Corpus Christi goalie Best makes NCAA DI commitment

January 17, 2019

The Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are proud to announce that goaltender Sam Best has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for American International College (AIC) and will join the AIC Yellow Jackets hockey team (Atlantic Hockey) effective immediately.

 

Best, 20, departs the IceRays after posting a 13-9-0-0 record in 23 total appearances this season, including one shutout (Sept. 29), a 2.74 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.

 

The 5'10/160 lbs. native of Boston, Massachusetts, stopped 43 shots in this past Saturday’s 3-2 overtime victory against the Shreveport Mudbugs. He was named NAHL/Bauer Hockey South Division Star of the Week on Dec. 24 while helping lead the team to a junior franchise record nine-game winning streak (Nov. 24-Dec. 28).

 

“I am very proud of Sam and all he has accomplished,” said IceRays head coach Ryan Cruthers, who also previously coached Best. “He is going to a great program with an incredible coaching staff and we wish him the best. Sam is a model citizen on and off the ice and he has been a pleasure to coach over the last two seasons. I can’t thank him enough for all he has done for this organization, his teammates, myself and the community.”

 

The IceRays are in the process of adding a goaltender to join Brian George, who posted a 40-save shutout in Friday’s win against Shreveport, for the team’s netminding tandem moving forward.