As
they enter the final stretch of the season, every game takes on greater
significance. And with the South Division leading Bulls in town, the
RoadRunners couldn’t have picked a better time to break out of their
midseason lull.
Friday
night was less like World War III (see the last series in Amarillo) and
more like an actual hockey game. In fact, there was not a single fight
in the entire contest and only 11 total penalties. Both defenses played
up in the first period resulting in only seven combined shots (five for
Amarillo and two for Topeka) and no goals going into the second.
In
the second period, while fighting off an Amarillo power play, Sean
Gaffney and Brandon Brossoit found a seam down the center of the ice and
broke out. Screaming towards the goal, Brossoit fed Gaffney who found
room between Paul Berrafato’s glove and the left post to put the
RoadRunners ahead 1-0.
That
would be the game winner but holding the Bulls off was anything but
easy. The final two minutes of the game were a barrage of shots by
Amarillo as they relentlessly pressed the puck in the RoadRunners zone.
“That
was a real, hard working team effort tonight,” said Head Coach Scott
Langer. “Particularly on defense, the way we were able to turn back all
those shots at the end to hold down a 1-0 lead. That’s hard to do in
this league.”
Spencer
Viele had a huge game between the pipes for Topeka, stopping all 22
shots on goal in what was a return to form for the RoadRunners standout
goaltender. It was Viele’s second shutout of the season.
The
RoadRunners have a chance to maintain their momentum tomorrow during
Youth Hockey Night at Landon Arena. While they celebrate the continued
growth of youth hockey in Topeka, the RoadRunners will be holding a
silent auction for a team-autographed jersey during the game and then
auctioning off the players’ Tenth Anniversary game jerseys after the
final horn. For more information on the jersey auctions and tickets,
call 785-286-PUCK or visit the Expocentre Box Office.
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