Topeka RoadRunners Route Jackalopes 8-2

A rough season for Odessa is coming to an end while the Runners may finally be hitting their stride. Topeka scored early and often in their eighth win in nine road games, robbing fans of any drama with an 8-2 victory.
The first period belonged to the Tylers. Poulsen assisted Groat for the game’s first goal just 32 seconds in to give the Runners a 1-0 lead. Then Juraj Kucirko fed Poulsen to make 2-0 at 2:49. Kucirko then handed his second of three assists in the game to Groat at 12:36 to push the Runners ahead 3-0.
In the second period, it was more Tylers with a dash of Kyle. Sharkey bookended Steve Haydon’s  netter with two powerplay goals, making it 5-1 Topeka. Then Poulsen and Tyler Andrew scored within a minute of each other late in the period (18:13 and 19:01 respectively) to put the game way out of reach at 7-1.
Sharkey became the lone RoadRunner with a hat trick on the night with his goal at 2:17 in the third. And outside Matthew Audet’s goal at 5:03 and Codey Hansen’s penalty box fight at 18:25, the contest was ended 8-2.
These two teams will battle again Saturday night in Odessa. There will be no viewing party in Topeka due to St. Patrick’s Day festivities but you catch Arch Ecker’s call of the game at www.countrylegends1069fm.com or by downloading the Topeka RoadRunners App on iTunes. The team returns to Landon Arena on the weekend of March 22-24. Friday and Saturday of that series will be Shriners Weekend with the RoadRunners, which will feature a specialty jersey auction benefitting the Shriners Hospitals for Children. That Sunday will be Topeka Habitat for Humanity Night.