Corpus Christi IceRays (1998–2010)
| Corpus Christi IceRays | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Corpus Christi, Texas |
| League |
Central Hockey League Western Professional Hockey League |
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Division | Southeast Division |
| Founded | 1998 (In the WPHL) |
| Home arena | American Bank Center |
| Colors | Red, Black, Gold |
| Franchise history | |
| 1998–2003 | Corpus Christi Ice Rays |
| 2003–2008 | Corpus Christi Rayz |
| 2008–2010 | Corpus Christi IceRays |
The Corpus Christi IceRays were a minor-league ice hockey team based in Corpus Christi, Texas affiliated with the Western Professional Hockey League from 1998–2001, and with the Central Hockey League from 2001 to 2010. The "IceRays" moniker derives from the many different species of stingrays who inhabit the nearby Gulf of Mexico.
The team was established in 1998 as a member of the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) and played its home games at the (now demolished) Memorial Coliseum, dubbed "The Igloo" by fans because temperatures in the Coliseum dictated a dress that included sweaters and jackets, even in Corpus Christi's mild winters. The inaugural team was coached by former NHL veteran Taylor Hall. Ken McRae coached the team from 2004 to 2008, and broadcasts featured the talents and vocal stylings of Josh Bogorad, a formerly a small-time radio celebrity in the Los Angeles area.
The IceRays spent three seasons in the WPHL, amassing a 114–77–19 record with appearances in the WPHL playoffs in all three years under head coach Taylor Hall. In 2001, the WPHL merged its ten teams with the Central Hockey League (CHL), bolstering the league's presence in the Midwest.
Under new ownership, the IceRays rebranded to the “Corpus Christi Rayz” prior to the 2003–04 season after five seasons as a professional franchise, keeping the stingray as its mascot but altering the logo to incorporate the Texas state flag and colors. In 2004, the Rayz moved from the Memorial Coliseum to the new American Bank Center. The fist event held at the arena was the Rayz first game on October 22, 2004, against the Austin Ice Bats to a sold out crowd of over 7,500 fans, one of just four sellouts in franchise history at the American Bank Center.
Immediately following the 2007–08 season, the Rayz briefly suspended operations while failing to find a suitable owner to take over the team. However, the franchise was purchased by Tim Lange later in the offseason and reactivated the franchise. The new ownership also brought back the IceRays name and a redesigned logo featuring red, gold, and black as its primary colors. After missing the playoffs in six of their seven seasons in the CHL, they returned to the playoffs during the next two seasons. They recorded a 58–56–2–12 record but exited the playoffs in the first round each time.
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