NAHL Topeka Pilots

Bulls Edge 'Runners for South Playoff Crown

April 26, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release


The Topeka RoadRunners surrendered two goals in a :35 second span in the second period and Amarillo rode it out to a 3-1 win in Game 5 Monday night in Landon Arena to claim the NAHL South Division Playoff title and earn a berth in the Robertson Cup Tournament which begins play May 3.

Amarillo got on the board first on a goal that really wasn't a goal. A RoadRunner turnover in the slot while killing a penalty gave the Bulls' Dan Sherer a shot at the empty top half of the net. From close range, his shot hit the underside of the crossbar but never crossed the goal line, however the goal was awarded and the Bulls led 1-0 at 9:26 of the first.

Trevor Campbell scored at 12:23 to tie the game as his shot powered through Amarillo goalie Nikifor Szczerba and was trickling across the goal line when Szczerba reached for it and pushed it the rest of the way, and the game was tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes.

It was another turnover at the defensive zone blue line that gave Amarillo another chance that they buried midway through the second period. The resulting odd man rush and three quick passes set up Matt Johnson to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead, and :35 seconds later, Cody Freeman swatted in a puck from close range and suddenly Topeka was down 3-1 in a game they had come out dominating. Head Coach

Scott Langer used his timeout, and the 'Runners came out with renewed vigor but were unable to cut into the Bulls lead. The third period was a scoreless affair and in the final minutes as the Michigan win over St. Louis was flashed on the scoreboard, the Bulls knew a victory meant a guaranteed berth in the Robertson Cup Tournament and the measured celebration began as they held off the 'Runners late rush. For the second year in a row, Topeka came up short in a Division Final Game 5 at home.

As a non-division champion, Topeka will enter the Robertson Cup Tournament as the #4 seed. Fairbanks, by virtue of their regular season record, will be the #1 seed, and Amarillo, by virtue of their record as well will be the #2 seed. The North Champion Michigan Warriors will host the Central Champion Bismarck Bobcats in a best-of-three "Play-In" series, the winner advancing to Topeka as the #3 seed in the tournament. The full schedule will be posted as soon as it is finalized.

ROADRUNNER RAMBLINGS

It was a night for underdogs in the NAHL. In each of the three divisions that went the distance, the higher seed had a chance to close out their series on the road in Game 4 and lost, then came home for Game 5 and lost. Fairbanks won their West Division series in 4 four games.

Forward Nate Milam led all NAHL skaters with 7 goals in the playoffs.

This year will be the RoadRunners second appearance in the Robertson Cup Tournament. They went 2-2 in St. Louis in 2008, losing in the Semi-Final game to Mahoning Valley .

Topeka's playoff run was impressive considering they were missing their captain and leading scorer in Michael Hill, and played the first four games of the finals without veteran defenseman and alternate captain Cory Ramsey.

Check out the Topeka Pilots Statistics



North American Hockey League Stories from April 26, 2011


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