Another Texas team in the Central Hockey League has had some success in getting players to AHL Training Camps right now. This time, it's the Corpus Christi Icerayz have sent an impressive 4 players to different training camps. For the Rays, the big name is rookie goaltender Kevin Desfosses who is currently in the Texas Stars Training Camp while last year's starter Kris Tebbs is currently in Worcester, Massachusetts with the Worcester Sharks which is the San Jose Sharks affiliate.
For the other position's, 2 forwards have gotten invites as Maxime Boisclair is heading not to far from Corpus Christi as he is with last year's Western Conference Semifinalist Houston Aeros while fellow line mate Jereme Tendler is with the Rockford Icehogs which is the Chicago Blackhawks affiliate.
After a rocky summer of 2008 where the fate of the team was uncertain due to ownership and GM Problems. Tim Lange bought the team to keep them in Corpus Christi and their home arena, which is the American Bank Center.
Last season, the Icerayz were in a strong battle with the New Mexico Scorpions and the Arizona Sundogs battling for the final playoff spots in the Southern Conference. After having a respectable 28-30-6 finishing with 62 points and despite finishing 4th in the Southeast Division, it was enough to beat off both teams for the 5th and final playoff spot in the South before losing to South Texas rival Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in the 3 game Play In Round Series.
In recent years, they had some success as the 2006-2007 season was their most successful where they finished 3rd in the Southern Conference before losing in the Conference Semifinals before losing to the Laredo Bucks.
With all the signings of players like getting Maxime Boisclair from Bossier-Shreveport and resigning Jason Tessier, Corpus Christi will be looking to have a much better 2009-2010 and be able to contend with teams like the defending league champion Texas Brahmas and South Texas Rivals Laredo Bucks this season.
AT&T Metroplex HS Hockey Divisions and Opening week Schedule.The Divisions for the AT&T Metroplex HS Hockey season is now out and the teams in the Varsity Gold Division has been reduced from 13 to 10 this season. Among the teams dropping to the Silver Division is Flower Mound Marcus who made the League Semifinals before losing to the eventually league Champions Flower Mound Jaguars last spring.
On the con tray, no decided to move up from Silver to Gold including Arlington Martin and Bishop Lynch who played each other for the Silver Division title after finishing 1 and 2 in the regular season last year. The Silver division is going to have 17 teams divided into 3 divisions while the 10 teams in the Gold Tier will be in a single division this season.
Just like in recent years, most Varsity Games will be on Thursday while JV Games will be on Sunday with a couple of exceptions.
Varsity Gold: Allen, Coppell, Flower Mound, Frisco, Highland Park, Dallas Jesuit, Mckinney ISD, Plano Senior, Plano West, Southlake Carroll
Varsity Silver: West Division, Arlington Martin, HEB ISD, Keller ISD, Midlothian, Mansfield ISD,
Central Division, Colleyville Heritage, Denton County Spartans, FM Marcus, Grapevine, Southlake Carroll,
East Division, Bishop Lynch, Garland ISD, Plano East, Plano West, Rockwall, Richardson ISD, Plano Senior
JV Gold: West Division: Arlington Martin, Arlington Wild, Flower Mound, Keller ISD, Mesquite Colts
East Division, Allen, Coppell, Mckinney, Frisco, St. Marks
JV Silver: West Division: Denton County Spartans, FM Marcus, Flower Mound, Mansfield ISD, Northwest, Keller ISD, Irving ISD
East Division, Allen, Frisco, Dallas Jesuit, Plano East, Richardson ISD, Plano West, Plano Senior, Highland Park
All Varsity Games opening Week are on Thursday 10/1 except for one game in the Silver Division which will be on 10/4.
Varsity Opening Week ScheduleVarsity Gold DivisionCoppell VS. Flower Mound 5:30 PM @ Farmers Branch Starscenter
Highland Park VS. Dallas Jesuit 6:30 PM @ Richardson Ice Training Center
Plano West VS. Plano Senior 7:00 PM @ Plano Starscenter
McKinney VS. Frisco 7:15 PM @ McKinney Starscenter
Allen VS. Southlake Carroll 8:30 PM @ Frisco Starscenter
Varsity Silver DivisionPlano East VS. FM Marcus 6:45 PM @ Frisco Starscenter
HEB ISD VS. Arlington Martin 7:00 PM @ Euless Starscenter
Denton Co. Spartans VS. Grapevine 7:15 PM @ Farmers Branch Starscenter
Richardson ISD VS. Rockwall 8:15 PM @ Richardson Ice Training Center
Keller ISD VS. Colleyville Heritage 8:45 PM @ Euless Starscenter
Plano West VS. Plano Senior 8:45 PM @ Plano Starscenter
Mansfield ISD VS. Midlothian 9:00 PM @ Farmers Branch Starscenter
Bishop Lynch VS. Garland ISD 9:00 PM @ Mckinney Starscenter
10/4: Denton Co. Spartans VS. Southlake Carroll 7:45 PM @ Farmers Branch Starscenter