Texas is not the state that comes to mind when most people think of “winter sports;” but the Lone Star State does have winter sports teams. Did you know that Corpus Christi is home to a professional ice hockey team? Well, it’s true! The Corpus Christi IceRays are the pride of the Coastal Bend!
The Corpus Christi IceRays is a professional ice hockey team that is part of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The IceRays team has been a member of the NAHL since the 2010-11 season, but they have been around much longer than that. The team was actually established in 1997 as a member of the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL); it went through several seasons and league changes before 2010, building into the program it is today. The IceRays have always hit the ice ready to compete and are regularly in a top spot, chasing a league title.
The IceRays, led this season by head coach Mike Lysyj, play in the NAHL’s South Division. Based in the Texas Gulf Coast city of Corpus Christi, the team attracts large crowds to The American Bank Center, the 10,000-seat arena where they play at home. They were on hiatus for the 2020–21 season, having had a shortened season the year before due to the COVID-19 pandemic; they excitedly returned to the rink for the 2021-2022 season.
The Corpus Christi IceRays feature a full roster of players mostly between the ages of 18 to 21 years. The team is a feeder for top college ice hockey programs and the National Hockey League (NHL). The IceRays’ 20-game season is already underway for 2022, with several home games on the schedule. If you are in the Coastal Bend area and want to get in on the ice hockey action during the month of February, #JOINTHERISE! at the American Bank Center wearing the team colors of red, black, and white to cheer for the Corpus Christi IceRays when they take to the ice!
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