RoadRunners Conclude Successful Homestand
Published on February 2, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
TOPEKA, KS, FEB 2, 2009: After playing 25 of their first 36 games away from the raucous, friendly confines of Landon Arena, the Topeka RoadRunners settled in for a nice 8 game homestand and came out on the other end with a commanding hold on first place in the NAHL's South Division, and the top overall record in the entire league.
Sleeping in ones own bed and eating home-cooked meals is something most of us take for granted. Not so in the lives of the young men who play hockey at the Junior A level. Hotels, busses, pizzas and truck stops are part of the average players season, and whenever the schedule affords a team the opportunity to stay home for awhile, it is certainly a welcome respite from the rigors of life on the road. With that, though, comes the challenge and responsibility of taking care of business in your own house, which means winning on home ice. The 'Runners were able to do that, posting a 6-1-1 record during said homestand.
The homestand began with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs returning to town for the first time since a memorable 5 game Division Final playoff series in April 2008, won by Topeka in overtime of Game 5. Topeka once again had the Ice Dogs number, winning 6-3 and 2-1. The only real damage in the homestand came when the expansion Wenatchee Wild came to town, and with both teams missing some key players (and their head coaches) due to the Top Prospects Tournament in Ann Arbor, the Wild escaped with a 4-3 win in overtime in the first game, and waylaid a stunned RoadRunner club the following night 5-1. Topeka shook it off, however, and came back after just one day off to take another pair of games from the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, 5-3 and then 2-1 in a shootout. Closing out the series was a pair of games with the St. Louis Bandits, winners of 4 straight coming in to Topeka and just 3 points off the RoadRunners torrid pace. The games were fast, hard hitting, and entertaining, and the RoadRunners took a 3-2 victory in overtime on Friday followed by a 3-2 win in regulation on Saturday to move 6 points ahead and solidify their hold on first place in the division.
Topeka is one point away from mathematically clinching home ice advantage in the South Division Semi-Finals. They can earn that point when they travel to Springfield, IL to face the Jr. Blues this weekend. The RoadRunners are 7-0-0 against the Jr. Blues this season, though two of the wins have come in a shootout. After the brief two game road trip, the RoadRunners will have two weeks off before beginning another homestand, this one 6 games in length beginning Thu Feb.26 against the Kenai River (AK) Brown Bears.
The RoadRunners not only boast the South Division lead, but also the top record in the NAHL. At 35-5-4, Topeka's winning percentage sits at a lofty .841. The highest single season winning percentage since the NAHL merged with the AWHL in 2004 is .836, by the 2005-06 Bozeman (MT) ICEDOGS. It should follow that individual accomplishments would run accordingly, and they have. Forward Jordan George leads the league with 57 points (23 goals and 34 assists), defenseman Eric Artman leads all blueliners with 30 points (5 goals, 25 assists), and goalie Bryce Merriam is atop the league in goals against average with a stingy 1.80 per game. Artman was honored this week by the NAHL as the South Division Player Of The Week.
When the RoadRunners return home on Feb. 26, it will be one of three "Family Fun Nights" remaining on the schedule. General admission tickets are just $5.00, parking is free, hot dogs are just $1.00, and there's free popcorn as well. Check the official team website for all the latest information as the RoadRunners make a run for the Robertson Cup.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2009
- Red-hot Avalanche streaks into February - NAHL
- RoadRunners Conclude Successful Homestand - Topeka Pilots
- Saad Blazes to Second Player of the Week Award of 2009 - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Outlaws Raise $2,000 for Cancer Society - North Iowa Outlaws
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