RoadRunners Claim 4-2 Opening Night Win

Published on October 20, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - Eight different players registered a point to lead the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 4-2 win over the Utah Grizzlies before an Opening Night crowd of 4,429 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Friday.

Phoenix (1-0-0) opened the scoring with their first goal of the season at 13:19. Thatcher Bell jumped off the bench, collected the puck, and fired a slap shot past the out-stretched stick of Utah goalie Brett Jaeger to give the RoadRunners a 1-0 lead.

Utah responded with a Justin Bourne goal at 4:45 of the second period to tie the game at 1-1. The Grizzlies then took their first lead of the night when Christian Gaudet finished off Scott Burt's centering feed at 13:23 giving Utah a 2-1 advantage. But the RoadRunners would storm back to tie the game at 2-2 just 1:35 seconds later on the power play as Justin Maiser re-directed Dave Pszenyczny's shot from the right point past Jaeger at 14:58 of the second.

The RoadRunners would break the tie early in the third period. Sean O'Connor beat Jaeger with a slap shot over the left shoulder at 6:43 giving Phoenix a 3-2 lead. Daniel Sisca sealed the win with a shorthanded goal at 15:40 off a turnover in the Utah zone.

Phoenix out-shot Utah 33-28. RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky stopped 26 shots to earn his first win of the season. The RoadRunners went 1-9 on the power play while Utah was 0-9 on the man-advantage.

Notes: The RoadRunners improved to 3-0-0 in ECHL season openers and 2-1-0 at US Airways Center...Pszenyczny played in his first game and recorded his first point since Feb. 9 of last season at Alaska. Pszenyczny missed the final 26 games of the 2006-07 season after severing his right forearm on a freak play in Alaska...Rookies Bell, Chris Murray, Chris Stevens, Mitch Carefoot, and Peder Skinner all made their professional debut. Along with Bell, Murray and Stevens collected their first professional point.

The RoadRunners continue Opening Weekend 2007 at 7:11 p.m. Saturday against the Utah Grizzlies with "Shriners Kids Day at the RoadRunners". More than 100 children from Shriners Children Hospital and their families will be on hand, and Evolution Custom Cycles and El Zaribah Shrine Motorcycle Unit will host a special ride to US Airways Center beginning at 2:00 p.m. and arriving on the USAC Plaza at approximately 5:30 p.m. 100 motorcycles will partake in what's being called "We Ride So Kids Can Walk". Shriners will be selling chuck-a-pucks during the game for $1.00 each or six for $5.00 and all proceeds will benefit the Shriners Children Hospital. Local political leaders Jerry Weiers, Debra Pierson, and Trent Franks will also be in attendance.

Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2007-08 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

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