The IceRays celebrated a six-point win over Odessa on December 2019, one of the last games before the 2019-20 season was cut short by COVID-19. Courtesy photo
The Corpus Christi IceRays will be back on the rink for the 2021-22 North American Hockey League season after having canceled the previous year’s games due to COVID-19. One of three teams planning to play so far, The 'Rays join the Jamestown Rebels and the Springfield Jr. Blues.
“We are pleased that all three teams have navigated their way through the uncertainty of the past year and remain dedicated to providing opportunity for players moving forward during the upcoming 2021-22 season,” said NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. “All our teams play an important part in the NAHL landscape and share a deep history of developing players, entertaining fans, and being an important part of their local communities.”
The Corpus Christi IceRays have been members of the NAHL since the 2010-11 season. Over the course of those 10 seasons, the IceRays have posted a 252-273-66 record in 591 regular-season games. The IceRays' best season in the NAHL came during the 2016-17 season, when the team finished third in the South Division with a 32-19-9 record.“We are excited to be back and playing in the NAHL in 2021-22,” IceRays President Cassidy Lange said in a release from the NAHL. “We have established a wonderful history of player development here in Corpus Christi in a relatively short period of time, which includes sending players to the (National Hockey League). We look forward to seeing all of our fans again and are excited for the net wave of players that will get to wear the IceRays jersey and become a part of our community.”
The team will play 20 home games this coming season at the American Bank Center, 1900 N. Shoreline Drive.
“I think it’s time to get excited for IceRays hockey,” Cassidy told reporters. “Personally, I think we are going in the right direction in beating the coronavirus with all the vaccines coming out.”
COVID-19 restrictions will be in place, but specifics have not yet been determined. The schedule of games has also not yet been set.
