RoadRunners Showcase Preview
Published on September 10, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
As the Topeka RoadRunners prepare to begin the 2012-13 NAHL season at the annual Showcase Tournament in Blaine, MN, it's time to take a look at how the RoadRunners have fared at the event over the years, and to preview the four opponents Topeka will see over the course of four days at the Schwan's SuperRink located about 20 miles north of downtown Minneapolis.
The NAHL Showcase began in Blaine in 2004. In the eight years the RoadRunners have participated in the Showcase, they have posted an impressive overall record of 22-4-6 (.781), and have gone undefeated twice.
Additionally, the 'Runners have gone 3-0-1 twice, and 2-1-1 the remaining four times. Interestingly, each time the RoadRunners went 4-0-0 at the Showcase, South Division foe Wichita Falls also went 4-0-0. In 2008, the tiebreaker (goal differential) went to Topeka, and in 2010 the tiebreaker went to the Wildcats.
In the 2012 Showcase, Topeka will start with a Wednesday evening 7:45 pm matchup against the Kenai River Brown Bears. The RoadRunners have a 10-1-1 all-time record against the Brown Bears but haven't faced them since late February 2009. In the last three seasons, the Brown Bears have steadily improved each season, even holding the West Division lead for a good stretch last season. The 'Runners are a perfect 6-0-0 against the Brown Bears at home, but the teams have never met on neutral ice.
Thursday afternoon at 1:30 Topeka faces off with the Michigan Warriors. The Warriors took the only head-to-head matchup which came during the 2011 Robertson Cup Tournament. The Warriors previously existed as the Marquette Rangers, who the 'Runners dominated at the Showcase in 2008 in their only meeting.
Friday morning at 10:15 will see Topeka face the Coulee Region Chill for the first time. The Chill moved to Onalaska, WI from Mason City, IA where they were the North Iowa Outlaws. Topeka is 2-1-1 all-time against the Outlaws, and 1-0-1 at the Showcase, but again, these franchises have not collided since the 2008 Showcase where Topeka won 4-0.
Saturday afternoon presents a compelling matchup as Topeka faces the Bismarck Bobcats at 3:30 pm. The RoadRunners have dominated the all-time series, defeating Bismarck all three times they've met in the Showcase. It's always a special game for Topeka Head Coach / GM Scott Langer who played his junior career in Bismarck and began his coaching career as an assistant for the Bobcats in 1998.
Each of the Showcase games will be broadcast live by Arch Ecker via streaming audio at countrylegends1069.com, and will be available for pay-per-view with nahl.FASTHockey.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 10, 2012
- Jacks Fall 6-3 in Preseason Finale - Odessa Jackalopes
- Bulls Blank North Iowa 5-0 in Final Exhibition Tune-Up - Amarillo Bulls
- Berkley's Hat Trick Lifts IceRays in Pre-Season Action - Corpus Christi IceRays
- RoadRunners Showcase Preview - Topeka Pilots
- Wildcats split preseason in Amarillo - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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