North Charleston, SC – The South Carolina Stingrays’ first line of Maxime Lacroix, Jeff Corey and Travis Morin led the way with Lacroix and Corey each getting two goals and Morin getting four assists, as the Rays beat the Mississippi Sea Wolves 4-1 at the North Charleston Coliseum.
“These guys really came to compete tonight,” said Head Coach Jared Bednar. “Our first line really took the team on their backs and [Ian] Vigier came up big again.”
The South Carolina Stingrays came with more jump and more energy than any team in their situation should and it payed dividends. After skating scoreless through the first 18 minutes, Jeff Corey gave the Rays a 1-0 lead. After Travis Morin kept the puck in at the point on a failed clear by the Sea Wolves, Maxime Lacroix was able to get a pass to Corey who one timed it past Mississippi goaltender Michael Teslak and give the Rays the lead after one period of play.
Early in the second period, the Mississippi Sea Wolves were able to tie things up at one. Jeremy Hall would get his fourth goal of the year on a shot that trickled through the legs of Ian Vigier. It would remain tied at one until late in the period when Maxime Lacroix took over. Off a long pass, Lacroix was able to skate it into the zone, split the defense and put a hot up and over the shoulder of Teslak to retake the lead for the Rays. The goal, Lacroix’s 15th, came at 15:50 and was assisted by Brad Farynuk and Morin. With less than a minute left in the period, Lacroix would strike again. Sasha Pokulok found Morin for a one-timer with the rebound coming out to Lacroix all alone on the near side. Lacroix flipped the puck over the down and out Teslak and gave the Rays a 3-1 lead heading into the third period. The goal was Lacroix’s second of the game and the 16th of the year, assisted by Morin and Pokulok.
The Stingrays salted it away late in the third period when Corey got his second goal of the night to make it a 4-1 game, the eventual final. At 14:50 of the period, Corey tipped in a shot from Bryson Busniuk past Teslak, for his ninth goal of the year. The assists on the goal came from Busniuk and Morin, giving Morin four on the night.
The winning goaltender was Vigier who improved to 5-0-0-0 by turning aside 31 of the 32 shots he faced. The losing goaltender was Teslak who stopped 37 of the 41 shots he faced. The Rays went 0-4 on the power play while killing off all four short handed situations they faced.
We’ll be back on Tuesday when the Rays welcome in the Charlotte Checkers. Game time will be at 7:05 P.M. You can hear the game live on ESPN Radio 910 the TEAM starting with the Benitos pre-game show beginning at 6:50.
Don’t miss all the fast-paced, hard-hitting action! Individual tickets can be purchased at the North Charleston Coliseum box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (843) 554-6060 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Full and partial season tickets are available by calling (843) 744-2248 or by visiting online at www.stingrayshockey.com. Stingrays Hockey – A Whole Lot Cooler!
MississippiSea Wolves 1 at South Carolina Stingrays 4 - Status: Final
Jan 4, 2009 - North Charleston Coliseum
1st Period
Scoring - 1. South Carolina, J. Corey (8) (M. Lacroix, T. Morin) 18:48
Penalties - J. Kroll Sc (interference - minor 56.2) 11:36, J. Coutu Mis (slashing - minor 61.2) 14:53
2nd Period
Scoring - 2. Mississippi, J. Hall (4) (K. Peto, K. McAllister) 2:08
3. South Carolina, M. Lacroix (15) (T. Morin, B. Farynuk) 15:50
4. South Carolina, M. Lacroix (16) (T. Morin, S. Pokulok) 19:05
Penalties - C. Brooks Mis (interference - minor 56.2) 2:27, A. Parent Mis (tripping - minor 57.2) 6:22, M. Berry Mis (fighting - major 47.13) 9:17, V. Dovgan Sc (high-sticking - minor 60.2, fighting - major 47.13) 9:17
3rd Period
Scoring - 5. South Carolina, J. Corey (9) (B. Busniuk, T. Morin) 14:50
Penalties - B. Farynuk Sc (hooking - minor 55.2) 6:25, T. Maxwell Sc (boarding - minor 42.2) 10:25, M. Deschamps Mis (hooking - minor 55.2) 10:37
