Topeka RoadRunners Set To Kick Off Preseason At Home

The Topeka RoadRunners will get their first chance to stretch their legs in a weekend preseason series against the North Iowa Bulls of the North American Tier III Hockey League (NA3HL), with the games scheduled for 7pm Friday, August 31 and 7:30 pm Saturday, September 1 at Landon Arena.
Tickets for this exhibition series are on sale at the Expocentre Box Office. All tickets are General Admission ($10). This series is not just an opportunity for fans to ease into the 2012-2013 season but also a chance for potential RoadRunners to make their mark.
"We have a number of players battling to make our final roster and having the chance to compete in a real game setting is crucial to the process", said RoadRunner Head Coach / GM Scott Langer. "We have a lot of respect for what (HHHead Coach) Todd Sanden is doing in North Iowa and for the NA3HL overall. This will be a weekend that benefits both programs."
The Bulls play out of Mason City, IA, the one-time home of the NAHL's North Iowa Outlaws. The Outlaws relocated to Onalaska, WI as the Coulee Region Chill in 2010. They are owned by the same group that owns Topeka’s South Division rival, the Amarillo Bulls.
North Iowa Head Coach / GM Todd Sanden said, "The RoadRunners willingness to bring in the North Iowa Bulls as part of their exhibition schedule proves that the relationship between the NAHL and the 3HL is a respected one.  For our players it's an early look at what an NAHL operation is like on game day, and Topeka provides one of the finest." He added, "We look forward to future opportunities whether it is for exhibition games or if Coach Langer needs a player for temporary or permanent status.  The 3HL is about the development and promotion of players to the North American Hockey League."
The remainder of the RoadRunners preseason schedule will soon be announced. The regular season begins for Topeka at the NAHL Showcase Tournament in Blaine, MN on Wednesday, September 12 against the Kenai River Brown Bears at 7:45 pm. The Home Opener will be against the Odessa Jackalopes on Monday September 17 in Landon Arena.