O'Leary Powers 'Runners to 5-1 Win
Published on January 30, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
Andrew O'Leary tied a seven year old franchise record by exploding for all five RoadRunner goals on Saturday night as Topeka completed the weekend sweep with a 5-1 win over the New Mexico Mustangs in Landon Arena. The win moved Topeka into second place in the NAHL South.
For the RoadRunners, goaltender Collin LeMay was given his first start of the season, and he responded well, turning aside all 9 shots he faced in the first period. O'Leary buried his first goal at 16:53 of the first period, a sharp wrister from the right circle into the top corner glove side for the 1-0 lead, assisted by Sean Gaffney and Richard Young. In the second period, O'Leary made it 2-0 at 4:23 when he finished off a 2 on 1 rush, again assisted by Gaffney. New Mexico cut the lead in half on a picture perfect passing play between Adam Chapie and Tate Rusk that Rusk whistled home at 14:29 and the game sat at 2-1 after two periods.
The third period saw O'Leary cap off an amazing night as he shot his way into the team record book. He completed the hat trick on a slick wraparound goal that began as a Luke Veitch shot that Sean Gaffney tipped just wide of the net, where O'Leary quickly slipped around to goalie Jake Stafford's left to tuck it in for the 3-1 lead at 6:22. Hats sailed on the ice, but O'Leary wasn't done yet. At 9:27 he sped coast to coast, looped around behind the Mustang net and fired a short side shot over Stafford's shoulder for a 4-1 lead. With fans still buzzing about the amazing 4-goal effort, O'Leary added a record fifth goal when James Ring's shot sailed high and careened around the glass to the left point where O'Leary fired it at the net and it found its way through at 12:07, completing the "natural" hat trick (three consecutive goals) in the third period alone. The last three goals came in a span of just 5:45. The fifth goal meant the end of the night for New Mexico netminder Jake Stafford, and Randy Graham came on to finish the game. O'Leary actually had yet another wraparound chance that sailed through the crease later in the game but the game closed out with the score "Andrew O'Leary 5, New Mexico 1". The only other 5 goal game by a RoadRunner occurred in December 2004 when Andrew Johnson accomplished the feat in a 10-6 win in Santa Fe over Wichita Falls. Goalie Collin LeMay earned the win with a 22-save performance.
Topeka (28-12-2) has a quick turnaround as Corpus Christi (20-18-3) visits Landon Arena on Wednesday and Thursday at 7:05 pm each night. The Wednesday game was originally scheduled for Friday Feb.3, and any tickets bearing the Feb 3 date will be honored on Feb.1. The two games conclude a six game homestand, and Topeka will be on the road for the rest of February, beginning with a weekend in Springfield and followed by an 11-day trip featuring two games in Fairbanks, AK and another two in Wenatchee, WA. The 'Runners return home March 2 and 3 against Texas.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2012
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- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
- O'Leary Powers 'Runners to 5-1 Win - Topeka Pilots
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