Roadrunners Complete Three Game Sweep
January 10, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The third game in as many nights in Corpus Christi was the longest, lasting over three hours. When the end came, Topeka had completed the three game sweep with a 9-4 win on Saturday night, retaining sole possession of first place in the NAHL South.
Topeka scored twice on power plays in the first five minutes of the game to grab a 2-0 lead, the first goal scored by Joe Van Antwerp at 2:51 followed by a pretty Jordan Davis goal at 4:55. The 'Runners expanded their lead to 3-0 on a Nate Milam shorthanded tally at 15:04. Corpus Christi managed to get on the scoreboard at 16:33 when a RoadRunner defenseman coughed up the puck in the defensive zone providing Brandon Marshall an unobstructed scoring chance on the surprised netminder Eric Rohrkemper. Topeka led 3-1 after one period, but were just getting started.
The second period saw an offensive explosion for the 'Runners that propelled them to a 9-2 lead. Six goals are the most the 'Runners have put up in a single period this season. Just :37 seconds into the period, Brian Christie knocked one home for a 5-1 lead. At 3:25, Jordan Davis netted his second of the night on the power play to make it a 6-1 game. The Ice Rays scored at 4:19 on a power play goal by Jordan Miller but Topeka continued the onslaught. At 10:37, James Ring (called up from the TPH Thunder affiliate roster) registered his first Junior A goal, and at 15:40 Joe Van Antwerp toe dragged an Ice Ray defender on the power play before picking the top corner for a 7-2 lead. The RoadRunners added goals from Trevor Campbell (also on the power play) at 17:02 and Kyle Sharkey at 18:56 to go up 9-2 at the end of two periods of play.
In the third period, the 'Runners were content to ride out the remainder of the game and begin the long ride home. The Ice Rays scored twice, Jacob Diamond scoring first at 6:16. After Corpus Christi forward Terry Portra plowed shoulder first into RoadRunner goalie Eric Rohrkemper and was subsequently ejected (the second Ice Ray to do so in Saturday's game), Corpus Christi added a final goal on a power play at 15:22 scored by Josh Obregon. The final margin of 9-4 equaled the most goals in a single game by the 'Runners this season.
Topeka (23-8-2) will travel to Amarillo (22-6-3) for a pair of games next weekend with first place in the NAHL South hanging in the balance. The RoadRunners hold a one point edge though Amarillo has two games in hand. The games can be heard live at countrylegends1069fm.com and viewed with streaming video at FASTHockey.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2011
- U18 Team Goes Wild in Richmond: Wins International Midget Tournament - Wenatchee Wild
- Monsters Weekly: January 10, 2011 - Fresno Monsters
- NAHL Announces Players of the Week - NAHL
- Rays Report Week #7: 'stangs Coming to Town - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Wildcats split weekend with Fresno - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Bulls and Topeka in First Place Showdown in Amarillo this Weekend - Amarillo Bulls
- Roadrunners Complete Three Game Sweep - Topeka Pilots
- Tornado Weekly: Texas Home for Three Games this Week - Texas Tornado
- Michael Benedict Named Fine Jewelry Outlet Player of the Month - Corpus Christi IceRays
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