Ortmeyer's Trick Treats RoadRunners to First Win

by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on October 21, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners


Halloween may be 11 days away but the Phoenix Roadrunners are already enjoying a treat. Defenseman Jake Ortmeyer scored a natural hat trick to propel Phoenix to a 3-2 win over the Utah Grizzlies in its season opener Friday night at the US Airways Center.

"It was a great individual effort. It's been 10 years that I brought up I ever had a hat trick," Ortmeyer said, "I was going to the net and getting some rebounds and they were going in for me."

Trailing 2-0, Ortmeyer scored the first of his goals at the 17:14 mark of the opening period. He took a cross-ice pass from Justin Aikins and hammered high to the glove side past Utah goaltender Rob McVicar while on a two-man advantage.

Ortmeyer tied the game 4:39 into the second period with another power play goal. Brent Smith's centering pass was deflected off the stick of a Grizzlies' defenseman and trickled back to Ortmeyer. He made no mistake and lit the lamp behind McVicar to knot the score at 2-2.

Ortmeyer finished turning the natural hat trick at 10:59 of the third period when he beat McVicar one more time and gave Phoenix its only lead of the night.

"I don't want to put pressure on him. We're happy he's an offensive defenseman," Phoenix Head Coach Ron Filion said, "If Jake brings in a few points or one point a game we'd be happy but if he doesn't he's still a big presence out there as an important defenseman."

As both teams adjust to the new standards of rule enforcement, the penalties came fast and furious on both sides of the score sheet. Utah picked up 59 minutes in penalties while Phoenix was assessed 44. That led to a mind-boggling 29 power plays on the night. The Roadrunners finished 2-of-15 on the man advantage while Utah went 1-of-14.

"It's something that's been implemented to improve the game and it sure does open up the speed of the game," Filion said, "It's a great show for the fans."

Utah started the scoring on goals by Mike Wirll and Justin Cox 2:44 apart in the middle of the opening period.

"Playing in a big building with a lot of people and loudness we fed off it," Ortmeyer said, "Even when they got up two on us we had a lot of hockey left to play and the fans are still there for us."

These two teams meet again Saturday and Sunday night in the US Airways Center to wrap up their season-opening three-game series.

"There's a lot of stuff we need to improve and we're very happy we started with a big W," Filion said, "We're already starting to think about tomorrow."

Three Stars of the Night

3. McVicar-UTA 51 saves on 54 shots in the losing effort.

2. Lindstrom-PHX Solid play on both ends of the ice

1. Ortmeyer-PHX Hat Trick

Notes: Justin Aikins missed a penalty shot for Phoenix with 4:45 remaining in regulation...Phoenix traded defenseman Brent Henley to the Pensacola Ice Pilots prior to the start of the game for future considerations. Henley never reported to the Roadrunners and was suspended by the team prior to his trade...The Roadrunners also acquired defenseman Brian Yandle from the Trenton Titans for future considerations on Friday morning...Utah played without forward Ryan Kinasewich who was tied up in immigration paperwork...Phoenix set a club record with 54 shots on goal...Attendance was 4,222.

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