| Corpus Christi IceRays | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Corpus Christi, Texas |
| League | NAHL |
| Division | South Division |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Home arena | American Bank Center |
| Colors | Red, black, white |
| General manager | Ryan Bennett (Hired 2022) |
| Head coach | Kevin St. Jacques (2025) |
| Affiliate | Austin Ice Bats (NA3HL)[1] |
| Franchise history | |
| 2001–2003 | Pittsburgh Forge |
| 2003–2005 | Toledo IceDiggers |
| 2005–2010 | Alpena IceDiggers |
| 2010–present | Corpus Christi IceRays |
TheCorpus Christi IceRays are aTier II juniorice hockey team playing in theNorth American Hockey League (NAHL). The IceRays are based inCorpus Christi, Texas, and play in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The "IceRays" moniker derives from the many different species ofstingrays that inhabit the nearbyGulf of Mexico.
The franchise originally joined the NAHL as thePittsburgh Forge from 2001 to 2003. They relocated toToledo, Ohio, and became theToledo IceDiggers from 2003 to 2005. They then became theAlpena IceDiggers, playing in theNorthern Lights Arena located inAlpena, Michigan, from 2005 to 2010.
Theoriginal IceRays organization was established in 1998 and played in the minor-professionalWestern Professional Hockey League (WPHL) from 1998 to 2001 and theCentral 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 theTraverse City North Stars at the NAHL Showcase, falling 1–0. The IceRays played their first junior game at theAmerican Bank Center on October 1, 2010, against theWichita Falls Wildcats, winning 4–3 in a shootout.
During the 2011–12 season, IceRays goaltenderAnthony Stolarz was scouted heavily by theNational 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 thePhiladelphia 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 theAmarillo 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 theAmerican Bank Center to theWenatchee 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 goaltenderPheonix Copley. On Feb. 27, 2016, the 24-year-old replacedSt. Louis Blues goaltenderJake 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 theRed Deer Rebels in theWestern Hockey League.[6] He was replaced byRyan Cruthers, who had been with theChicago Steel the previous season.[7] Cruthers was hired as an assistant forRobert 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 theCOVID-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 | 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 theCOVID-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 |
| 2024-25 | 44 | 28 | 13 | 3 | 59 | 146 | 119 | 1053 | 3rd of 9 South 10th of 32 NAHL | Won Div. Playin, 2–0Colorado Grit Won Div. Semifinals, 3-0Shreveport Mudbugs Lost Div Finals 0=3 (Lone Star Brahmas) |
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