CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas–The Oklahoma Warriors secured their first series sweep of the season with a 6-2 win over the Corpus Christi IceRays at American Bank Center on Saturday.
Six different Warriors combined for the six-goal output, matching a season-high. Carter Sproule, Hunter Allen, Kaden Nelson, Jaxon Grosdidier, Sebastian Speck, and Nathan Rickey each scored. Speck’s goal was the first of his junior hockey career. Rickey, who had one prior year of junior experience, scored for the first time as a Warrior.
Much like Friday’s game, Oklahoma pulled away with strong second and third periods. Nelson scored to break a 2-2 tie late in the second, then the Warriors proceeded to end the game with four unanswered goals. On Friday, the team scored five unanswered to earn a lopsided victory.
With a combined goal differential of 11-3 in the two-game series, the Warriors continued their impressive start to the season. Not only do they sport a 7-3 record, Oklahoma leads the North American Hockey League’s South Division in goals scored and goal differential. The team ranks second in goals against.
Daniel Duris made 37 saves on 39 shots. Duris, who played both games of the series, lowered his goals against average to 1.99 and save percentage to .937 over the weekend.
This effort acts as a perfect lead-in to a series between the two best teams–in terms of points percentage–in the South when the El Paso Rhinos visit Oklahoma City on Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14. Puck drop is 7:15 p.m. both nights at Blazers Ice Centre. Saturday’s game is part of Hockey Day in Oklahoma, an all-day event featuring Jr. Warriors youth hockey games. Fans can attend the youth hockey games for free. The concessions, bar, and team store will all be open, plus food trucks outside the rink. Tickets for the Warriors vs. Rhinos matchups are available now at www.okwarriors.com/tickets.
