lone Star Brahmas. Also, Odessa will end the season on home ice against the Amarillo Wranglers, who are currently two points ahead of them in the standings.
Coming to a Close:
All of the remaining weekend series for Odessa will be season series conclusions. The Jacks have an above .500 record against four of the five teams they will face for the remainder of the season. Odessa has a chance this weekend to get a season series sweep over the IceRays. Which would be a first in franchise history. Every game for the Jacks is a must-win if they want to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18. They are also looking to finish above .500 for the second-straight season which has not happened since 2016-18.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
IceRays (F: #81 – Logan Neilson)
The 20-year-old is in his first season in the NAHL. The Corning, NY native is currently ninth on the team in points with 15 (7G, 8A). The 6’5”/205lb. right-handed forward started this season with the Olds Grizzlys (AJHL) and produced 13 points (6G, 7A) in 20 games. Neilson spent part of last season playing for Great Britain U20 in the WJC-20 D2A. Putting up eight points (6G, 2A) in five games. Neilson has played in all six games against Odessa and has scored three goals. He is currently on a two-game point streak (1G, 1A).
Jackalopes (F: #19 – Dayne Hoyord)
The Scandinavia, WI native is in his final year of junior hockey. The Army-West Point commit is currently fourth on the team in scoring with 37 points and second in assists with 26. The assistant captain has spent his entire NAHL career in a Jackalopes jersey (156GP, 39G, 51A). The 5’10”/195lb. right-handed forward is T-1st on the team in plus/minus at 15. He is also third in shooting percentage at 12.6%. The 20-year-old has played in all six games against the IceRays and has tallied nine points (3G, 6A). Hoyord has a total of three career hat tricks, all of which were against Corpus Christi.
Photo credit: Danne Braden
