Icerays cutting Ticket Prices

With the Corpus Christi Icerays switching from Minor League to Junior and with fewer games on the schedule, the Corpus Christi Icerays have decided to cut ticket prices to accommodate the new league with a new logo, new marketing plan and to educate and introduce people to Junior Hockey on the Texas Coast.

Recently, the Corpus Christi Icerays announced their plans for tryouts and prospects camps from July 23-25 which will be at the Valley Ranch Starcenter in Irving.

The season is expected to start in late September and the Icerays will be in the South Division with the Texas Tornado, Wichita Falls Wildcats, Amarillo Bulls, New Mexico Scorpions and the Topeka Roadrunners who will be hosting the 2011 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship Tournament.

Hopefully this announcement can keep a lot of the fans that they had in the Central Hockey League and introduce some new fans who are looking forward to seeing the new league, and for many get introduced to Junior Hockey as well.

By Greg Rajan of the Corpus Christi Caller: www.caller.com

The Icerays move to a new league will be cheaper for fans. The Team, which will play in the North American Hockey League this fall, announced new ticket prices, with across-the-board reductions in all sections.

For example, the cost of last year's most expensive season tickets has been reduced from $800 to $600. The cheapest adult season ticket will cost $9.25 per game. The 2010-2011 home schedule will run 27 games, compared to 32 games in the Central Hockey League, the Icerays former home.

Obviously, (Prices) were reduced because of less games and we looked at the rest of the ticket prices in the league and the teams that are similar to us," said Icerays GM Patt Dunn. "We're adjusting to the rest of the league." We didn't want to be the most expensive, and were competitive with the teams like Wenatchee and Texas, who are the top teams in the league as far as attendance."

The 2010-2011 NAHL Season begins in Late September. The Icerays will play in the South Division with the Amarillo Bulls, New Mexico Scorpions, Texas Tornado, Topeka Roadrunners and the Wichita Falls Wildcats. Like Corpus Christi, Amarillo & New Mexico are former CHL Markets making the move to Junior Hockey.

Dunn said that any fan backlash about the move to junior hockey has "calmed down a lot". The team is having a town-hall meeting from 6 to 8 PM on Tuesday at the Rotunda at Selena Auditorium to discuss the transition.

"When I talk to people one-on-one and explain what (Junior Hockey) is, they get it," Dunn said. They're excited about it and our sponsors have been really good so far, knock on wood. We're pumped about it."

As far as icing a team, head coach Brent Hughes and assistant Justin Quenneville are on the scouting trail. The Icerays will be hosting a tryout camp from July 23-25 at the Dr. Pepper Starcenter in Irving and are trying to line up another camp in Phoenix during early August.